You can save yourself tonnes of time by simply covering any areas you want to keep free of paint with masking tape, then applying the desired colour over the top. Then, peel away the tape, and the area underneath will be good as new.
This means you spend far less time fretting over the details of the painting, and you can get a lot more done in a shorter time span. Masking tape will make sure that you keep mess at bay, and that you have a squeaky clean paint job.
The best masking tapes for painting at a glance:
Best overall: Frog Tape Green Multi Surface Painters Masking Tape - View offer on Amazon UK
Best for precision: ScotchBlue Multi-Surface Premium Masking Tape - View offer on Amazon UK
Best for protection: Scotch Delicate Surface Advanced Masking Tape - View offer on Amazon UK
Best for bulk buy: Northern Brothers Masking Tape for Painting - View offeron Amazon UK
Regardless of how experienced you are at painting, masking tape is an absolute necessity for most painting jobs. Masking tape gives you that really clear definition between colour transitions and keeps paint of unwanted surfaces. So if you're ready to invest in some painting masking tape, read on below for our recommendations!
Best overall
This brightly coloured tape is thick and effective but won't cause damage when it's removed. It even has a unique formula to prevent paint overflow and will keep your edges sharp as a knife. What more could you need?
Our Thoughts: It's a fantastic all-around choice, and the unique PaintBlock technology is worth the extra cash. We also appreciate the bright green colouring - it makes it super easy to tell which areas are covered compared to the standard beige of regular masking tape.
Pros
- Adheres firmly
- Available in a wonderful range of sizes
Cons
- Take your time when removing to avoid marks
Best for precision
If you want to be precise, this offering from Scotch is the ultimate in masking tape. It's a little more expensive than others, but it absolutely blocks all paint from hitting the area where it's applied and is unlikely to cause any damage to the surface it's used on.
Our Thoughts: So long as it's used on a suitable surface, this type of tape will adhere perfectly and can be removed without any damage at all. You'll get professional results from this one, and it's suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Pros
- Durable, so it's suited for outdoor use too
- Bright colour makes it visually distinct
Cons
- High price point
Best for protection
It's not always all about adhesion power - this delicate offering from Scotch ensures that even when you're working on a more fragile surface, you can mask the areas you want to keep clean without worrying about residue and damage when it comes to removal.
Our Thoughts: The price is really appealing for such a useful product. It might not apply to every project, but when you work on something more delicate, you'll be very thankful to have this in your toolkit. Plus, the purple colouring is pretty brilliant to look at too!
Pros
- Amazing colouring makes it easy to distinguish from plainer surfaces
- Excellent price point
Cons
- Not the strongest adhesion, of course
Best for bulk buy
For a large-scale project, you'll be using a lot of masking tape. If you don't want to splash out on multiple rolls of the more premium stuff, you might find that this set of 12 simple rolls from Northern Brothers meets your needs well enough.
Our Thoughts: Even though it doesn't come with all the bells and whistles of a more premium brand, this tape does the job well and is easy to apply. It's not as distinct as some, but we think it's worth the extra distinguishing effort to save this much money.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Solid masking capabilities
Cons
- No distinct colouration
Best for budget
You don't need to compromise on quality to get a bargain when it comes to masking tape. This choice from Blue Dolphin is a classic beige colour and adheres with the strength to almost any suitable surface.
Our Thoughts: Removal is nice and easy, although this is a bit thinner than some of our other options, so you may need to layer it a little to cover larger areas. Still, it's a great pick covering a wide area without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Superb quality
- Recommended specifically for the job of painting
Cons
- Not the widest roll
Why not just use sticky tape?
Whilst it's not impossible to use sticky tape to cover spots during painting, it's not advisable. Sticky tape or duct tape can leave residues and might cause damage to the paintwork beneath them when removed, whereas masking tape is specifically designed to reduce damage. That's why using this specialist tool is much better than messing with alternatives!
How do you keep masking tape from pulling paint off?
Use a putty knife or razor blade to score along the edge of the tape. This prevents paint from being pulled up with the tape and from cracking along the paint line. Taking your time, lift up the painter's tape and pull it back on itself, removing at a 45 degree angle.
Is it best to remove masking tape when paint is wet or dry?
Tape should be removed when it feels dry to the touch, which is ideally about an hour after painting. If it still feels gummy, leave the tape on overnight and remove it within 24 hours, when it finally feels hard and dry.
Can you tape the day before painting?
NO! The glue on painter's tape is intentionally less sticky than regular masking tape, so it will start to release a little on its own from tiny imperfections in the surface, which could allow paint to bleed under it.
Caitlin Evans is a Content Optimisation Executive with a passion for finding the best products on the market. She specialises in identifying features that make a product stand out from the rest that will help people make informed buying decisions.