Packing for a move is a difficult, laborious, and nerve-racking task. It is, therefore, no wonder that there is such a sense of relief when the time comes to seal a box. It means that you’ve arrived at the final step of the process, that your items are ready for shipment, and you can relax and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
To be able to do that, however, you need to be sure that you’ve really done the job well – that you’ve used quality packing supplies, provided good protection to your items, packed the box the right way, and sealed it properly.
The last task – taping the box – is likely to be the least of your worries. It is so simple that it seems that nothing can go wrong with it.
Yet, as straightforward as taping a moving box may be, doing it incorrectly may result in lost time and money – and in frayed nerves. A box that is not sealed well may collapse or burst open during the move and cause damage to the items packed in it, damage to your property, and even personal injuries.
Ultimately, the way you tape up your boxes can spell the difference between a safe and smooth relocation and a moving disaster.
But how can you be sure that you’ve sealed your boxes properly? That there is no risk of them spilling open during the move and causing trouble?
Read on to find out how to tape moving boxes so that they stay sturdy and secure throughout the relocation process.
What tape to use for moving boxes?
In order to be able to tape your boxes securely, first you need quality moving tape. You may think that any kind of tape will do, but using an inappropriate type can lead to accidents and injuries.
Moving boxes get jostled around a lot and often face extreme temperatures, so weaker tapes and tapes that can’t withstand heat or cold without losing their adhesion won’t provide effective sealing – they’re likely to tear or lose grip and cause the box to spill open, putting your items and your safety at risk.
The best tape for moving boxes is strong, sticky, temperature-resistant, and easy to use:
Strength
When taping a moving box, you want the tape to not only keep it closed, but also to seal it and reinforce it. Therefore, you need durable tape that will add up to the strength of the box and won’t tear with rigorous movement.
A tape’s strength depends on the quality of its adhesive, its thickness, and its width.
- Adhesion – First things first, in order to tape a packing box, you need a tape that sticks well. And while all tapes stick, of course, not all of them adhere well to cardboard. How well a tape sticks depends on its grade and the kind of adhesive it contains. The best tapes for packing boxes feature acrylic adhesive that is very strong and doesn’t leave sticky residue behind;
- Width – Tape that barely covers the seam of a box won’t stay in space when the carton is jostled around – you need wider tape that has a good hold. Besides, the wider the tape is, the more weight it will be able to hold, so it will be much more appropriate for sealing heavy moving boxes. The best tape for moving boxes is about 2-3 inches wide;
- Thickness – The thickness of the backing material determines how much weight the tape can support. Generally, packing tape thickness ranges from 1.9 millimeters for thinner tapes to 3.1 millimeters for heavy duty tapes. Needless to say, heavier boxes need thicker tape.
Good to know: Tensile strength measures how much weight the tape can handle without breaking. When it comes to sealing moving boxes, be sure to get packing tape with tensile strength of 20 pounds and up.
Temperature resistance
If you’re moving short distance, your items won’t stay in the moving truck for long, so the ambient temperature won’t affect the packing tape you’ve used for your moving boxes in any way.
If you’re moving across the country, however, your goods will be on the road for days on end. Most moving trucks are not air-conditioned, so they will become very hot in hot weather and very cold in cold weather. Therefore, if you’re moving in the summer, you need to be sure that the moving tape you’ve sealed your boxes with can withstand the heat without losing its adhesion – and if you’re moving in the winter, you need to be sure that the tape can withstand the cold.
Ease of use
Packing for moving is extremely time-consuming, so you definitely don’t want to waste extra time fumbling with the tape.
It is, therefore, best to get quality tape that can be used with a handheld tape dispenser – so you don’t lose valuable time trying to keep the tape from splitting or finding the end that has stuck back to the roll. Using a dispenser will save you time and effort when packing your boxes.
Advantages and disadvantages of different types of tape
All things considered, packing tape is the best tape for packing boxes. It is incredibly strong, easy to apply and easy to remove, and it is designed to withstand heat, cold, and humidity without cracking or losing its stick.
Despite the indisputable advantages of packing tape, under certain circumstances, you may want to use other types of tape for taping your moving boxes:
- Shipping tape – Shipping tape has a hot melt adhesive that is strong enough to keep packing boxes tightly sealed during a house move. It does not withstand temperatures well, but it is strong and easy to use, so it’s a good choice for taping moving boxes when moving locally;
- Filament tape -Filament tape is impervious to temperatures and has fiberglass strands that make it extremely strong, so it is very well suited for taping heavy boxes that will travel long distance;
- Gummed paper tape – Gummed tape’s adhesive is activated by water. It creates a very strong, permanent bond, but it is more difficult to apply than other types of tape and can’t be removed without scarring the carton. Therefore, it is only worth using for extremely heavy boxes that have a long way to travel – and should only be used on boxes that you don’t intend to keep;
- Labeled tape – Labeled tape combines sealing and labeling into one – it is colored tape that can be used to indicate the room the box belongs to. It is clearly seen on all sides of the carton, so when you arrive at your new home, you and your movers know where a box should go from first sight. (See also: How to label moving boxes)
The other types of tape may also be useful during the moving process, but they’re not well suited for sealing moving boxes – duct tape has rubber adhesive that doesn’t stick well to boxes and leaves a sticky residue behind, masking tape doesn’t hold well, electrical tape doesn’t adhere well to cardboard, washi tape and scotch tape are too thin and too weak to keep moving boxes securely sealed, and brown paper packing tape tears too easily and can be compromised by water.
How to properly tape a moving box
Once you have the right tape for moving boxes, you need to find out the proper way to use it.
Here is how to tape up moving boxes so that they’re strong enough to withstand the rigors of moving:
Step 1. Secure the bottom of the box
Before you put anything into a cardboard box, you need to ensure that it has a sturdy base that won’t collapse or burst open under the weight of your items. In other words, you need to tape up the bottom of the box – if you don’t and only fold the bottom flaps over each other, the box may collapse when lifted.
So, how to tape the bottom of a moving box?
- Fold the box into shape, then flip it over and fold down the edges into the inside of the box – fold the two smaller flaps first, then the two larger ones, making sure they connect in the middle;
- Tape down the long horizontal seam in the middle (where the flap edges join), making sure you cover both sides a little bit. Be sure to allow the tape to extend over the sides;
- Fold each overhang to the side of the cardboard box and tape it down (tape about halfway over the side of the box for extra support);
- Press the tape firmly to the cardboard surface, so it adheres well;
- If the tape is not very wide or if you want the extra security, you can add two more strips of tape – one on each side of the long strip in the middle, overlapping them halfway.
You can stop at that point, but you’re advised to further reinforce the box for added safety. There are several different ways to secure the bottom you can choose from, depending on the kind of items you intend to pack into the box:
1) The snowflake method – when packing heavy items that require extra support:
- Make an “X” with the tape (over the strip in the center), going from corner to corner in both directions;
- Make two parallel tape lines near the ends of the box (over all other tape strips), going in the opposite direction of the long strip of tape in the middle.
2) The H-method – when packing fragile items and delicate items (the H-method not only reinforces the bottom and helps distribute the weight of the contents of the box, but also seals the side seams, ensuring that nothing can get into the carton and ruin your possessions)
This method involves taping the edges on either side of the box (the shorter vertical seams):
- Run the tape over one side of the seam, at about half the width of the tape. Allow an overhang of about 2” at both ends;
- Pinch the tape at one corner so it becomes like a triangle. Fold the overhang to the side of the box;
- Do the same on the other corner;
- Fold the flap of tape down and press it firmly to the cardboard. Do the same with the overhangs.
3) The diagonal strip method – when packing lightweight, non-fragile items
When packing items that are not very heavy and are not very vulnerable to damage, you don’t need to reinforce the box so much. You can save tape (and save yourself time and effort) by securing the bottom of the box with the diagonal strip method – all you need to do is run a strip of tape across the bottom (from end to end), diagonally to the first strip of tape in the middle. It will be enough to support the weight of the box and ensure the safety of your items during the move.
Step 2. Seal the top of the box
Once you’ve packed the box full, close the top flaps. Push down slightly in the middle to flatten the flaps and make sure they’re close together.
Tape down the horizontal seam in the middle, allowing the tape to extend over the sides of the box.
Then, you can add two parallel tape lines on top of the center line (running in the opposite direction) or simply run a strip of tape diagonally to the strip in the center.
If you’ve packed fragile or heavy items in the box, you can use the H-method described above to seal the top of the box – for extra safety.
Knowing how to properly tape moving boxes will help you ensure the safety of your belongings during your move. Have a safe and smooth relocation!
