Custom Printed Packing Tape for Branded Parcels

What is printed packing tape?

Printed packing tape is ordinary sealing tape with a design added. Your logo, name, pattern or message repeats every few centimetres along the roll. Whatever length you tear off, the design is on it.

Our photos show a brown roll with a large bold name across a kraft mailer. Next to it is a white roll with a black logo. Others show a mint tape with a cartoon pattern and a neon yellow tape printed with a return address. A blue tape with a gold motif rounds off the set, showing how far the look can go.

Tape sits in our packing supplies and box extras, next to dividers, inserts and paper shred.

Why use printed tape instead of printed boxes?

Printed boxes look great, but each size needs its own print run. Printed tape brands every box you own, whatever its size. One roll covers small mailers, large cartons and the odd box you reuse.

That makes tape a sensible first step for a growing shop. Start with plain brown boxes and printed tape, then move to fully printed boxes for your best-selling sizes. Many brands keep the tape even after that, because it seals the box and repeats the brand on top.

Plain brown cartons are the natural partner. The tape adds the brand, and the box stays low cost and easy to reuse.

Plain kraft mailers also work well, with a single strip across the front edge. For a full branded set, pair the tape with our custom printed boxes for any size in matching colours.

What should I print on packing tape?

Keep it short and bold. Tape is narrow, and most people see it from arm's length or from a doorstep camera.

A logo plus a web address is the most common design. A short thank-you line works for gift shops. Handling words such as "Fragile" or "This way up" help couriers treat the box with care. A repeating pattern in your brand colours can look smart with no words at all.

Avoid long sentences, fine type and small details. They are hard to read at tape width, and the tape gun can cut through them.

Which print option suits my tape?

The number of colours drives the look. More colours suit detailed artwork; fewer colours suit bold logos and keep the design punchy.

Brown, white or coloured tape?

Brown tape blends into kraft boxes, so the print looks almost stamped onto the carton. Black or white ink works best on it, and the effect is calm and natural.

White tape makes any ink colour stand out. It is the safe choice for multi-colour logos. A fully printed background, like the mint and blue rolls in our photos, turns the tape itself into a feature. It suits brands with a strong signature colour. For a plain coloured tape without a logo, see our coloured packing tape in solid shades.

Mistakes people make with printed tape

The biggest is shrinking a full logo to fit the tape width. A wide logo with small text becomes unreadable. Use a simpler version of the logo, or the icon on its own.

Another is a repeat that is too long. If the design only appears every half metre, short strips may show nothing at all. A shorter repeat puts the brand on every piece. Last, check contrast. Pale grey ink on brown tape disappears on a doorstep.

Does printed tape show if a parcel was opened?

It helps. If someone cuts the tape and reseals the box, they rarely have your printed tape to hand. Plain tape over a gap in your logo stands out at once.

That makes branded tape a simple check for valuable goods and for returns. Ask your packing team to note any parcel that comes back with mixed tape.

Warehouses use the same idea in reverse. When stock arrives sealed with a supplier's printed tape, goods-in staff can check the seal is intact before signing for it.

How many rolls of printed tape do I need?

Start with how many parcels you send in a typical month. A small mailer usually takes one strip across the opening edge. A carton taped top and bottom takes two strips, and a heavy one may need four.

Measure one strip of each kind and add them up for a month of orders. Divide that total by the roll length on your quote and you have a monthly roll count. Order two or three months at a time, so you are not caught short in a busy week.

If you are just starting out, a smaller first order lets you see the tape on real parcels. You can then reorder with confidence, or tweak the design while the artwork is still fresh. For more ways to trim parcel costs, read our guide to cutting UK postage costs.

How do I order printed packing tape?

Printed tape is priced from £0.25 per unit, and the exact price is set on your written quote. Send us your logo, the tape colour, the number of print colours and the number of rolls. Use our printed tape quote form, email info@ordercardboardboxes.co.uk, or WhatsApp us your artwork.

Our designers lay out the repeat free and send a digital proof before printing. Rolls are produced in 4 to 6 business days from approval. Tracked shipping then takes 2 to 3 business days, free to any UK address. If rolls arrive damaged or misprinted, send photos within 10 days for a reprint or a refund.