Painter's tape and masking tape for sharp paint lines on walls, trim, cabinets, glass, brick and stucco. This page puts every tape we list side by side: 3M ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface, Scotch Delicate Surface and Rough Surface, FrogTape CF 120 and CP 130 with PaintBlock, Shurtape ShurRELEASE CP 27, Linzer Blue Dolphin exterior tape, and 3M Contractor Grade and General Purpose masking tape.
Choose tape by the surface and by how long it has to stay up. Multi-surface tapes are medium adhesion for cured painted walls, trim, glass and metal. Delicate surface tape has a gentler adhesive for fresh paint, wallpaper and cabinets. Rough surface tape bonds harder to brick, concrete, stucco and rough wood. Each maker rates a clean removal window, so pull the tape before it runs out. 3M's tips: press the tape down firmly, let it set 30 to 60 minutes before painting, and once the paint is dry to the touch, pull the tape back on itself at a 45-degree angle.
Compare by surface
| Tape |
Best for (maker) |
Sizes here |
Clean removal (maker) |
| 3M ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface 2090 |
Walls, trim, baseboards, tile and glass; medium adhesion; UV and sunlight resistant |
0.94, 1.41 and 1.88 in x 60 yd rolls; 6-pack
|
Up to 14 days |
| FrogTape CF 120 Multi-Surface |
Cured painted walls, wood trim, glass and metal; PaintBlock seals the edge with latex paint |
24, 36 and 48 mm |
21 days; up to 7 days in direct sun |
| FrogTape CP 130 Pro Grade |
Blue multi-surface tape with PaintBlock; medium adhesion |
4-pack |
14 days |
| Shurtape ShurRELEASE CP 27 |
Interior and exterior masking on painted walls, glass, vinyl, metal and wood; UV resistant |
48 mm |
Up to 14 days |
| 3M Scotch Delicate Surface 2080 |
Wood floors, wallpaper, cabinets, painted drywall and walls painted at least 24 hours earlier |
24 and 38.1 mm |
Up to 60 days indoors |
| 3M Scotch Rough Surface 2060 |
Brick, concrete, stucco and rough wood; 3M recommends it for use with or on lacquer coatings |
24 and 48 mm; 24 mm bulk 36-pack |
Up to 5 days indoors, 3 days outdoors |
| Linzer Blue Dolphin Rough Surface Exterior |
Masking on rough or exterior surfaces; solvent-free adhesive |
1.88 in |
See the roll label |
| 3M Scotch Contractor Grade Masking 2020 |
Non-damageable surfaces such as vinyl, carpet, metal and plastic |
18, 24 and 36 mm; 1.41 and 1.88 in 6-packs; 9-pack |
Up to 3 days indoors, 1 day outdoors |
| 3M Scotch General Purpose Masking 2050 |
Painted walls, vinyl, carpet, metal and plastic; labeling and bundling |
36 mm |
5 days indoors, 1 day outdoors |
Masking a floor or a whole wall? 3M ScotchBlue Pre-Taped Painter's Plastic puts tape and film on in one pass, and 3M rates it for clean removal up to 21 days.
Shop related: paint brushes, painter's tools and jobsite essentials, Trimaco drop cloths, and cabinet refinishing.
FAQ
What surfaces can multi-surface painter's tape be used on?
3M lists ScotchBlue Original 2090 for walls, trim, baseboards, tile and glass. Shurtape lists FrogTape CF 120 for cured painted walls, wood trim, glass and metal, and ShurRELEASE CP 27 for painted walls, glass, vinyl, metal and wood. For wallpaper, fresh paint or cabinets, use a delicate surface tape instead.
Which painter's tape is best for brick, stucco or textured walls?
A rough surface tape. 3M Scotch Rough Surface 2060 bonds aggressively to brick, concrete, stucco and rough wood and removes cleanly for up to 5 days indoors or 3 days outdoors. Linzer Blue Dolphin Rough Surface Exterior tape is the other rough-surface option here. We do not currently list FrogTape's textured surface tape.
Which tape for freshly painted walls, wallpaper or cabinets?
3M Scotch Delicate Surface 2080. 3M designs it for wallpaper, cabinets, wood floors, painted drywall and walls painted at least 24 hours earlier, with up to 60 days of clean removal indoors. FrogTape Delicate Surface is not listed right now, so 2080 is the delicate pick on this page.
Is FrogTape better than blue tape?
They solve the same job in different ways. FrogTape adds PaintBlock, a polymer that Shurtape says reacts with the water in latex paint and gels into a micro-barrier along the tape edge to help prevent bleed. FrogTape is designed for latex paint, and Shurtape advises testing first with solvent-based coatings. ScotchBlue Original 2090 is 3M's medium-adhesion, UV-resistant multi-surface tape with up to 14 days of clean removal.
Painter's tape or masking tape?
Painter's tapes are built for sharp paint lines and longer clean removal. 3M rates Contractor Grade 2020 masking tape for 3 days indoors on non-damageable surfaces such as vinyl, carpet, metal and plastic, and General Purpose 2050 for 5 days indoors.
How long can painter's tape stay on?
It depends on the tape: ScotchBlue Original 2090 up to 14 days, FrogTape CF 120 21 days (up to 7 in direct sun), FrogTape CP 130 and Shurtape CP 27 14 days, Scotch Delicate 2080 up to 60 days indoors, and Scotch Rough Surface 2060 up to 5 days indoors or 3 outdoors.
When should I pull painter's tape?
3M says to remove it once the paint is dry to the touch, pulling the tape back on itself at a 45-degree angle. Shurtape says FrogTape and CP 27 let you paint right after applying the tape.
