You’ve been painting and your masterpiece is finally complete – you look around your room and see the perfect spot to proudly display your hard work but something makes you pause.
The years of hanging up frames and paintings has taught you how difficult, damaging and permanent it can be to use drills, nails and hammers.
But then, you remember the wonderful invention known as mounting tapes!
These marvelous things allow you to hang everything from small frames to big mirrors on your wall all the while saving you from the hassles of yesteryear. Mounting tapes are also very versatile and can be used in crafting and automobile repair amongst other things.
So what are the best mounting tapes? Good strong adhesive abilities, ease of use and longevity are some of the things that make a mounting tape the best. It is worth investing in a mounting tape by specific function or location, as different tapes will work better on different surfaces or be better for heavier objects.
The best brands based on adhesive strength and ease of use are Gorilla and Scotch.
In this guide we’ll talk about the five best mounting tapes for every surface in your home and discuss what you should be looking for when shopping for tapes to hang up everything from small paintings to big, heavy objects both indoors and outdoors.
Mounting Tapes – What To Look For
The kind of mounting tape that will work best for you will depend on what you want to hang up, where you want to hang it up, and how long you want that object to stay up.
We’ll list the four things that make any mounting tape a great success, so you can make an informed purchase – and end up with a tape that will actually fulfill your needs!
Thickness and Width
The thickness of a mounting tape refers to the adhesive system that it has, while width simply means how wide the tape is measured across.
1. When you want to mount something on textured or non-uniform surfaces, your best bet is go for a mounting tape that has a thick bonding system.
2. For smoother surfaces or temporary hanging, you should get a tape that has a thinner bonding system.
3. For heavier objects, you need to buy a tape that is wider since that helps to distribute the weight and provide better, longer adhesion.
Longevity
Depending on your needs, one of the things you should be looking for is the longevity of the mounting tape.
If you’re looking to hang up your newly varnished art piece or a frame for a longer period of time, you should be opting for a mounting tape that promises a longer bonding time compared to others.
For temporary hanging you need to look for a tape that allows for easy removal and the longest bonding time as that can help you take it off and move around the object or if you’re renting, take that object to your next home.
The longevity of a mounting tape also plays a huge part in whether you’re mounting something indoors or outdoors.
Strength
One of the most important things you should be looking for when it comes to mounting tapes is the strength of the adhesive. That holds true whether you’re hanging up a small frame or a huge mirror.
The strength of a mounting tape comes from the viscosity of the adhesive.
If you’re mounting something on top of a textured wall, you need high viscosity as that ensures proper and strong adhesion. When hanging something on a smoother surface, tapes with low viscosity will work just fine as long as you’re hanging up a smaller object.
When looking at the different tapes available in the market, look for the ones that can hold a lot of weight and you’ll be golden.
Removal
One of the best things about most mounting tapes is the fact that they can be removed easily without damaging your walls.
When you’re shopping for mounting tapes, you will want to look for products that offer an easy removal and that will not take out a piece of your wall when you try to remove it.
For smaller objects or for temporary hanging, look for tapes that are safe for walls and don’t require a lot of work on your part to remove. For heavier objects you may have to opt for the strongest tapes which may not provide easy removal but there are some tapes in the market that provide both.
Depending on what you need, easy removal is a great thing to look for when shopping for mounting tape.
The 5 Best Mounting Tapes for Every Surface
Not every mounting tape is made the same. As we’ve discussed above, there are many different tapes that are suited to different conditions and most importantly different surfaces.
Here are the 5 best mounting tapes that will help you hang up anything you want on any surface within a matter of minutes:
| Rank | Product | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gorilla Tough & Clear Mounting Tape | Textured walls |
| 2. | Scotch Outdoor Mounting Tape | Brick walls |
| 3. | Melca Double Sided Rug Tape | Concrete walls |
| 4. | Scotch Wall-Safe Tape | Painted walls |
| 5. | FIX-PRO Mounting Tape Extreme | Mirrors & heavy objects |
We found a tape for every basic wall type or use to help you out. But we also have more information on each below so you can find the best for your needs.
1. Gorilla Tough & Clear Mounting Tape
Best For Textured Walls
Check Current Price on Amazon
This mounting tape has a high viscosity as well as a great strength and can easily adhere to the texture in your walls. It is also weatherproof so you can use it to hang objects indoors and outdoors irrespective of the conditions and the weather.
A lot of interior design and craft loving people seem to love this tape. We won’t lie, it really is worth the hype. Though maybe that is no surprise from a trusted adhesive brand like Gorilla.
This double-sided tape offers a lot to be appreciated. It is very easy to use, bonds well to even the toughest of surfaces and leaves a clean finish. Just clean the surface before applying this tape and give the bonding agent enough time to work and you’re good to go.
2. Scotch Outdoor Mounting Tape
Best For Brick Walls
Check Current Price on Amazon
Don’t let the name of this one fool you! While this tape may be intended for outdoor use, it works just as well indoors.
Brick walls are textured and can prove a difficult surface for most tapes to stick to – except for this one! This tape is a great one to use if you want to jazz up your brick wall with some art pieces or even mirrors.
It is very simple and easy to use and provides a lot of adhesion that is strong enough to hold up to 15 pounds of weight. Since it’s made for the outdoors, it does not yellow or lose its bond, no matter what conditions or temperature it is put through. And the best part is this tape can work on a lot of other surfaces as well.
3. Melca Double Sided Rug Tape
Best For Concrete Walls
Check Current Price on Amazon
This is one of those tapes that again, is intended for other uses but is one of the best when it comes to sticking things to a concrete wall.
Concrete walls can also be a tricky surface to adhere to in the long term, but fortunately this rug and carpet tape is versatile enough to help you out!
Some concrete walls are smooth and yet can still be quite hard to adhere to, but this tape will provide a good bond that is strong and long lasting. One of the best things about this tape is that is easily removable and won’t damage your walls. If you’re looking to hang some art pieces or frames on concrete walls, this tape is your best friend.
4. Scotch Wall-Safe Tape
Best For Painted Walls
Check Current Price on Amazon
Whenever you’re trying to mount something on painted walls, you may pause for a second and think if it might ruin your paint or take a part of your wall with it when removed.
Well, this tape promises to be extremely strong as well as easily removable without damaging your painted walls. I can confirm that it does the job of hanging up your art pieces and frames very well and can take on a fair bit of weight.
It is also easy to remove and leaves no sticky residue behind so won’t be stuck cleaning your wall for hours. It has a unique adhesive which allows it to stick very well and be taken off easily. When you’re looking for a tape that protects your painted walls and lets you show off some art pieces, this is one great pick.
5. FIX-PRO Mounting Tape Extreme
Best For Mirrors & Heavy Objects
Check Current Price On Amazon
The name of this tape has extreme in it and boy, does it live up to its name. It is a strong adhesion tape that bonds to any surface that you put it on but will work the best on smoother surfaces and will hold up to 121 pounds of weight per each roll.
It is formulated to work in all kinds of environment and can be used indoors and outdoors. We’ve seen this tape used to hang up a few small mirrors in a mosaic style and found it extremely easy to use and very strong in its bonding to the wall. So this one is beyond tried and true!
For heavier objects such as mirrors or small racks, you can trust this tape to do its job in supporting the weight and not damaging your walls in the process. As with any product, you should not exceed the recommended amount of weight as that can increase the risk of accident or injury.
Conclusion
So now you know what you should be looking for when it comes to buying the mounting tapes that work best for you and your needs.
Knowing what characteristics to look for and the best of the best to try by location and type of object should equip you with all the information you need to confidently make a purchase that works for you.
You can ditch the hammer and nails while protecting your walls whether indoors or outdoors and you have the complete freedom to move any of these objects around as much as you want.
Happy decorating!
Up Next: What Paint To Use On Glass Windows
