What’s the difference between painter’s tape and masking tape?

Painter’s tape and masking tape are very similar products and serve much the same purpose, however, are used in slightly different situations.

Painter’s tape is most commonly associated with decorating and DIY – it is designed to be low tack to protect underlying paint surfaces and be easy to remove without leaving a residue or pulling away the paint beneath it. It may be called decorator’s masking tape.

Meanwhile, masking tapes are more typically used for spray painting work on surfaces that require a tighter bond to prevent overspray and are often used in conjunction with films to protect larger areas.