Best Drywall Tape

Our #1 pick for the best drywall tape is Us Gypsum 388810010 Tape Cnr Drywall Metal 2In 100FT — Click to See the Price

Table of Contents:

Best Drywall Tape for Corners

Best Drywall Tape for Cracks

Best Drywall Tape for Inside Corners

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Whether you’re about to start a home remodeling project or you’re a contracting plumber, builder, or electrician, drywall tape will be one of the most important materials in your bag. After all, virtually any job that involves the walls (as well as many that don’t) will require cutting, patching, and joining.

So, while it may seem like a minor purchase and addition, there’s no escaping the need to find the best drywall tape available for the task at hand. With so many options to choose from, it can feel like navigating a minefield.

We’ve done the hard work for you by shortlisting four of the best.

Best Drywall Tape for Corners

Us Gypsum 388810010 Tape Cnr Drywall Metal 2In 100FT — Click to See the Price

Taping and finishing drywall corners are essential for a clean look and finish. We recommend using US Gypsum corner drywall metal flex tape for outside corners. The parameters of the tape are 2 inches x 100’ – this is pretty stock-standard for drywall corner tape. US Gypsum tape is flexible, highly durable, and easy to use on corners. The tape tears and applies easily, so you can achieve the best wall application possible. This tape doubles as the steel bead, and the tape, removing the need to put a bead in first.

US Gypsum tape can be utilized for a piece or top-to-bottom application, whichever suits the context best. Mud is easily applied over the tape on the corners, for a clean finish. When applying mud into the gaps in the acute parts of the corners where the two pieces of drywall tape meet, we found that the tape remains firmly in place and allowed for an efficient drywall tape and finish process.

Best Drywall Tape for Cracks

Duck Brand 280283 1.88-Inch by 180 Feet Single Roll Self-Adhesive Fiberglass Drywall Joint Tape — Click to See the Price

Duck Brand Drywall Joint Tape is 100 Percent fiberglass mesh is the best for repairing cracks and small holes. This tape is extra strong, fast, and easy to use, cutting time from the drywalling process. This tape is efficient and does not require you to pre-apply compound to joints. It is self-adhesive, repositionable, and comes in a large 1.88-inch x 180-foot roll. This makes it well-suited to difficult jobs. Duck Brand Self-Adhesive Fiberglass Drywall tape is a standard thickness, at around 40mm.

Damage to drywall can occur at any point, as a result of things such as temperature changes, settling, two large pieces of drywall moving in respect to each other, etc. Using tape provides flexibility to the joint, preventing cracks as the tape covers over the movement of the two pieces of drywall. In the final layers (the 2nd and 3rd layer), it is important to feather with one continuous stroke, for the cleanest finish when using Duck Brand Drywall Joint tape.

Best Drywall Tape for Inside Corners

STRAIT FLEX WF-100 4-Inch X 100-Feet Wide Flex 4 Paper Face Composite Tape — Click to See the Price

Strait Flex Paper Face Composite tape is ideal for drywall taping inside corners. The tape creases neatly and easily, making it optimal to use for hard-to-straighten vaults, butterfly vaults, hard-to-straighten outside corners & obtuse angles. The tape is 4 inch X 100- Feet Wide.

This drywall tape works best with thinned down, all-purpose for taping mud, as it is easier to work with – mud that is too thick will be harder to use, and less efficient. If you don’t have a paddle or mixing tool, you can add water to the mixture and mix it in the bucket. As you work with the mud, the texture will become more consistent.

We recommend leaving a quarter inch from where the corner beads end, if you choose to use them, and apply the drywall corner tape from there.

Best Drywall Tape for Ceilings

FibaTape FDW8654-U Perfect Finish, Ultra-Thin Joint Drywall Tape, White — Click to See the Price

FibaTape Perfect Finish tape is a self-adhesive, fiberglass mesh drywall tape. The tape was designed for a seamless drywall finish, or to repair any cracks in ceiling drywall. FibaTape perfect Finish is ultrathin compared to other ceiling drywall tape, making for an easier, smoother mudding process. The tape is 33% thinner than standard paper drywall tape and regular fiberglass mesh tape. However, the strength of the tape is retained due to the mesh composition, and the increased number of fabric yarns. The strength was measured using strength-to-first-crack testing, which proved that Perfect Finish is stronger than standard fiberglass mesh. This tape is perfect for butt-end joints and eliminates blisters & blisters. The parameters are 300’ X 1-⅞”.

Since Perfect Finish is so thin, it requires less compound for easier feathering and sanding. This decreases the labor time of ceiling drywall jobs but does not compromise the quality or standard of finish. FibaTape works best if the joint is pre-mudded, and then the tape is applied.

Best Drywall Tape for Beginners

Red Devil 1226 Onetime Fiber Mesh Crack Patch 6″ x 75′ Wall Repair Fabric, White — Click to See the Price

Red Devil Onetime Fiber Mesh Crack Patch 6″ x 75′ Wall Repair Fabric comes in a self-adhesive roll, designed to repair and reinforce reoccurring hair-line cracks in drywall. It is simple to use, just peel and stick the repair fabric over the damaged area. It can be cut to size and versatility easily and can be used anywhere around the home. Cracks can be hard to avoid in drywall jobs on both walls and ceilings, occurring naturally as a result of temperature changes, settling after a fresh drywall job, the meeting of two drywall tapes etc. A quick and easy permanent repair job is essential to troubleshoot these problems.

Red Devil Fiber Mesh Repair Fabric is easy to use. It’s as simple as placing the patch over the hairline crack or covering the area with a Onetime Lightweight Spackling and lightly sand. This will ensure a long-lasting repair. The patch or covering system is fast, yet professional looking.

Best Paper Drywall Tape

Ultratape Heavy Grade — Click to See the Price 

Paper drywall tape is, unsurprisingly, made from long strips of self-adhesive paper that can be used on inside corners to cover the seam before applying the joint compound. Ultratape’s Heavy Grade product is the best in class.

The Ultratape brand is known for producing a number of robust and durable tapes, and the paper joint tape boasts those properties. It’s strength is one of the key selling points, especially as paper drywall tape is often deemed too weak on its own. The strength of the material means that you can use a firm force, allowing you to reduce the threat of punctures or air bubbles.

You will need to prepare the wall with a light layer of drywall mud, but the tape is one of the least expensive options on the market. Skilled DIYers and professional contractors will have the confidence to use it while the easy-rip properties allow you to work with accuracy.

This 50mm-wide tape is available in a roll of 150m and its thickness ensures that you do not need to create double layers to get your plasterboard or other drywall facilities in good health. It looks good, is easy to use, and provides excellent results. Perfect.

Best Fibreglass Mesh Tape

Uwecan Board Seam Tape — Click to See the Price

Fibreglass mesh tape is a low-stick adhesive that is well suited to a range of situations, particuulary when a paper tape won’t do. It’s strength and durability is supported by self-adhesive properties and, while it isn’t particularly good for corners, can be utilised in a range of situations.

Uwecan’s 100% fibreglass mesh is a high premium tape that can be utilised for repairing board seams, gypsum board joints, wall cracks, and wall damages. It is a particularly easy mesh tape to cut, allowing for optimal accuracy before an equally easy installation while its alkali resistance ensures years of reliable service.

One of the great things about the Uwecan offering is that their range of 25 rolls can be found at multiple width sizes including 5cm, 10cm, 15cm, 20cm, and 30cm. The filler can be pushed through with ease while it is particularly suited to repairing holes and scratches on smooth wall surfaces.

The fibreglass mesh is a lot thicker than paper, which makes it air bubble resistant but can produce a sticky residue. Given its fantastic pricing and plethora of options courtesy of the varying sizes, Uwecan create a great finish.

Best Ultra-Thin Fibreglass Tape: FibaTape

The ultra-thin fibreglass tape is an ideal option when seeking a smooth solution thanks to it’s thin properties that provide a flatter finish. It also particularly suitable for single-spot repairs and butt joints while the 300’ long Fibatape solution is the best in class.

As an ultra-thin solution that is designed to eliminate bubbles and blisters, the FibaTape drywall repair solution also offers 50% more intersection points for added durability due to its incrased number of threads while the fine mesh finish creates a fabric-like feel. While it will require scissors for cutting, the strips are far easier to handle.

Despite the increased number of threads, this type of drywall tape is free from loose threads. It’s main limitation is that it isn’t suited to corners. However, the plethora of projects that this style of tape is suited to easily compensates. Not least because the thinness of the material also stops bulges and bubbles under the drywall mud.

FibaTape is the biggest and best name in this arena, specialising on manufacturing the premier ultra-thin fibreglass tape currently on the market. If opting for this type of material, it is the only solution you should consider.

Best Metal Drywall Tape: US Gypsum

Metal drywall tape is considered something of a niche product, and is one that is designed almost exclusively for internal corners. It uses paper drywall tape, but also includes two strips of thin metal along the length of the tape, leaving a small gap in the middle. US Gypsum’s version is the best.

Made in China, the 100’ roll of tape offers fantastic durability while the metal strips stay in place too. Meanwhile the 2.8” width is an ideal size for the internal wall tasks in mind. The crease that is provided courtesy of the metal strips makes creasing a lot easier than standard paper rolls.

US Gypsum is a name synonymous with quality while, even with the metal strips, their tape is easy to cut and handle. It’s strong adhesive keeps it in place while you can use a firm touch without fear of creating air bubbles – although you may still see some of the compound once this has been added.

Despite the notable limitations regarding the challenges in hiding the drywall compound, as well as the fact it does not suit external corners or flat surfaces, the metal drywall tape option is still a route that you may need to take When you do, the US Gypsum solution is the ultimate solution.

Conclusion

There are many projects in which you may need drywall tape and, ultimately, you will want to find the most suitable option for the job at hand. As a rule of thumb, the ultra-thin fibreglass or standard paper drywall tape products will be top of the agenda. Whichever style is right for you, though, you now know where to find the best item for your requirements.