How to Tape Cardboard Boxes Correctly

Did you ever wonder if there was a correct way of taping those cardboard boxes? Simply filling your stuff, closing the lip and putting that long piece of duct tape will never help you to secure the contents properly. Yes, there is a “correct way” of sealing the boxes.

Start with the Right Materials

Even if you manage to tape the materials properly, it won’t do you much good unless you have the right set of materials with you. Start with a sturdy and strong cardboard box. Make sure there are no visible damages or loose edges as this could affect the strength of the box. 

Taping the Bottom

The bottom section is the one that takes the maximum load, so this is the area that you need to start working on first. Close the flaps (if they are open) and bring them all together. Use a nice and thick tape to completely seal the centre portion such that the two big flaps are held together properly. 

The next step is to make a cross with the tape. You might have heard this suggestion a lot of times. But this does work. Make sure you seal off the bottom end of the box before you make the cross. This helps to keep the base even more stable.

The final step in this stage is to make two parallel tape lines on top of the original taped line but in the other direction. This will help to keep the base and the structure pretty strong. 

Securing the Top

The trick to getting a properly packed and tight surface is to fill the contents properly without leaving gap or any space. Just place everything tightly and place it carefully. This way, nothing would move or shift while the box is transported. Once you close the flaps, push it slightly to ensure that it gets a nice and tight seal. 

Like we did in the bottom section, you need to tape off the center section with a thick tape. Now that the section has been taped, add two parallel tape lines on top of the center line but make sure you make these in the other direction. This should give it a nice and tight seal.

Some Friendly Advice

Use a tape dispenser to save time. Don’t rely on yourself for holding the box, measuring the length of the tape, handling the sticky portion of the tape, and applying the tape. This can be done individually. However, it would require a lot of effort and multitasking abilities to pull it off. So make sure you use a dispenser. 

You can use tapes that have text written on this. This is really helpful while marking the boxes. If you use these tapes, then place one on the side, and one can be placed on the top. This would give the necessary information to the handler.