Best Masking Tape for Glass and Windows: 2025 Expert Review
DR Joinery
Expert Joiner & Restoration Specialist
Painting sash windows is a delicate task. You need a perfect seal between the timber and the glass to stop water ingress, but paint a millimetre too far and it looks messy. Use the wrong tape, and the sun will bake the adhesive onto the pane, leaving you scraping away for hours and scratching the glass.
In my work restoring Victorian terraces, I see this constantly. Homeowners buy the cheapest beige tape they can find, leave it on for a week whilst waiting for coats to dry, and then find it tears into tiny shreds when they try to remove it.
Glass requires specific tape, especially if UV light is involved. In this review, I'll compare three options I keep in the van: a budget roll for quick internal jobs, a bulk 'quality' pack for general masking, and a specialist UV-resistant tape that solves the dreaded 'baked-on' residue problem.
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Specs vs. The Real World
The Spec: "14-Day Clean Removal"
"Manufacturers claim you can leave tape on for two weeks without residue."
On a south-facing window in summer, standard tape can bake onto glass in 48 hours. UV light breaks down the adhesive rapidly. Unless it specifically says 'UV Resistant', assume you need to remove it within 24 hours.
The Spec: "Multi-Surface Use"
"One tape works for walls, wood, and glass."
Glass is unique because it's cold, smooth, and transparent (allowing UV to hit the glue from behind). Tape that sticks well to timber might slide off cold glass or weld itself to hot glass.
My Top 3 Recommendations
Three options to cover different needs and budgets
CORAL 71301 Essentials Masking Tape for Paint Craft Trade and DIY 1 inch 50M roll
CORAL
This is your standard 'bread and butter' tape. At just over £2, it's perfect for quick internal jobs where the tape will be removed the same day. It's ideal for masking off the internal side of a sash window out of direct sunlight.
The Good
- Extremely affordable for everyday tasks
- Decent medium tack sticks well to timber beading
- Easy to tear by hand
The Bad
- Not UV resistant - do not leave on glass in the sun
- Will leave residue if left for more than 24 hours
- Can bleed if emulsion is applied too heavily
Installer Tip:
When using this on glass, run your fingernail or a putty knife along the edge to ensure a tight seal. Remove it whilst the paint is still slightly tacky to avoid pulling the paint film off the glass.
Priced at £2.05 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonASelected Premium Masking Tape 12 Rolls (25Mm X 30M) White Masking Tape
ASelected
If you are tackling a full house renovation or multiple sash windows, buying in bulk creates massive savings. This 12-pack offers a 'premium' quality paper that is smoother than budget options, allowing for crisper lines on joinery work.
The Good
- Excellent value per roll (less than £1/roll)
- Writeable surface - useful for labelling sash components
- Elastic structure handles curved beading well
The Bad
- Still requires relatively quick removal
- Bulk pack may be excessive for a single window repair
Installer Tip:
When restoring sash windows, we use a lot of tape to hold protective sheeting over the opening whilst the sashes are out on the bench. This bulk pack is perfect for that—strong enough to hold plastic sheeting against brickwork but cheap enough to use generously.
Priced at £9.67 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonScotchBlue Multi-Surface Premium Masking Tape, 24mm x 41m, 1 Roll/Pack
ScotchBlue
This is the only tape I trust on glass that receives direct sunlight. The 'Blue Tape' is industry famous for a reason—it is UV resistant. You can leave this on a window for up to 14 days, and it will still peel off cleanly without needing a scraper.
The Good
- UV resistant - will not bake onto glass in the sun
- Clean removal up to 14 days later
- Solvent-free adhesive is safer for delicate historic glass
The Bad
- More expensive per metre than standard beige tape
- Adhesion is medium - make sure glass is clean and dry
Installer Tip:
Use this specifically for the glass-to-wood line. Don't waste it on holding down drop sheets on the floor. For the perfect sash window finish, apply this tape keeping a 1mm gap from the timber bead—this allows the paint to seal the glass/wood joint, preventing condensation from rotting the timber.
Priced at £4.86 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Why does masking tape stick to glass?
How do I mask the corners of a sash window?
Should I remove tape when wet or dry?
My sash windows are painted shut, can you help?
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