Best Transfer Tape for Vinyl Decals (2024 Reviews & Guide)

Top 10 Transfer Tape Table of Comparison

Before we get started I know that some of you just want to grab the most popular tape and move on, whilst others might need more information about what the tape is used for in the first place.

So here is our table of the top 10 most popular types of vinyl transfer tapes - be sure to make sure that you choose the tape that matches the type of vinyl you want to work for. 

What is Transfer Tape & What is it Used For?

Transfer tape has an extremely important place in the crafting world. It does exactly what its name says – transfers your vinyl design from the backing paper onto a new surface.

Adhesive vinyl might seem like a regular sticker that you can just simply stick to a substrate.

But, vinyl is really thin and it can be challenging to move it by a hand. It can lose its shape, the edges can stick to each other, and you won’t be able to place it in a perfect position to your surface.

Also, many projects that use adhesive vinyl are delicate designs with a lot of tiny details. These thin layers are impossible to transfer without good transfer tape.

So, if you are serious about your work, you should get transfer tape, together with some adhesive vinyl tools which will help you to apply the tape smoothly.

When to Use Adhesive Transfer Tape?

If you’re crafting a project with adhesive vinyl, you should always use a transfer tape.

First, you should prepare your vinyl design. Most crafters use a vinyl cutting machine to cut out the letters or shapes that they want, but you can use other accessories, or cut out shapes by yourself.

Once you remove unnecessary parts around your design by weeding your transfer, you can rub your vinyl transfer tape over the left-over design.

Set the tape over the vinyl and flatten it out. The design will fix to the transfer tape and you can easily transfer it to another substrate.

This way, your design will stay solid and you will be able to transfer it in the same shape and form.

Can I Use Transfer Tape for Heat Transfer Vinyl?

Using transfer tape for vinyl is usually not necessary for heat transfer. You generally only use it with adhesive vinyl.

Most heat transfer vinyl (HTV) doesn’t require a carrying accessory since it won’t stick.

You can place it on any substrate freely before you apply the heat to melt the adhesive into the fibers of the fabric. In order to do this, you need an iron or a heat press machine.

You do however need to use heat transfer tape when you are working with printer heat transfer vinyl. However this type of vinyl differs from the type we are discussing in this article today.

When Should You Use Adhesive Vinyl?

Whenever you want to decorate a solid substrate, you can use adhesive vinyl. You can use it to place a logo on the door to your business, decorate the walls in your room, bring life to your windows, and so on.

You can learn more about the types of vinyl, as well as which the best adhesive vinyl is in our guide.

There are different types of adhesive vinyl.

Permanent vinyl is a strong, durable material that can last many seasons. Rain, snow, heat, and other unfavorable weather conditions shouldn’t affect it.

This type of vinyl has a super strong adhesive for obvious reasons and therefore you need to use a super tacky transfer tape in order to release the vinyl from the carrier.

Temporary adhesive vinyl on the other hand has been designed to only last for a short-term period, usually under a year. Therefore this type of vinyl has a light adhesive. 

Here is our guide that fully explains the difference between Removable vs. Permanent Vinyl.

Can I Use Adhesive Vinyl on T-Shirts?

No, you should only use heat transfer vinyl to decorate clothes. Adhesive vinyl will not stick as well to cloth and it will fall off after a couple of times in the wash.

If you want to transfer vinyl to your clothes, you should get a t shirt heat press.

Where to Buy Transfer Tape for Vinyl?

You can typically find transfer tape anywhere that you can find vinyl, some of my favorite places to source vinyl is:

• Amazon - They have some cheap but great transfer tape for normal adhesive vinyl. Some of the favorites from here include Craftopia & Angel Crafts.
• Swing Designs - They sell the good stuff! The brand-quality transfer tape that can be hard to find elsewhere, great for Oracal type vinyl and speciality vinyl such as glitter vinyl. Click here to shop.
• Cricut.com - The best and cheapest place to get Cricut transfer tape. They offer normal transfer tape rolls, bulk transfer tape and StrongGrip transfer tape. Click here to shop

Which Type is Best for Which Material?

As mentioned, it is important to match your material to the right transfer tape. Different brands have different strength to their stickiness.

If you get a tape that has a strong grip, it might destroy lightweight material. Get a tape with a light grip and you will be frustrated that it isn't picking up more textured material.

Here is a great guide to mix and match your tape with your type of material.

• Best overall transfer tape for a variety of crafts: If you aren't sure exactly what you will be working with, we recommend YRYM HT - it is cheap and works with most materials.
• Best transfer tape for car decals: It depends whether you are using a permanent or removable vinyl. We prefer using Oracal 651 permanent vinyl for our car decals which works fabulously with R-TAPE. 
• Best transfer tape for glitter vinyl: We love using Siser Easy PSV transfer tape for textured vinyl such as glitter or flock.
• Best transfer tape for Oracal 651: We love transferring our Oracal 651 decal designs with R-TAPE. R-Tape is a high tack rubber adhesive transfer tape.
• Best transfer tape for Cricut vinyl: We recommend YRYM HT for your Cricut vinyl, it is cheaper than the Cricut transfer tape and works beautifully. 

Transfer Tape Buyers Guide

There are different types of transfer tapes that work well with different types of adhesive vinyl. Here are some parameters that you should always look for in a transfer tape.

Size

If you are going to transfer just a few decals, you might as well get a 12” x 12” piece of tape. However, most of the tapes come in big rolls of over 10 feet.

You will be surprised how quickly you can use up a big roll of transfer tape!

Type of Vinyl

Not all tapes work with all vinyl. Most of the versatile tapes (from Amazon) are good for vinyl of normal thickness.

But you need to match your strength of adhesive on the transfer tape to the type of vinyl you using.

For example, you should use StrongGrip transfer tape if you’re looking to transfer Glitter Vinyl, whilst normal paper transfer tape will work well with your thinner vinyl.

We will outline what each brand of transfer tape listed below could be used for.

Also, consider using branded tapes for different vinyl brands.

For example, it’s best to use Oracal tape for Oracal vinyl, or Silhouette tape for Silhouette vinyl, etc. as the brands typically do plenty of test-runs to ensure that their tape work brilliantly with their own products.

Grid or No Grid?

Many transfer tapes come with a 1” x 1” grid that helps you position your design perfectly to the surface.

 However, some prefer gridless tapes, since grids can distract you and cover some important details on the decal.

Paper or Clear Transfer Tape?

In this article, you will see both paper and clear transfer tapes. The differences between them are minor.

With clear transfer tape for vinyl, there’s a possibility of air and wet bubbles to appear since it isn’t breathable. So, if you’re transferring a wet vinyl, it’s better to use paper.

On the other hand, paper tape is opaque, so you can’t see your design perfectly while you’re applying it. We much prefer clear transfer tape.

Price

The price of transfer tapes can vary depending on the brand and type, but the average price is around $1.5 for one foot of length.

Still feeling stuck on how to use transfer tape? Here is a great guide for you.

With the help of this 1/2” x 1/2” grid, you can easily place even the smallest details with geometric precision. Also, because of the low opacity, you won’t miss out on any detail.

Considering the medium tackiness, you can reuse the tape many times during the same project. 

On the downside, this transfer paper doesn’t work with Holographic vinyl, Glitter vinyl or HTV (it is simply not sticky enough).

We also recommend that you don't use it when apply decals to paper (because it is too sticky to release without tearing the paper). 

Pros

• Transparent
• Reusable
• Works well with Silhouette and Cricut vinyl
• 1/2” x 1/2” red grid for precision
• Cheap - only around 33c per foot
• Easy to use
• Massive roll (50 feet)

Cons

• Too sticky to use when apply decals to paper
• Not sticky enough for textured vinyl such as holographic, glitter and flock.

This transfer roll is for crafters who want to stick to the basics. While it’s not the best vinyl transfer paper for detailed work, it has some very useful traits – it’s versatile and extremely adhesive.

The Frisco Craft is a 50-foot long roll that comes at a low price. It is completely transparent, and that means that it also lacks a grid, which is why it’s not right for some crafters.

On the other hand, the clear tape helps you get a full picture of what your decal will look like on your surface of choice.

Note that this tape does not come with release backing. It is easier to take the amount of roll you need, cut out the rest, and just stick it over your vinyl for transfer.

When it comes to versatility, you won’t be disappointed. The tape should work well with Cameo, Silhouette, Cricut, Oracal, Holographic and many other types of vinyl, and you can use it on any surface that you prefer, from wood to glass.

If you prefer a thin, clear, quality transfer, this one is for you. It is pretty tacky so it might be a good idea to place it against your clothing to release some of the tackiness before use.

Pros

• Affordable and universal
• Completely transparent (No Grid)
• High adhesiveness
• Massive roll - 50 feet

Cons

• Doesn't work with textured vinyl such as glitter or shimmer

The Cricut Vinyl transfer tape comes in a size of 12” x 48”, making it smaller than other tapes on the list. When you compare the prices, you’ll see that the Cricut vinyl is also more expensive.

However, if you’re mostly working with Cricut vinyl, you should consider getting this transfer paper from the same manufacturer.

If you’re looking to work on some bigger projects or want a larger roll of this tape, it comes in four different sizes.

The largest one is around 30 ft., which is more than enough for any long-term crafting project.

Once you cut your vinyl, apply it to any solid surface and make sure to apply enough pressure with a scraper or a squeegee.

If you don’t, not even Cricut vinyl will stick to the substrate well enough.

Since the paper is completely transparent with a discrete, black grid, you’ll be fully aware of the decal’s position.

Overall, it is a very effective transfer tape that works well with Cricut products.

You can use the StandardGrip tape for most of the standard types of vinyl and grab the StrongGrip tape for the textured thicker vinyl such as Glitter vinyl.

 And don't forget that if you are using Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl that you need to grab the Cricut Joy Transfer Tape. 

Pros

• Great for Cricut vinyl
• Transparent with a black grid
• Available in smaller rolls (great if you don't work with adhesive vinyl frequently)
• StandardGrip tape is perfect for most standard adhesive vinyl, whilst StrongGrip tape is perfect for Glitter and textured vinyl.

Cons

• May be too expensive (Around $1.70 per foot)

This JH Best Crafts vinyl transfer paper comes at a reasonable price and is 10 feet long. Once you buy this tape, you will have enough transfer paper for multiple crafting projects.

If you want to do multiple transfers at the same time, you can use the same piece of transfer tape four times before the stickiness wears out. Re-using tape is a good way to save time and money.

The tape works with a wide range of vinyl types. It is an appropriate transfer paper for Silhouette vinyl, but it also works with Cricut vinyl, Oracal vinyl, and many others.

You can transfer it to various solid substrates both indoors and outdoors.

This transfer paper is transparent and it has a red grid which will help you center and fix your design.

This is particularly important when you’re transferring a small design, where you can’t get the full picture until you move away from the substrate.

• Not completely transparent

This is the cheapest transfer paper on our list that comes in a 50 ft. roll. If you work out the costs it will only cost you around 30c per foot if you grab this roll.

With this transfer paper for vinyl, you get a standard 1/2” x 1/2” blue grid to help you place your decal better. 

When you use this tape you’ll have no trouble removing the tape once you place the decal on the substrate.

However, I would only recommend this tape for standard vinyl such as indoor and outdoor vinyl. 

Pros

• Cheapest tape on our List
• Sticky and precise
• Comes in a big roll (50 feet)

Cons

• Not great for glitter vinyl

This tape works best with Oracal vinyl. It is the best transfer tape for Oracal 651 and Oracal 751, as well as with Oramask.

If you don’t use Oracal vinyl at all, you can use this product, as long as you have a good scraper.

You will need to burnish the vinyl well once you apply it to the substrate if you don’t want the paper to pull it back up.

When buying this transfer tape at Swing Design means you can buy it in various sizes.

Although, the 300-ft. roll is extremely affordable too, compared to some other offers.

So even if you’re unsure how much tape do you need, you won’t regret buying it.

Overall, this Oracal transfer paper is a great choice for the price.

The fact that you can order a 300-ft. roll for an amazing discount makes this transfer paper one of the best options if you plan on buying a larger stock.

Pros

• Great with normal and glossy Oracal vinyl
• Extremely affordable
• Various sizes

Cons

•  Doesn’t work as well with non-Oracal vinyl

7. Craftopia Vinyl Transfer Paper Review

This transfer tape works best with various Oracal vinyl types and decorative window films.

You can use it effectively with dusted glass, frost glass, etched glass, as well as precise and glitter vinyl. It is our go-to tape for speciality type vinyl.

This is a huge Oracal roll with a 300-ft. length. The first thing that will catch your eye is the price, as it is up to three times cheaper when you compare it to some other offers.

But you need to buy a large stock of transfer tape to get this discount.

You will notice that the tape is not fully transparent, and it also lacks a grid. So if you are a perfectionist when positioning your design, this tape may not be for you.

But if you frequently use a lot of transfer tape, don’t discard it out of hand.

This transfer tape is sticky enough to pick up the smallest of details and will remove the decal easier than some other tapes on the list.

Also, buying 300 ft. of high-quality transfer tape for the price three times lower than some other brands is a great deal if you’re into crafting professionally.

Overall, this is an effective and affordable vinyl transfer tape roll that can save you a lot of money without compromising on the quality.

It is an especially great choice if you’re crafting commercially.

Pros

• Extremely cheap when buying in bulk
• Works great with all Oracal vinyl
• Effective and easy to use

Cons

• Lacks transparency and a grid

The Siser EasyPSV comes in four different sizes, so you won’t have to overpay for tape that you will never use. At the same time, you can save money thanks to the discounts when you buy in bulk.

This roll is medium tack, which it the best transfer paper for vinyl of various types. Glitter and high-gloss vinyl will require a bit more pressure to stick.

But with the medium tackiness, you can skip the frustrating part where the decal doesn’t want to peel off the tape.

So, whether you use a normal vinyl or a special type, you should consider this tape. It comes at a far lower price than some other branded vinyl tapes but it does the job well.

If you want to buy the biggest roll, the size goes up to 150 feet. Since you can save almost double by buying the biggest roll, this is one of the best choices for serious crafters who require a great deal of tape.

The size of the smallest option is 12” x 12”.

When it comes to opacity, this tape is completely transparent and has as very discrete 1” x 1” grid.

Thanks to this semi-transparent grid, you can see exactly what is going on underneath the tape, and you won’t miss out on any smaller details when placing your decal.

Pros

• Extremely affordable
• Versatile tape that works well with all vinyl types
• Various sizes to choose from
• Semi-transparent grid for better vision

Cons

• Slightly pricey in comparison to other brands