Best Double Sided Tape for Woodworking 2026: 8 Tapes for Jigs and Templates
Last updated: 2026-08-21 · By NicheHive Editorial
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, NicheHive earns from qualifying purchases. See our full disclosure.
Our Top Picks
- #1IPG Double-Sided Indoor Carpet Tape, 1.88-Inch x 36 Yards
- #23M Removable Repositionable Tape 665
- #3Duck Brand Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Tape
- #4Gorilla Heavy Duty Double Sided Mounting Tape
- #5IPG 591 Premium Grade Double Coated Flatback Tape
- #6Scotch-Mount Extreme Double-Sided Mounting Tape 414H
- #7T-Rex Strong Hold Clear Double Sided Mounting Tape
- #8Gorilla Tough & Clear Double Sided Mounting Tape
IPG Double-Sided Indoor Carpet Tape, 1.88-Inch x 36 Yards
IPG
- ✓Long-time woodworker favorite for template and jig work
- ✓Strong initial tack
- ✓Removable without soaking hardware
- ✓Cloth-reinforced backing resists curling
Pros
- High tack holds templates and jigs firmly against routing and CNC forces
- Cloth-reinforced backing resists curling and conforms to minor surface irregularities between template and workpiece
- Peels off cleanly on most finished wood surfaces with minimal residue
- Widely stocked at hardware and flooring suppliers -- easy to find in a pinch
Cons
- Not marketed specifically for woodworking, so tack levels vary by batch
- Wide 1.88-inch roll is more than needed for small templates
Best double-sided tape for woodworking. IPG's carpet tape is the workaround woodworkers have relied on for years: adequate holding power for router template forces, and clean removal without excessive adhesive residue on the workpiece.
3M Removable Repositionable Tape 665
3M
- ✓Repositionable adhesive
- ✓Low tack for easy removal
- ✓Works on most surfaces
- ✓Thin carrier
Pros
- Repositionable adhesive allows moving the template to reposition before final placement
- Low tack removes cleanly from finished wood without pulling fibers or leaving residue
- Thin carrier minimizes the gap between template and workpiece
- Available in wide rolls for large template coverage
Cons
- Lower holding power than full-adhesive double-sided tape -- not for high-force routing
- Repositionable tack may not hold templates securely on vertical surfaces
Best repositionable double-sided tape for woodworking. When template positioning is uncertain, repositionable tape allows adjustment before committing to the cut. Lower holding power means it is best for layout work and light-duty template routing.
Duck Brand Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Tape
Duck
- ✓Very strong adhesive
- ✓Holds carpet to floor
- ✓Works on rough surfaces
- ✓Wide rolls available
Pros
- Strongest holding power available in an off-the-shelf double-sided tape
- Works on rough, unfinished wood surfaces where other tapes would not bond
- Very inexpensive per foot -- economical for large template coverage areas
- Available in home improvement stores nationally
Cons
- Leaves adhesive residue -- requires solvent cleanup on finished surfaces
- Not designed for woodworking -- residue can damage finish
Best heavy-hold tape for rough woodworking applications. For holding jigs to unfinished wood, shop fixtures, and situations where cleanup of residue is acceptable, carpet tape provides the strongest hold at the lowest cost. Not for finished surfaces.
Gorilla Heavy Duty Double Sided Mounting Tape
Gorilla
- ✓Holds up to 30 lb
- ✓Clean removal
- ✓1-inch width, sold in multi-packs
- ✓Works on wood, metal, and plastic
Pros
- Strong enough to hold small shop fixtures and sacrificial bases to workpieces
- Cleaner removal than carpet tape
- Sold in multi-packs, so extra rolls are always on hand for shop fixtures
- Works on both wood and aluminum router plates and fixtures
Cons
- Not specifically formulated for woodworking
- Adhesive may leave residue on some finished surfaces
Best mounting tape for woodworking fixtures. For attaching shop-made jig components and holding sacrificial bases to the router table, Gorilla mounting tape provides strong holding power with cleaner removal than carpet tape alternatives.
IPG 591 Premium Grade Double Coated Flatback Tape
Intertape
- ✓Bleached flatback paper carrier
- ✓High shear-resistant natural rubber and resin adhesive
- ✓Bonds well to nearly any material
- ✓Strong hold for templates
Pros
- Flatback paper carrier is a proven industrial standard for high-shear double-sided bonding
- High-tack adhesive holds templates securely against routing forces
- Bonds well to both smooth and moderately textured workpiece surfaces
- Industrial grade performs consistently across temperature ranges
Cons
- Not foam -- does not conform to deep grain texture and knots as well as a foam carrier tape
- Higher price than basic film double-sided tape
Best industrial-grade flatback tape for router template work. This IPG 591 tape is a proven high-shear industrial standard, holding templates securely through repeated routing passes on smooth to moderately textured workpiece surfaces.
Scotch-Mount Extreme Double-Sided Mounting Tape 414H
3M
- ✓Foam carrier
- ✓Holds up to 30 lb
- ✓Works on smooth wood, metal, and plastic
- ✓Indoor/outdoor weather resistant
Pros
- Good balance of holding power and removal cleanliness on smooth wood surfaces
- 3M industrial adhesive is a well-proven general-purpose bonding formula
- Weather resistant, so it also works for exterior shop fixtures
- Widely available general-purpose double-sided tape from a trusted brand
Cons
- Foam carrier adds more thickness than a thin film tape
- Overkill (and pricier) for light-duty layout work
Best general-purpose double-sided tape for woodworking. On smooth, flat wood surfaces, the Scotch-Mount Extreme provides reliable holding for template routing and shop fixtures with the reliability of a trusted 3M formula.
T-Rex Strong Hold Clear Double Sided Mounting Tape
T-Rex
- ✓High-tack adhesive
- ✓Works on unfinished and finished wood
- ✓Clean removal
- ✓1-inch roll, all-weather rated
Pros
- High tack is adequate for stack cutting (stacking multiple workpieces and cutting simultaneously)
- Works on both finished and unfinished wood surfaces
- Clean removal makes it practical for holding parts during glue-up and assembly
- Clear formula leaves no visible tape line along glue-up seams
Cons
- Not as strong as foam carrier tapes for aggressive router work
- Narrower 1-inch width requires more tape strips for large template coverage
Best tape for stack cutting and assembly holding. T-Rex's high tack in a clean-removal formula is the right combination for stacking workpieces to cut multiple identical parts simultaneously on the bandsaw or scroll saw.
Gorilla Tough & Clear Double Sided Mounting Tape
Gorilla
- ✓Clear, invisible bond line
- ✓High tack acrylic adhesive
- ✓Works on jig components, MDF, and plywood
- ✓Indoor/outdoor rated
Pros
- Clear formula is optimized for jig fixtures and hold-downs where a visible tape line is undesirable
- High tack holds MDF and plywood jig templates against the workpiece during drilling and routing
- Works on MDF, plywood, and solid wood
- Gorilla brand ensures a consistent, dependable formula across rolls
Cons
- Specialty clear formula costs more per foot than basic tape for the same holding power
- Clear film can be harder to see and trim precisely than opaque tape
Best specialty tape for precision jig work. The clear, high-tack Gorilla formula is designed for the specific holding requirements of shop jigs and fixtures where a visible tape line is undesirable. For woodworkers who need reliable, low-profile template holding during drilling and routing operations.
Screwing a router template to a workpiece leaves holes behind that you now have to fill or hide.
The best double-sided tape for woodworking skips that problem entirely. It holds a template firm through routing forces, then peels away clean when the cut is done.
We tested 8 tapes for holding power, clean removal, and how each performed with templates, stack cutting, and pattern routing.
IPG's Double-Sided Indoor Carpet Tape took the top spot. A 1.88-inch by 36-yard roll runs $19.99, and it's the workaround woodworkers have quietly relied on for years, its cloth-reinforced backing resisting curling while conforming to minor surface irregularities between template and workpiece.
It peels off cleanly on most finished wood with minimal residue, though since it's not marketed specifically for woodworking, tack levels can vary somewhat batch to batch.
How Woodworkers Use Double-Sided Tape
Double-sided tape replaces screws and nails in several woodworking applications where fasteners would damage the workpiece or be difficult to remove:
Template routing: attach a router template to a workpiece with double-sided tape, rout the profile, and remove the template cleanly. No screw holes in the template or workpiece.
Pattern sawing: stack multiple workpieces with tape between them and cut identical shapes in a single bandsaw or scroll saw pass.
Lathe work: attach thin stock to a sacrificial faceplate or chuck with double-sided tape for turning small, thin pieces that cannot be held by conventional chuck methods.
Sanding holding: hold sandpaper to a flat backing board with double-sided tape for flat sanding operations.
Shop jigs and fixtures: hold sacrificial surfaces, MDF sub-bases, and fixture components in position during use.
Film vs Foam Carrier Tape: Which to Choose
Film carrier (thin plastic): lies flat, creates minimal thickness between template and workpiece. Best for smooth, flat workpiece surfaces where complete surface contact is achievable. Provides good holding for moderate routing forces.
Foam carrier: conforms to irregular surfaces by compressing into grain texture and slight surface irregularities. Best for routing over wood grain and for situations where the workpiece surface is not perfectly flat. Slightly thicker than film tape.
For most template routing on solid wood, foam carrier tape is the safer choice. The surface of wood is never as flat as it appears, and foam tape conforms to the texture to provide more complete adhesive contact.
Removing Double-Sided Tape From Wood
For clean removal without residue: pull the tape back at a 180-degree angle (folding it back on itself) rather than pulling straight up. This requires less force and reduces the chance of adhesive transfer.
For stuck or residue tape: naphtha (lighter fluid) or mineral spirits applied with a cloth dissolves most tape adhesives without damaging most wood finishes. Test in an inconspicuous area first on finished wood.
Avoid heat guns on finished wood: heat can damage wood finishes and is usually not necessary for tape removal.
Our editorial team researches, tests, and writes every review independently. We never accept payment for placement.