Bundling a sound lead
You are colour-coding or bundling an intact lead, and you will still refuse a taped mains repair. The Faithfull black roll is about £2.31, with a stated −5 °C to 60 °C line and no type number on BS EN 60454.
Insulating tape comparison 2026
The best insulating tapes, compared.
Top pick: CHUANGSEED black pack Best value: Status five-roll pack – Five colour rolls at about £3.64, 4.6 from 3,323 reviews, score 80, about 7p per stated metre. One review says there is no brown. Updated 22.10.2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
Insulating tape here means PVC film with a sticky side, usually 19 mm wide and 20 m long, for colour-coding, bundling or covering sound low-voltage wiring. Cloth loom tape and aluminium foil tape sit in the same amazon.co.uk search and are not these rolls. UK reviews still split on tack, thin film and cold snapping. A printed BS EN 60454 line is a tape-standard claim. Part 2 is the test-method part, not a type grade. Electrical Safety says a flex should have no joints and no insulating-tape repairs, so visible copper is a replacement, not a wrap. Width, length and the standards line are in the [insulating tape buying guide](/hub/electrical-equipment/insulating-tape/sub/insulating-tape-buying-guide). One review says that pack has no brown. It is not a joint and it is not a new sheath. Self-amalgamating rubber tape has no adhesive and fuses when stretched. Identification or bundling of an intact cable is in scope. A nick, visible copper, or a taped joint in a flex is not. Approved Document P, for England, makes a new circuit, a consumer-unit change, and alterations in a bath or shower zone notifiable.
Insulating tape here means PVC film with a sticky side, usually 19 mm wide and 20 m long, for colour-coding, bundling or covering sound low-voltage wiring.
32 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
9 of 9: Best insulating tapes compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 9Best overall
Best value
5.2/10
8.9/10
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7.9/10
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5.8/10
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6.4/10
∼ £15
∼ £2
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4.7(72)
4.6(8,208)
4.6(3,323)
4.6(938)
4.6(182)
4.6(172)
4.5(13,052)
4.5(1,377)
4.5(296)
Personal buying guide
Which insulating tape fits this job?
Question 1 of 2
What are you covering?
The best insulating tapes in detail
Our view
CHUANGSEED’s title says twelve black rolls of 19 mm by 20 m at £14.95, and the star line is 4.7 from 72 reviews. The unit-count field says 20.0 metres, and two United Kingdom reviews say the pack contained six rolls, not twelve. A bullet states −20 °C to 80 °C and primary insulation up to 600 volts, with no BS number and no film thickness. The 17 UK texts mostly say the tape sticks and that the rolls are individually wrapped. One says the film is thinner than tape they had used before, and another says the thickness is good, so even the gauge is not agreed. Adhesive failure is not the repeated complaint, which is why the stars look strong. The pack count is why this row scores last: you cannot tell from the page whether you are buying six rolls or twelve.
Pros
- 4.7 from 72 reviews, and UK texts mostly say it sticks
- −20 °C to 80 °C on the bullet
- Rolls described as individually wrapped
- Adhesive failure is not the repeated UK complaint
Cons
- Title says 12 rolls; two UK reviews say six
- Unit-count field says 20 m
- Only 72 reviews, 17 of them UK texts in the file
- No BS number and no film thickness
Best for: You would only order it after you have accepted that the roll count may be six.
Less suitable: You need the title’s twelve rolls to be the figure you can trust, or a standards line.
Specifications
- Model
- CHUANGSEED black pack
- Brand
- CHUANGSEED
- Price
- ∼£15
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(72)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- Title says 12
- Temperature
- −20 °C to 80 °C
- Standard
- n/a
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Two reviews say 6
Common questions
How many rolls are in the pack?
The title, the number-of-items field and the configuration say 12 rolls of 19 mm × 20 m. The unit-count field says 20.0 metres. Two United Kingdom reviews say the pack contains six rolls. The star line does not settle that count.
What temperature and voltage are printed?
A bullet says −20 °C to +80 °C and primary insulation up to 600 volts. There is no BS number and no film thickness. The 600 V bullet is listing text, not a repair rating.
What do the UK reviews say about the tape itself?
The 17 United Kingdom texts mostly say it sticks and that the rolls are individually wrapped. One says the film is thinner than tape they had before. Another says the thickness is good. Adhesive failure is not the repeated complaint.
Our view
The Faithfull black roll is listed at £2.31 for 19 mm by 20 m, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 8,208 reviews. The bullets say the film withstands −5 °C to 60 °C and is flame retardant conforming to BS EN 60454, without a type number or a breakdown voltage. In the stored UK texts the usual report is that it sticks and stretches when you wrap a lead. One review still calls the quality poor, so the average does not mean every roll behaved. The thickness field prints 19 mm, the same figure as the width, so the film gauge is not on the page. That combination of price, review count and a stated 60 °C ceiling is why it leads this set for a single black roll. You would look elsewhere if you need brown and green-and-yellow in the same parcel, or a listing that actually prints 0.15 mm.
Pros
- £2.31 for 19 mm × 20 m
- 4.6 from 8,208 reviews
- −5 °C to 60 °C printed on the bullets
- UK texts mostly say it sticks and stretches
Cons
- Thickness field copies the 19 mm width
- BS EN 60454 with no type number
- One UK review calls the quality poor
- Upper figure on the listing is 60 °C
Best for: You want one black roll for marking or bundling an intact lead, and a stated 60 °C ceiling is enough.
Less suitable: You need brown and green-and-yellow named in the same pack, or a printed 0.15 mm film.
Specifications
- Model
- Faithfull black roll
- Brand
- Faithfull
- Price
- ∼£2
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(8,208)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 1 black roll
- Temperature
- −5 °C to 60 °C
- Standard
- BS EN 60454
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Thickness copies width
Common questions
What temperature does the listing state?
The bullets say it withstands −5 °C to 60 °C, and the upper temperature field also says 60 °C. One UK review restates that as 0–60 °C. That figure is the reviewer’s, not the bullet.
Which standard is named?
The listing says flame retardant conforming to BS EN 60454. It does not print a type number or a kilovolt figure.
Is a film thickness given?
No. The item-thickness field says 19 millimetres, which is the same figure as the 19 mm width, so the film thickness stays unknown.
Our view
The Status pack is £3.64 for five colour rolls of 20 mm by 10 m, rated 4.6 from 3,323 reviews. The unit-count field is 50 metres, which matches five times 10 m, and the upper temperature field is 60 °C with no lower figure. The standards bullet says CE certified, not BS EN 60454. UK reviews treat the colours as useful for marking leads, though one says the set has not been updated and there is no brown. Another complaint is rolls stuck together in the pack, and the thickness field prints 2 mm, which is not a film gauge you can quote. One stored review also cites 33 m and an older £1.99 price, so that text may not describe this 10 m configuration. It is the pack to open when you want several colours for about 7p per stated metre and you can live without brown and earth in the same box.
Pros
- Five colour rolls for £3.64
- 50 m unit count matches 5 × 10 m
- 4.6 from 3,323 reviews
- Upper temperature field of 60 °C
Cons
- One review says there is no brown
- CE certified, not a BS EN 60454 line
- Rolls stuck together in some packs
- Each roll is 10 m, not 20 m
Best for: You want several colours cheaply for marking intact leads, and you do not need brown or green-and-yellow in the pack.
Less suitable: You need a named earth colour, a 20 m reel, or a BS EN line rather than CE.
Specifications
- Model
- Status five-roll pack
- Brand
- Status
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(3,323)
- Size
- 20 mm × 10 m
- Pack
- 5 colour rolls
- Temperature
- 60 °C upper
- Standard
- CE
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Thickness field 2 mm
Common questions
How long is each roll?
The title is 10 m × 20 mm, five rolls. The unit-count field is 50 metres, which matches five rolls of 10 m. It is not a 20 m roll.
Does the pack include brown?
The specification says assorted colours and does not name them. One UK review says the colours are not updated and there is no brown.
What temperature and standard are listed?
The upper temperature field is 60 °C. There is no lower figure. The standards bullet says CE certified. It does not say BS EN 60454.
Our view
The Gocableties ten-roll pack is £13.99, 19 mm by 20 m by 0.15 mm, rated 4.6 from 938 reviews. The included-components line names two black rolls plus white, red, green, yellow, blue, grey, brown and earth green-and-yellow, and the unit count is 200 metres. The temperature bullet matches the single roll at −18 °C to 105 °C, but this multipack does not cite BS EN 60454. UK reviews praise that colour range, then split: a cold garage roll snaps and will not stick, and more than one buyer found five rolls inside a sealed ten-roll pack, with a return refused. The adhesive line says rubber and one-sided, while a side-count field says 2. Choose it when you need brown and green-and-yellow named on the listing and you can check the parcel count on the day it arrives.
Pros
- Brown and green-and-yellow named
- 0.15 mm and −18 °C to 105 °C
- 200 m unit count matches ten × 20 m
- 4.6 from 938 reviews
Cons
- No BS EN 60454 line on this pack
- A cold garage roll snaps in one review
- Some buyers received five rolls, not ten
- Side-count field says 2 against a one-sided adhesive line
Best for: You need brown and earth green-and-yellow named on the listing, and you will count the rolls when the parcel arrives.
Less suitable: The roll will live in a freezing garage, or you need a BS number on the same page.
Specifications
- Model
- Gocableties ten-colour pack
- Brand
- Gocableties
- Price
- ∼£14
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(938)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 10 named colours
- Temperature
- −18 °C to 105 °C
- Standard
- n/a
- Thickness
- 0.15 mm
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- Rubber
- Listing clash
- Side count says 2
Common questions
Which colours are in the pack?
The included-components line lists two black rolls plus white, red, green, yellow, blue, grey, brown and earth/green-yellow. That is ten rolls. The unit-count field is 200 metres.
Is a BS number printed?
No. This multipack does not cite BS EN 60454. The temperature bullet is −18 °C to +105 °C. Flame retardant is a question, not a claim.
What do UK reviews report going wrong?
A cold garage roll snaps and will not stick. More than one buyer received five rolls in a sealed ten-roll pack, and a return was refused. Other texts praise the colour range and the tack.
Our view
JFA Supplies lists twelve colour rolls at £13.99, 19 mm by 20 m by 0.15 mm, with 4.6 from 182 reviews. The page says EN 60454-3 and RoHS, does not name the twelve colours, and prints no temperature. The water-resistance field says not water resistant, while a bullet still asks about outdoor wiring and does not answer. Several of the 27 United Kingdom texts like the colour range and the length. Others say the adhesive is very poor, has almost no tack, or that the film snaps, and one pack was thrown away. The unit count of 240 metres does match twelve times 20 m, which is more consistent than the pack-count rows elsewhere. Leave it if tack is the reason you are replacing a roll.
Pros
- 0.15 mm printed on twelve rolls
- 240 m matches 12 × 20 m
- EN 60454-3 named, still with no type
- 4.6 from 182 reviews
Cons
- Several UK texts say almost no tack
- Colours are not named
- No temperature printed
- Water-resistance field says not water resistant
Best for: You already plan to test a wrap, and you only need a twelve-roll length that adds up.
Less suitable: You are replacing a roll because the last one would not stick, or you need named earth tape.
Specifications
- Model
- JFA twelve-colour pack
- Brand
- JFA Supplies
- Price
- ∼£14
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(182)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 12 unnamed colours
- Temperature
- n/a
- Standard
- EN 60454-3
- Thickness
- 0.15 mm
- Water claim
- Not water resistant
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Outdoor left unanswered
Common questions
Which colours are included?
The listing says twelve assorted colours and does not name them. The unit-count field is 240 metres, which matches twelve rolls of 20 m.
Is it listed as water resistant?
No. The water-resistance field says not water resistant. A bullet still asks whether it can be used for outdoor wiring and does not answer that question.
What do the UK reviews say about the adhesive?
Several of the 27 United Kingdom texts praise the colour range and the length. Others say the adhesive is very poor, has zero tack, or that the film snaps. One pack was binned.
Our view
TAPEBEAR lists ten black rolls of 19 mm by 20 m at £16.99, the highest shelf price in the set, with 4.6 from 172 reviews. Only eight of the stored texts are from the United Kingdom. One of those calls it the best tape they have used and still too expensive against a 59p trade roll, one says poor quality, and one used it on a pond airline. There is no temperature range and no BS number. The water-resistance field says waterproof and a bullet says flame retardant, neither of which is an IP rating or a type test. The thickness field prints 19 mm, the width again. At this price you are paying for a ten-roll title with a thin UK sample, so a cheaper single roll with thousands of reviews is the clearer buy unless you have already checked that ten black reels arrived.
Pros
- Title says ten black rolls of 19 mm × 20 m
- 4.6 from 172 reviews
- Flame-retardant bullet on the listing
- One UK text praises the tack
Cons
- £16.99, the highest price here
- Only eight UK texts in the stored sample
- No temperature and no BS number
- Thickness field copies 19 mm
Best for: You have already confirmed a ten-roll parcel and you still want black tape only.
Less suitable: You want a temperature, a standards line, or a price near £2 for one reel.
Specifications
- Model
- TAPEBEAR ten black rolls
- Brand
- TAPEBEAR
- Price
- ∼£17
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(172)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 10 black rolls
- Temperature
- n/a
- Standard
- n/a
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Waterproof
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Thickness copies width
Common questions
Is a temperature or a standard printed?
No. The extract has no temperature range and no BS number. Bullets say flame-retardant material and indoor and outdoor use. The water-resistance field says waterproof. That field is not an IP rating.
What do the UK reviews actually cover?
Eight texts are from the United Kingdom. One calls it the best tape they have used and too expensive against a 59p trade roll. One says poor quality. One used it on a pond airline. The 4.6 from 172 reviews is the listing line, not those eight texts.
What is the film thickness?
Not stated. The item-thickness field says 19 millimetres, which matches the stated width, not a film thickness.
Our view
Gocableties lists one black roll at £3.95, 19 mm by 20 m by 0.15 mm, with 4.5 from 13,052 reviews. The temperature bullet is −18 °C to 105 °C, and the standards line says BS EN 60454-2, which is the methods-of-test part rather than a type grade. Cable wraps in the UK sample are the texts that say the film holds. The same first 50 texts also describe white tape, monitors and furniture, and the peel complaints sit mostly on those flat surfaces. The only image URL in the file is a small thumbnail, so you cannot check the roll from the picture. At £1.64 more than the Faithfull roll you are paying for a printed thickness and a higher temperature claim, not for a cleaner review pool. Leave it if you only need a cheap black roll and you do not want monitor-wrap comments mixed into the file.
Pros
- 0.15 mm printed, 19 mm × 20 m
- −18 °C to 105 °C on the bullet
- 4.5 from 13,052 reviews
- Cable-wrap texts say the film holds
Cons
- BS EN 60454-2 is methods of test, not a type
- UK sample includes white tape and monitor wraps
- Peel complaints on flat surfaces
- Only image in the file is a small thumbnail
Best for: You want one black roll with 0.15 mm and a 105 °C claim printed, and you will ignore the monitor-wrap texts.
Less suitable: You want the cheaper black roll with the larger share of cable-wrap comments, or a type number.
Specifications
- Model
- Gocableties black roll
- Brand
- Gocableties
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(13,052)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 1 black roll
- Temperature
- −18 °C to 105 °C
- Standard
- BS EN 60454-2
- Thickness
- 0.15 mm
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- Rubber
- Listing clash
- Reviews mix products
Common questions
What does the standards line say?
The bullet says the roll adheres to BS EN 60454-2 and calls that an industry standard. It does not name a type or a breakdown voltage.
What temperature is printed?
The bullet says −18 °C to +105 °C, and the upper temperature field says 105 °C. Flame retardant is only a question on the page, not a claim.
Do the reviews match this black roll?
The first 50 texts are dated in the United Kingdom, but several describe white tape, monitors and furniture. Stick failures are mostly on flat surfaces. Cable wraps are the texts that say it holds.
Our view
British General’s black reel is the lowest price here at £1.99, with 4.5 from 1,377 reviews and a size line of 19 mm by 20 m. The bullets name BS 60454 and flame-retardant PVC, and they do not print a temperature. The water-resistance field says waterproof, which is not an IP rating, and the page leaves “Is it weatherproof?” unanswered. Many of the first 50 UK texts say it is sticky enough for the money. Several others say it will not stay stuck, comes off a charging lead, or peels on a window. The thickness field again copies 19 mm. Buy it only if £1.99 matters more than a temperature line and you will test a short wrap before you rely on it.
Pros
- £1.99, the lowest price in the set
- 19 mm × 20 m on the size line
- 4.5 from 1,377 reviews
- BS 60454 and flame-retardant PVC named
Cons
- No temperature printed
- Several UK texts say it will not stay stuck
- Waterproof is a field, not an IP rating
- Thickness field copies 19 mm
Best for: You want the cheapest single black roll here and you will try a short wrap before you trust the end.
Less suitable: The last tape you used failed because the end lifted, or you need a printed temperature.
Specifications
- Model
- British General black roll
- Brand
- British General
- Price
- ∼£2
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(1,377)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 1 black roll
- Temperature
- n/a
- Standard
- BS 60454
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Waterproof
- Adhesive
- PVC
- Listing clash
- Thickness copies width
Common questions
Is a temperature printed?
No. The extract has no lower or upper temperature. The bullets name BS 60454 and flame-retardant PVC only.
What do the UK reviews say about sticking?
Many of the first 50 texts say it is sticky enough and cheap. Several say it is not very sticky, comes off a charging lead, or peels when used on a window.
Does the listing say waterproof?
The water-resistance field says waterproof. That is a listing field, not an IP rating. The page also asks “Is it weatherproof?” and does not answer that question in the bullets.
Our view
QILIMA’s six black rolls are £9.99, with 4.5 from 296 reviews. The bullet and the configuration say six times 19 mm by 20 m, while the unit-count field says 33.0 metres. A temperature bullet reads −5 °C to 80 °C, and another says the tape is suitable for primary insulation up to 600 volts, beside an item-resistance field of 600 ohms that the page does not explain. Most of the 42 United Kingdom texts say the film is strong and sticky. A few say it will not stick, or that it breaks within a short length as you unwind it. Reviews from other countries sit in the same file, so the 296 is not a UK-only count. Use it only if you accept that the length figure is unresolved, and do not treat the 600 volt bullet as a repair rating.
Pros
- Six black rolls listed at £9.99
- −5 °C to 80 °C on the bullet
- Most of the 42 UK texts say it is sticky
- 4.5 from 296 reviews
Cons
- Unit count says 33 m against 6 × 20 m
- 600 V bullet beside a 600 ohm field
- A few texts say it snaps while unwinding
- No BS number
Best for: You want several black rolls and you will not rely on the 33 m field or the 600 V bullet.
Less suitable: You need one length figure that matches the title, or a standards line.
Specifications
- Model
- QILIMA six black rolls
- Brand
- QILIMA
- Price
- ∼£10
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(296)
- Size
- 19 mm × 20 m
- Pack
- 6 black rolls
- Temperature
- −5 °C to 80 °C
- Standard
- n/a
- Thickness
- n/a
- Water claim
- Water resistant
- Adhesive
- Rubber
- Listing clash
- Unit count is 33 m
Common questions
How much tape does the listing claim?
The bullet and the configuration say six rolls of 20 m × 19 mm. The unit-count field says 33.0 metres. Those two figures are not the same.
What do the 600 figures mean?
A bullet says suitable for primary insulation up to 600 volts. The item-resistance field says 600 ohms. The page does not explain the ohms figure. Neither figure is a repair rating for a 230 V flex.
What do the UK reviews say?
Most of the 42 United Kingdom texts say it is strong and sticky. A few say it will not stick, or that it breaks within a short length while being unwound. Reviews from other countries are in the same file.
How we compared
Nine PVC insulating tapes on amazon.co.uk were scored from the listing lines and the UK review themes stored with them. Notes applied 21 October 2026. This is not a lab test. A temperature, a 600 V bullet, a waterproof field or a BS EN 60454 line is a listing claim, not a measurement made for this comparison. A high star line does not outrank a pack-count conflict. The highest score is the top pick. Once that slot is filled, best value is the Status five-roll pack. The weights below sum to 100.
1
Amazon evidence
25%Star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 25 and by a count factor. The factor is 1.0 at 500 reviews or more, 0.85 from 100 to 499, 0.7 from 30 to 99, 0.4 from 8 to 29, and 0.2 at 7 or fewer. Half values round up.
2
Listing fit
40%A stated width and length, a temperature, and a standards line you can read as printed. A thickness field that copies the 19 mm width, a part-2 citation with no type number, a missing temperature, a 600 V bullet beside a 600 ohm field, or a title that disagrees with the unit-count field, lowers this part.
3
Review outcome
20%UK themes about tack on a cable wrap. Repeated notes that the film will not stick, a cold snap, a short pack, or a review file that mixes other colours and monitor wraps, lower this part. A star line with only a handful of UK texts cannot take the full 20.
4
Value
15%Shelf price against the job the listing actually supports. The lowest price does not win when several UK texts say the end lifts. The dearest ten-roll title does not win on eight UK texts and no temperature.
Independent review
Last updated: 22.10.2026
8 sources checked
Insulating tape buying guide
Start with the job, then the printed width and length, then the temperature and what the standards line actually says. Price per stated metre comes after those three. The notes below follow that order for these nine amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a lab test.
What is insulating tape?
Insulating tape in this comparison is PVC film with a sticky side. The usual size on these listings is 19 mm wide and 20 m long. The job is colour-coding, bundling, or covering sound low-voltage wiring. It is not a joint and it is not a new sheath. Cloth loom tape and aluminium foil tape turned up in the same amazon.co.uk search and were removed. Self-amalgamating rubber tape has no adhesive and fuses when stretched. None of these nine listings is that tape. Start with the job.
Best for
- Colour-coding or bundling an intact lead, when you will still refuse a taped mains repair
- Matching brown, blue, or earth green-and-yellow, if the listing actually names those colours
- A cold garage or a warm enclosure, once you have read whether the page says 60 °C or claims 105 °C
Not ideal for
- A nick, visible copper, a joint in a flex, or a cable you have drilled into
- Anyone reading a 600 V bullet, a waterproof field, or a 4.5–4.7 star line as a type test
- A pack count you need to trust when the title, the unit-count field and the UK reviews disagree
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Reading part 2 as a type grade
BS EN 60454-2 is the methods-of-test part. Faithfull and British General cite the standard with no type number. JFA cites EN 60454-3. None of these pages is Advance AT7, the trade roll described as Type 2. A part number on the citation is not a kilovolt figure.
- 2
Treating 4.5–4.7 stars as proof of tack
Every kept listing sits between 4.5 and 4.7. British General and JFA still have repeated notes that the film will not stay stuck. CHUANGSEED’s 4.7 from 72 reviews does not settle a title that says 12 rolls against two UK reviews that say six.
- 3
Wrapping a damaged flex
Electrical Safety First says a cable should have no joints and no insulating-tape repairs. A nick or visible copper is a replacement. Do not wrap a dirty, damp or freezing film and call it a sheath. Green-and-yellow is for the protective conductor only.
What to weigh up
Size and pack count
HighThe usual roll here is 19 mm by 20 m. Status is the exception: 20 mm by 10 m, five rolls, with 50 m on the unit count. QILIMA’s 33 m field does not match six times 20 m. CHUANGSEED’s title says 12 rolls, the unit-count field says 20 m, and two UK reviews say six. JFA’s 240 m matches twelve times 20 m, and the colours are still unnamed. The Gocableties ten-pack unit count is 200 m and names brown and green-and-yellow, with UK reports of five-roll parcels.
Temperature and the standards line
HighFaithfull prints −5 °C to 60 °C and BS EN 60454 with no type. Status prints 60 °C and CE, not BS EN 60454. British General names BS 60454 and prints no temperature. Gocableties prints −18 °C to 105 °C and 0.15 mm. The single roll cites BS EN 60454-2, which is methods of test. The ten-pack cites no BS number, and one UK review says a cold garage roll snaps. JFA cites EN 60454-3 and 0.15 mm, with no temperature, and the field says not water resistant.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
UK core colours, including earth
You want brown and green-and-yellow named on the listing. The Gocableties ten-pack is about £13.99. One Status review says that cheaper colour pack has no brown. Count the rolls when the parcel arrives.
A cold garage or a warm enclosure
A 60 °C listing and a claimed 105 °C listing are not the same claim. The Gocableties black roll prints −18 °C to 105 °C and 0.15 mm. BS EN 60454-2 on that page is the test-method part, not a type.
Common questions about insulating tapes
Which insulating tape is the top pick in this set?
The top pick is the Faithfull black roll, about £2.31 for one 19 mm by 20 m reel, with 4.6 from 8,208 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets say −5 °C to 60 °C and flame retardant conforming to BS EN 60454, with no type number and no kilovolt figure. UK texts mostly say it sticks and stretches. The thickness field prints 19 mm, the same figure as the width, so the film gauge is unknown. The score is 87. That is a listing score, not a lab test, and it does not make a taped mains flex safe.
How much does insulating tape cost on amazon.co.uk?
On these nine shelves, British General is about £1.99 for 20 m and Faithfull is about £2.31 for 20 m. Status is about £3.64 for five rolls of 10 m, about 7p per stated metre. One Gocableties roll is about £3.95. The multipacks run from about £9.99 to about £16.99. A Fosseway trade roll of 19 mm by 33 m was £0.99 including VAT, about 3p per metre. That trade price is context, not a score for these nine listings. Shelf prices move.
Can insulating tape repair a damaged flex?
No. Electrical Safety First says that, with the plug out, a cable should have no joints and no insulating-tape repairs, and that you should not DIY-repair a cable you have drilled into. A nick or visible copper is a replacement. Approved Document P makes a new circuit, a consumer-unit change, and bath or shower zone work notifiable in England. Tape is not that notification and not a safe repair. A 600 V bullet on a listing does not change that. Call a registered electrician for visible copper, scorching, a burning smell or a tripping breaker.
What does a BS EN 60454 line on the listing mean?
It means the listing cites a tape standard. It does not mean the roll is certified to a type. Faithfull says BS EN 60454 with no type number. British General says BS 60454. The Gocableties single roll says BS EN 60454-2, which is the methods-of-test part. JFA says EN 60454-3. None of these pages prints a type number or a kilovolt figure. Advance AT7, a trade reference and not one of these listings, is described as BS EN 60454 Type 2. Do not read these nine lines as that type.
Which pack names brown and green-and-yellow?
The Gocableties ten-roll pack, about £13.99, names two black rolls plus white, red, green, yellow, blue, grey, brown and earth green-and-yellow. BS 7671 single-phase colours are brown, blue, and green-and-yellow for the protective conductor only. Old red and black remain in existing houses. Harmonised colours were required for work starting after 31 March 2006. The Status pack says assorted colours and does not name them. One UK review says there is no brown. Do not put green-and-yellow on a live core.
Is PVC insulating tape the same as self-amalgamating tape?
No. PVC insulating tape has a sticky side. Self-amalgamating rubber tape has no adhesive and fuses when you stretch it. None of these nine listings is self-amalgamating. Cloth harness tape and aluminium foil tape are out of scope as well. A heat-shrink sleeve is a different product, compared under heat shrink tubing. RS describes the PVC and self-amalgamating difference in its materials guide. Stretching these sticky rolls does not turn them into rubber tape that fuses.
Why do some pack counts disagree with the title?
QILIMA’s bullet says six rolls of 20 m, and the unit-count field says 33 m. CHUANGSEED’s title says 12 black rolls, the unit-count field says 20 m, and two UK reviews say the pack contained six. JFA’s 240 m field matches twelve times 20 m. The Gocableties ten-pack unit count is 200 m, but some buyers reported five rolls in a sealed box. A 4.7 star line does not settle a count the title and the reviews disagree on. Check the parcel on the day it arrives.
When should you call a registered electrician?
Call a registered electrician for visible copper, a nicked wall cable, scorching, a burning smell, a tripping breaker, a new circuit, a consumer unit, or work in a bathroom zone. Electrical Safety First says a damaged cable is a replacement, not an insulating-tape repair. Approved Document P, in England, makes a new circuit, a consumer-unit change, and bath or shower zone alterations notifiable. Counting rolls or reading a star line does not settle those jobs. If the film will not stick, replace the roll rather than wrapping a dirty, damp or freezing cable.
Our verdict
In this set of nine amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Faithfull black roll at about £2.31, with 4.6 from 8,208 reviews. The score is 87: one black roll, a stated −5 °C to 60 °C line, and UK texts that mostly say it sticks. The thickness field copies the 19 mm width, and BS EN 60454 has no type number. The best value is the Status five-roll pack at about £3.64, with 4.6 from 3,323 reviews and a score of 80. Five rolls of 10 m match the 50 m field, about 7p per stated metre. The upper temperature is 60 °C, the standards line is CE rather than BS EN 60454, and one review says there is no brown. The other seven have no award. The lowest score is 50, on the CHUANGSEED pack, because the title says 12 rolls, the unit-count field says 20 m, and two UK reviews say six. None of these scores is a lab test, and none of these rolls is a repair for a damaged flex.
Best value
View offer
Status five-roll pack
Five colour rolls at about £3.64, 4.6 from 3,323 reviews, score 80, about 7p per stated metre. One review says there is no brown.
Editorial
Editor
Insulating tapeElectrical equipmentamazon.co.uk listings
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: 22.10.2026
8 sources checked
Guides to insulating tapes
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Insulating tape buying guideWidth, length, temperature and what the BS/EN line meansBest insulating tapeWhich of these nine the reviews and the standards line supportHow to wrap insulating tapeHalf-lap, a relaxed end and a clean surfaceInsulating tape or self-amalgamatingSticky PVC against rubber tape that fusesInsulating tape on a damaged cableWhen a wrap is the wrong repair
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources listed below. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures used for the scores. Notes applied 21 October 2026.
- Electrical Safety First: plugs and fuses (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First: How safe is your home 2025 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Electrical safety, Approved Document P (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Advance Tapes: AT7 PVC electrical insulation tape (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- IEC 60454-3-1:1998, PVC film types (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- NICEIC via Voltimum: identification of electrical wiring (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- IET: new cable colours (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- RS: electrical tape materials guide (retrieved 21 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings used for this comparison. Notes applied 21 October 2026. We did not lab-test these rolls.