Washi Tape vs PET Tape: Which Is Better for Journaling?

Quick answer

For most journaling and planner spreads, washi tape is the better default: it is forgiving, repositionable, and easy to tear by hand. Choose PET tape when you specifically want a transparent, crisp overlay that lets the page or artwork underneath show through. Many journalers keep both on the desk and switch based on the effect they want.

If you have ever stood in a stationery aisle trying to decide between washi tape and PET tape, you are not alone. Both come on rolls, both decorate pages, and both look similar in photos, but they behave very differently once they touch paper. The right pick depends on whether you value forgiveness or precision more.

This comparison sticks to what each tape is actually good at, using real products from our catalog as examples. You will see where washi tape journaling shines, where PET tape for planners makes more sense, and how to decide without buying a drawer full of rolls you never use.

What washi tape is actually like to use

Washi tape is a paper-based tape, usually made from renewable plant fibers. That construction gives it a matte, slightly fibrous look and a low-tack adhesive that lets you lift and reposition it without tearing most journal pages. It also tears cleanly by hand, which is why so many people keep a roll within arm's reach while writing.

The trade-off is precision. Torn edges are part of the charm, but they are not perfectly straight, and washi tape is generally opaque or semi-opaque. If you want a crisp border or a transparent layer over artwork, washi tape will fight you a little. It is best treated as a soft, layered, forgiving material rather than a precise graphic tool.

• Test a new roll on a scrap page first; low-tack does not mean no-tack on very thin paper.
• Store rolls away from direct sun to keep the adhesive from getting gummy.

What PET tape is actually like to use

PET tape is a plastic film tape. It is usually clearer, smoother, and more dimensionally stable than washi tape, which makes it a favorite for transparent tape journaling and for overlaying photos, stamped images, or handwriting. Because it does not tear by hand the way paper tape does, you typically cut it with scissors or a craft knife.

The trade-off is forgiveness. PET tape tends to have a stronger, more permanent grip, so repositioning it can wrinkle the tape or lift the paper underneath. It also shows fingerprints and dust more readily than matte washi tape. If you change your mind often while journaling, PET tape can make that harder.

• Keep small scissors or a craft knife with your PET tape; hand-tearing usually leaves a stretched, cloudy edge.
• Press from the center outward to avoid trapping air bubbles under the film.

How to choose for planners, journals, and scrapbooks

For planner spreads that change weekly, washi tape is usually the more practical choice. It removes cleanly enough to redo a layout, and it comes in widths and patterns that work as headers, dividers, and date markers. The removable washi sticker format is even more forgiving because it is already kiss-cut and ready to peel.

For scrapbooking and memory pages where you want a transparent overlay or a sharp border, PET tape gives you a cleaner result. It sits flatter over photos and printed text, and it does not add the paper texture that washi tape does. If your page is meant to be more graphic than layered, PET tape is the better fit.

The trade-offs at a glance

• Repositionability: Washi tape and removable washi stickers can usually be lifted and re-placed; PET tape grips more firmly and may wrinkle or lift paper if you try to move it. Choose washi if you revise layouts; choose PET if you place once and leave it.
• Transparency and crispness: PET tape is clearer and smoother, so it works as a transparent overlay; washi tape is more matte and often opaque, with torn or soft edges. Choose PET for overlays and sharp borders; choose washi for soft, layered texture.
• Tools and workflow: Washi tape tears by hand, while PET tape usually needs scissors or a craft knife for a clean edge. If you journal on the go, washi is faster; if you work at a desk, PET is manageable.

Catalog examples that show the difference

• Washi Sticker - Year of the Snake (Gold Foil): Each sheet measures 75 x 150 mm, is printed on removable washi sticker paper with gold foiling, and is kiss-cut so it is ready to peel and reposition. This is the washi side of the comparison in sticker form: you can place it, lift it, and move it without committing, which suits planner spreads you revise often.
• Wax Seal - Sailor Lil Mercury (Stamp & Beads Set): The set contains a wax stamp and beads that combine for a custom wax seal finish. If you already seal envelopes or journal covers with wax, PET tape or washi tape can sit under or around the seal as a decorative layer, but neither replaces the wax seal itself.
• Wooden Coaster - Coffee Makes Me Poop: Made from natural beech wood, treated with food-grade oil, about 3.5 inches, with a raised border and carved design; wood markings and color may vary. A reminder that natural materials vary, just like washi tape rolls can vary slightly in tone and texture, while PET tape is manufactured to be more uniform.

Which tape fits your journaling style?

Best for

• Journalers and planner users who change layouts often and want removable, repositionable tape
• Scrapbookers who prefer soft, layered, matte textures and tear-by-hand edges
• Anyone building a first journaling kit who wants an inexpensive, forgiving tape to start with

Not for

• People who need a perfectly transparent overlay or a razor-sharp border
• Crafters who want a permanent, strong bond on heavier mixed-media pages
• Projects where fingerprints or dust on a glossy film would be a problem

There is no single winner in washi tape vs PET tape, only a better match for the page in front of you. Start with washi tape if you value forgiveness and speed, and add PET tape when you want transparency and precision. Keeping one roll of each on your desk covers almost every journaling decision you will make.