How to Use Binder Tape: A Step-by-Step Guide

You've got the roll. You're standing at the mirror.

And you're not quite sure where the first strip goes.

That's normal. Tape is simple once you've done it a few times. It's the first go that feels uncertain.

I'm Robyn Electra, and through my work with trans and non-binary people, I've watched a lot of people get the hang of taping. I've also seen the mistakes that hurt. This guide covers what binder tape is, how it compares with a binder, and exactly how to put it on and take it off safely.

If you're still deciding whether tape suits you at all, our guide to chest binder alternatives is a good place to start. If you're ready, grab your roll of Bond and Binder tape and let's begin.

What is binder tape?

Binder tape, sometimes called trans tape, is a soft, stretchy body tape used to flatten the chest.

It works differently from a binder. A binder compresses. It holds your chest flat with layers of tight fabric around your body. Tape doesn't squeeze anything. You move your chest tissue into place with your hand, and the tape holds it there.

That difference is the key to using it well. I'll come back to it.

Ours is made from 95% cotton and 5% spandex, with a hypoallergenic, medical-grade acrylic adhesive. It's latex-free and non-medicated. The adhesive is laid down in a wave pattern rather than a solid sheet, which lets your skin breathe and makes it less irritating. It stays on in the shower and the pool, and one application can last up to 5 to 7 days.

It comes on a roll about 3 inches wide and 16 feet long, in nude and light nude. You cut it to the length you need, so one roll goes a long way.

One thing binder tape is not: whatever is in your kitchen drawer. Duct tape, gaffer tape, parcel tape and bandages are not safe on skin. I used gaffer tape when I first tried to bind myself flat at 20. It held, but it tore my skin when it came off. Please don't repeat what I did.

Is trans tape better than a binder?

Neither is better. They're good at different things.

Tape is the better choice when you want full movement and full breaths. It doesn't wrap around your ribs, so it doesn't restrict your breathing or compress your body. It doesn't cover your back or shoulders, so it disappears under a tank top or an open collar. And it stays on through sweat, swimming and showers.

A binder is the better choice when you want something quick and repeatable. It goes on in seconds, comes off just as fast and needs no skin prep. There's no adhesive, so there's nothing for your skin to react to.

Plenty of people use both. A binder for everyday wear. Tape for the beach, the gym or the outfit a binder won't sit under.

Before you start: the 24-hour test

This step isn't optional.

Cut a small piece of tape, about 2 inches long, and put it on clean, dry skin on your chest or the inside of your arm. Leave it for 24 hours.

A little itch as your skin gets used to it is normal. Redness, raised skin, a rash or anything that spreads is not. If that happens, take it off with oil and stop. Tape isn't right for everyone, and that's fine.

If your skin is happy after a full day, you're ready.

What do you need?

Your roll of tape. A pair of sharp scissors. Something to cover your nipples, such as a square of gauze, a small dressing or a folded piece of tissue. A mirror. And some oil for later. Coconut, olive, canola or corn oil all work.

Give yourself time on the first go. Twenty minutes, with nobody waiting on you.

How to use binder tape, step by step

1. Prep your skin

Shower first, then dry off completely. Tape needs clean, dry skin to stick. Skip lotion, moisturizer and deodorant on your chest that day, because they leave a film the adhesive can't grip. If you have chest hair, trim it rather than shaving. Freshly shaved skin is more sensitive.

2. Cut your strips

Cut a strip long enough to reach from near the middle of your chest, across your chest tissue, to the side of your ribcage. Round off the corners with your scissors. Square corners catch on clothes and are the first part to peel.

3. Cover your nipples

Never put adhesive directly on your nipples. The skin there is delicate, and taking tape off it hurts. Place your gauze or dressing over each nipple before you start.

4. Lay the first strip

Peel back a little of the backing at one end. Press that end onto your skin near the center of your chest. That's your anchor.

With your other hand, push your chest tissue firmly to the side and slightly down, toward your armpit, into the flattest position you can find.

Holding it there, peel the backing away bit by bit and lay the tape across the tissue, smoothing it as you go. Don't pull the tape tight. Let it lie flat on your skin.

This is the step people get wrong most often. When you let go of your chest, the tissue tries to settle back, and that puts its own pull on the tape. If you've already stretched the tape, there's no give left, so it drags on your skin at the ends. That's how blisters happen. You move the tissue. The tape just holds it.

Keep the tape on your chest and the side of your ribcage. It should never wrap around your back. Wrapped all the way around, it starts compressing you like a binder, which is exactly what tape is meant to avoid.

5. Add strips if you need them, then do the other side

If tissue is escaping above or below your first strip, add a second one that overlaps it slightly. Make sure the ends of the new strip land on bare skin, because tape doesn't grip well on tape. Then repeat everything on the other side, checking the mirror as you go.

6. Smooth it down and breathe

Run your hands firmly over every strip and every edge. Body heat helps the adhesive settle, so give it a few minutes before you do anything that makes you sweat.

Then take a full, deep breath and lift your arms over your head. You should be able to do both easily. If anything feels tight or restricted, take the tape off with oil and start again.

How long can you wear binder tape?

Up to 5 to 7 days.

How long yours lasts depends on your skin, how much you sweat and how often you swim or shower. You can do both in it. Pat it dry afterward rather than rubbing it with a towel.

Because it lasts for days, you'll be wearing it overnight. That's how multi-day tape is designed to be worn, and it's different from sleeping in a binder, because tape isn't squeezing your ribs. But if it starts to pull, itch or feel tight, take it off. Your skin always gets the final say.

When the edges start lifting and won't stay down, it's time for it to come off.

Give your skin a break before you tape again. A day off between applications helps keep irritation down.

If you're taping to swim, our post on whether chest binders are waterproof explains why tape is often the better option in the water.

How to take binder tape off safely

This matters more than anything else in this guide.

Most skin damage from tape happens on the way off, not on the way on.

Soak every strip in oil. Coconut, olive, canola or corn oil all work. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes so it can work its way under the adhesive.

Start at one edge. Peel slowly, keeping the tape low and close to your skin rather than pulling it up and away. Hold the skin flat with your other hand as you go.

If it resists, stop. Add more oil. Wait. Then try again.

An easy way to do it is to oil the tape, then get in the shower. By the time you're done, it will come away much more easily.

Never pull tape off dry. That's how skin tears.

Afterward, wash the area with a gentle soap and let your skin rest.

Common binder tape problems (and how to fix them)

Why does binder tape cause blisters?

Almost always for one of two reasons. Either the tape was stretched tight as it went on, or it was pulled off dry. Lay it flat without stretching and always remove it with oil.

Why won't my tape stick?

Usually there's oil, lotion or moisture on your skin, or sharp corners are catching on your clothes. Start from clean, completely dry skin and round off your corners.

Can I use KT tape instead?

Some people do. Sports kinesiology tape works on the same principle, but it's usually narrower and the hold isn't as strong. If it's what you can get where you live, use it exactly the same way.

Does binder tape work on a larger chest?

It can, but it's harder to get a reliable hold, and you'll probably need more strips on each side. Some people find a binder gives them a flatter result. Our guide to binding with a large chest covers your options.

What if my skin is red or sore afterward?

Let it heal completely before you tape again. Never put tape on broken, irritated or healing skin.

Find the right tape for you

Tape takes a little practice. The first application is the slowest and the least neat. By the third or fourth, most people have it down.

What doesn't change is the basics. Test first. Clean, dry skin. No stretch. Never around your back. Always off with oil.

Get those right, and tape gives you something a binder can't. A flat chest. Full breaths. Nothing squeezing you.

Our chest binder tape is made to be gentle on skin and priced to be accessible. If cost is a barrier, our charity partner Trans Celebration can help, so money is never the reason you go without something safe. We ship worldwide, including the USA, UK and Australia.

Browse the full range of binder tape, or check our FAQs if you're not sure whether tape suits you. If you'd rather just ask, get in touch.