Edge banding: types, widths and thickness
Edge banding is the strip that covers the raw edge of a board. It decides how a piece looks at the edges, how well it survives knocks and whether moisture gets into the core. Choosing it comes down to four things: the material of the tape, its width, its thickness and how it is applied.
Types of edge banding
| Type | What it is | Best for | Applied with |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Solid plastic tape, coloured through | Kitchens, wardrobes, office furniture; edges that take knocks | Edgebander with hot-melt glue |
| PVC | Solid plastic tape, similar to ABS | General furniture where cost matters most | Edgebander with hot-melt glue |
| Melamine (paper) | Thin printed paper tape, usually pre-glued | Repairs, DIY, low-wear and hidden edges | Household iron |
| Real wood veneer | A thin strip of real wood, often pre-glued | Veneered boards and plywood with a clear finish | Iron or edgebander |
| Solid wood lipping | A strip of timber glued to the edge | Edges that must survive hard wear, or be shaped | Glue and clamps, then planed flush |
ABS and PVC look much the same once fitted. ABS is the one most board makers now match to their decors: it has better impact resistance, keeps its colour and can be recycled more easily than PVC. Melamine tape is cheap and easy to apply at home, but it is thin and chips sooner on a door.
What width of edge banding
The tape is always a little wider than the board. It is applied proud of both faces and trimmed flush, so a tape the exact width of the board would leave a gap the moment it sits slightly off-centre.
| Board thickness | Common tape width |
|---|---|
| 15–19 mm | 22 mm |
| 22–25 mm | 28 mm |
| 30 mm | 33 mm |
| 38–40 mm (worktops) | 43 mm |
The rule behind the table: the narrowest stock width that is at least 3 mm wider than the board. Egger’s standard ABS edging includes 22, 23, 28, 33 and 43 mm widths, and suppliers slit other widths to order. Pre-glued iron-on tape is commonly sold in 22 mm and wider rolls.
0.4, 0.8, 1 or 2 mm
0.4 mm
Thin tape for hidden edges, drawer boxes and economy carcasses. Iron-on melamine is in this range.
0.8–1 mm
Carcass fronts and shelf edges: seen, but rarely knocked.
2 mm
Doors and drawer fronts. Thick enough to take a radius on the corners and survive daily handling.
These are common choices in the kitchen and bedroom trade, not rules. Follow the job’s specification and what your edgebander runs.
In CutspanEach side of a part takes 0.8, 1 or 2 mm. Enter thinner tape as 0.8: the length of edging is the same, and the edging summary groups it with your other thin tape.
Matching the decor
For melamine-faced board (MFC) and laminates, order the edging by the board’s decor code rather than by colour name. Board makers such as Egger make edging to match their own decors, so the code on the board — H3332 ST10, for example — is the code to give for the tape.
A “white” tape and a white board from different makers rarely match exactly. If the decor code is not available as edging, ask for the closest match and check a sample against the board in daylight.
Painted MDF
Plain MDF that will be painted often needs no tape at all: seal the cut edge, fill it, sand it and paint it with the faces. Where an edge must be harder than painted MDF — a shelf front that takes knocks — paintable ABS edging or a thin timber lipping is the usual answer.
How to apply iron-on edging
- Cut it longCut the tape 20–30 mm longer than the edge, so it overhangs both ends.
- Set the ironA household iron on a medium setting, no steam. Too hot and a plastic tape scorches.
- Iron slowly from one endHold the tape centred on the edge and move the iron along it, pressing down. The glue stays workable for a minute or two if it needs adjusting.
- Press while it coolsRub along the warm tape with a block wrapped in a cloth, so it bonds along its whole length.
- Trim and sandTrim the ends and both faces flush with a sharp knife or an edge trimmer, then ease the arris with fine abrasive.
On an edgebander
An edgebander applies hot-melt glue, presses the tape on, cuts the ends and trims both faces in one pass. EVA hot-melt is the common glue; PUR gives a more moisture-resistant bond for kitchens and bathrooms. If a supplier is banding your parts, they need the same four things for every part: which sides, which tape, which thickness and which decor — the columns L1, L2, W1 and W2 of a cut list CSV.
Questions
What width edge banding for 18 mm board?
22 mm. It leaves about 2 mm proud of each face to trim flush.
Is ABS better than PVC?
For most furniture, yes: it takes knocks better and keeps its colour. Both are applied the same way on an edgebander.
Can I apply ABS edging with an iron?
Plain ABS needs hot-melt glue from an edgebander or a hand-held edge bander. With an iron, use pre-glued tape made for it.
Does edge banding change the part size?
Only if your workshop deducts it. Cutspan cuts the size you enter; decide once whether your list gives finished sizes or pre-edging sizes.
How much edge banding do I need?
Total the edged sides of every part. The edge banding calculator does it from a parts list, with an allowance and rolls to order.
Plan your cut list now
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