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How to store your tapes properly, while you decide what to do with them.

You don't need to digitise everything today, but how you store your tapes in the meantime makes a real difference to how well they survive. Here's what actually helps.

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The Basics

Five things that actually make a difference.

None of this requires special equipment — just a bit of care with where and how tapes are kept.

1. Keep them cool and stable. A consistent room temperature, roughly 15–21°C, is ideal. Avoid attics, garages and sheds, where temperatures swing widely between seasons — that fluctuation stresses the tape and its case more than steady heat or cold on its own.

2. Keep them dry. Humidity is one of the biggest contributors to tape decay, including sticky shed syndrome. Avoid basements, bathrooms, or anywhere prone to damp. A normal, dry living space is usually far better than a "safe" cupboard in a damp part of the house.

3. Store them upright. Tapes should sit on their spine, the same way they'd stand on a shop shelf, not flat or stacked on their side. Long-term flat storage can let the internal tape pack shift or deform.

4. Keep them away from magnets and heat sources. Speakers, older CRT televisions and some electrical equipment generate magnetic fields that can degrade a recording. Keep tapes away from radiators and direct sunlight too.

5. Don't play them "just to check." It's tempting to test an old tape to see if it still works, but each playback adds wear, and if a tape is already fragile, that one test could be its last successful play. If you're unsure about a tape's condition, it's safer to have it assessed before it's played at all.

Quick reference

  • Temperature15–21°C, stable, not fluctuating
  • HumidityDry, avoid basements and bathrooms
  • PositionUpright on the spine, not flat
  • Away fromMagnets, radiators, direct sunlight
  • PlaybackDon't test-play fragile or old tapes
Get Started

Ready to stop worrying and get them digitised?

However well your tapes have been stored, we're happy to take a look. Tell us what you have using the order form and we'll take it from there.

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Questions

Tape storage frequently asked questions.

What temperature should video tapes be stored at?+
A cool, stable room temperature, ideally somewhere in the range of 15–21°C, is best. Avoid attics, garages and sheds where temperature swings widely between seasons.
Should tapes be stored upright or flat?+
Upright, on their spine, in the same orientation they'd sit in a shop shelf. Storing tapes flat or stacked on their side over long periods can cause the tape pack inside to shift or deform.
Does humidity affect video tapes?+
Yes, significantly. Moisture in the air is a major contributor to binder breakdown and sticky shed syndrome. Aim to keep tapes somewhere dry, and avoid basements, bathrooms or anywhere prone to damp.
How often should I rewind or play stored tapes?+
There's no need to play tapes just to "exercise" them, and doing so adds wear each time. If a tape hasn't been played in years, it's better to have it assessed by a professional before playback rather than testing it yourself.
Is it too late to save old tapes that haven't been stored well?+
In most cases, no. Even tapes that have been stored in less-than-ideal conditions can often still be transferred successfully. The main risk of waiting is that the window for a clean transfer narrows over time, so it's worth having them assessed sooner rather than later.