Preformed tapes can be classified by the expected service life and by material composition. There are only two classifications for service life: permanent and temporary.

Permanent.

A permanent preformed tape is any material that bonds with the pavement surface so that it cannot be removed by hand and has a service life of at least 1 year. This includes any inlayed installations and thick overlaid installations that have achieved good bond with the surface. Permanent preformed tapes must conform to and are classified by TxDOT in this specification as Types A and B based on application procedures and expected service life. Permanent preformed tapes are usually made of a plastic binder material with glass beads embedded onto the surface. Two of the common types of plastics binders used for permanent tapes are urethane and pliant polymer, contrasted as follows:

Temporary.

Temporary tapes are typically used for short-term applications such as work zones. These tapes are much thinner than permanent tapes, have foiled backs, and are pre-coated with a self-bonding adhesive. The preformed tape material consists of a single layer pigmented binder and glass beads that are applied to a metal foil backing.

Two forms of temporary marking tapes are available and vary based on their adhesive strengths. The first is intended for use in projects where marking removal will not be required. The use may be short- or long-term, but the markings cannot be easily removed. The other type is intended for easy removability and can be removed by hand leaving no trace of a marking. This type is most often used in construction zones and is preferred when markings must be removed. Removable preformed tapes must conform to .