Tin foil is a thin foil made of tin. It was commercially available before aluminum foil, but it was superseded after World War II by cheaper and more durable aluminum foil, which is still referred to as "tin foil" in many regions. Tin foil is stiffer than aluminum foil and tends to give a slight tin taste to food wrapped in it, which is a major reason it has largely been replaced by aluminum and other materials for wrapping food. Because of its corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, availability, low cost, low toxicity, and slight malleability, tin foil was used as a filling for tooth cavities prior to the 20th century. The first audio recordings on phonograph cylinders were also made on tin foil.

Aluminum foil, on the other hand, is made from an alloy that is between 92 and 99 percent aluminum, with the balance primarily from iron and silicon to give strength and puncture resistance. It is extracted from bauxite, which is refined to make a pure aluminum oxide called alumina. The alumina is charged with an electrical current, and this process is known as electrolytic reduction. The resulting molten aluminum is then rolled into thin sheets, which become aluminum foil.