Dividing method of workpiece

A dividing method of a workpiece, in which the workpiece that is segmented into a plurality of regions by a plurality of first planned dividing lines each extending along a first direction and a plurality of second planned dividing lines each extending along a second direction intersecting the first dividing lines extending in the first direction, the workpiece having a device formed on a side of a front surface of each of the plurality of regions is divided by a cutting blade from a back surface of the workpiece along each of the plurality of first planned dividing lines and each of the plurality of second planned dividing lines, the dividing method comprising:

• a first work unit forming step of forming a first work unit in which the workpiece and a first annular frame are integrated by sticking a first tape to the first annular frame in such a manner as to cover an opening of the first annular frame and sticking the first tape to the front surface of the workpiece;
• a holding step of holding a side of the first tape of the first work unit by a holding table and exposing the back surface of the workpiece after the first work unit forming step;
• and
• a dividing step of dividing the workpiece by the cutting blade from the side of the back surface along each of the plurality of first planned dividing lines and each of the plurality of second planned dividing lines after the holding step,
• wherein in the first work unit forming step, the first tape is oriented relative to the workpiece and stuck to the front surface of the workpiece so that an angle formed between a straight line extending along a third direction on the first tape representing where the stretch rate of the first tape is the lowest when a predetermined force is applied to the first tape, and a straight line extending along the first direction of the first dividing lines or a straight line extending along the second direction of the second dividing lines is 45 degrees.