Looking for a reliable way to protect your belongings? Poly Tarps are a great choice. Made from polyethylene a water-repelling plastic, they work for homeowners, businesses, and industrial professionals alike.
Poly Tarps come in many sizes, thicknesses, colors, and features. Use them to cover boats, cars, and furniture, protect construction sites and roofs, or set up a temporary shelter while camping or in an emergency.
When choosing a Poly Tarp, start with size. Make sure it fully covers what you need to protect. Also look at special features, some tarps are fire retardant or reinforced for extra strength.
Color matters too. Poly Tarps come in many shades. Choose one that blends in, stands out for safety, or matches your style. Options include clear, translucent, and camouflage.
Poly Tarps are affordable, easy to find, and dependable. Use this guide to find the right one for your needs.
Poly Tarp Features
Poly Tarps are made from multiple layers of polyethylene (PE) sheeting bonded together with a woven mesh for added strength. Polyethylene is the most widely produced plastic in the world. It is used in containers, cables, piping, and much more.
Here are the key benefits of Poly Tarps:
Waterproof
Poly Tarps are waterproof thanks to their layered construction. This makes them one of the most popular and cost-effective covers available. They protect supplies, equipment, vehicles, furniture, and people from rain, snow, leaks, and other moisture.
Defending against Mildew and Rot
Poly Tarps are also treated to resist mildew and rot. This extends the life of the cover and keeps it working longer.
UV Ray Protection
Most Poly Tarps are treated to resist UV rays. This protects the material from sun damage and helps the tarp last longer outdoors.
Grommets
Metal grommets are built into the edges of Poly Tarps. Made from brass or aluminum, they are placed at each corner and spaced 12 to 36 inches apart along all four sides. Use them with zip ties, hooks, bungee cords, rubber straps, rope, or wire to secure the tarp in place.
Size
Poly Tarps come in a wide range of sizes, from 5' x 7' up to 120' x 120'. Custom sizes are also available for many styles.
Tarp Thickness
Tarp thickness is measured in Mils, one Mil equals one-thousandth of an inch. A 12 Mil tarp is 0.012 inches thick.
Thicker tarps offer more protection. Light-duty covers are 6 Mil or less. Medium-duty runs from 7 to 10 Mil. Heavy-duty is 11 to 13 Mil. Super heavy-duty starts at 14 Mil and can go up to 24 Mil.
Material Weight
Material weight is measured in ounces per square yard. Heavier fabric means denser, stronger protection. For heavy duty jobs, choose a higher weight. Even tarps rated at 12 oz. per square yard stay light and easy to handle.
Color
Poly Tarps come in many colors including white, silver, tan, green, red, yellow, orange, and camouflage. Some also come in clear. Choose a color to blend in, stand out for safety, or match your space.
Popular Poly Tarp Products
Poly Tarps make up 56% of all tarp sales in the $7 billion global tarp market — expected to reach $10.5 billion by 2028. The options available go far beyond the cheap versions found at big box stores. Here are the most popular types:
General Purpose Poly Tarps
General Purpose Poly Tarps are waterproof, lightweight, and tough. Made from multiple UV-stabilized polyethylene layers, they resist tears, abrasion, acid, rot, and mildew.
They are thinner and lighter than heavy duty options, making them easy to handle and cost-effective. Use them as groundcovers, equipment covers, furniture covers, camping tarps, temporary shelters, and more.
Medium Duty Poly Tarps
Medium Duty Poly Tarps are made from high-density polyethylene. They are strong, lightweight, and easy to handle. They resist UV rays, tears, rot, and mildew and work well for residential, construction, roofing, warehousing, landscaping, and agricultural use.
Heavy Duty Poly Tarps
Heavy Duty Poly Tarps are fully waterproof and resist UV rays, tears, abrasion, acid, rot, and mildew. They block rain, snow, wind, dirt, insects, and pests.
Use them for homes, garages, pond liners, ice rinks, warehouses, construction sites, shipyards, and landfills. Fire retardant options are also available.
Super Heavy Duty Poly Tarps
Super Heavy Duty Poly Tarps are built for the toughest jobs. They are fully waterproof with multi-ply construction up to 24 Mil thick. They resist UV rays, tearing, abrasion, acids, chemicals, rot, and mildew.
Use them for tent covers, roof tarps, heavy equipment covers, building enclosures, asbestos removal, and landfill covers. Fire retardant options are available.
Super Heavy Duty Clear Poly Tarps
Super Heavy Duty Clear Poly Tarps are 14 Mil thick and reinforced with white string. They let natural light through while still offering strong protection.
Use them for greenhouses, porches, enclosures, scaffolding, and more. Grommets are spaced 36 inches apart around the perimeter. They are 100% waterproof and resist tears, UV rays, acid, rot, and mildew.
Clear String Reinforced Poly Tarps
Clear String Reinforced Poly Tarps let light through while offering solid protection. They have three layers, two outer polyethylene films bonded with a middle layer, plus white diamond-patterned string reinforcement for added strength.
They are 10 Mil thick and weigh 7 oz. per square yard. Brass grommets are spaced every 24 inches around all four sides. They are 100% waterproof and resist UV rays, rot, and mildew.
The milky finish does not give a clear view but allows plenty of light through. Great for enclosures, greenhouses, and animal shelters.
Fire Retardant Tarps
Fire Retardant Poly Tarps are built for environments with fire and heat hazards. They meet fire safety standards including NFPA 701, CPAI-84, CAN/ULC S-109-M87, ASTM E-84 (Class A), and California State Fire Marshal guidelines.
They are also 100% waterproof and resist UV rays, abrasion, tears, rot, acid, and mildew.
Roof Tarps and Storm Tarps
Roof Tarps and Storm Tarps protect roofs and structures from severe weather, storm damage, and construction activity. They are 100% waterproof, durable, lightweight, and easy to handle.
They come in heavy duty and super heavy duty options, in many thicknesses, sizes, and colors — including blue, white, silver, tan, green, and clear.
Camouflage Poly Tarps
Camouflage Poly Tarps blend function with style. They come in many weights, sizes, and camo patterns, popular with hunters, anglers, boaters, and campers. They are 100% waterproof and resist tears, abrasion, UV rays, acid, rot, and mildew.
Green Tarps and Greenhouse Sheeting
Greenhouse Tarps and Greenhouse Sheeting come in 5 Mil and 10 Mil thickness. They let light through while protecting against wind, rain, snow, and UV rays.
The fabric is designed to spread light evenly and reduce shadows, which helps plants grow. It weighs 5.7 oz. per square yard and is easy to handle. Rope-reinforced hems add strength. Metal grommets are spaced 36 inches apart for secure tie-downs.
Available in 40' x 60' and 40' x 100' sizes. Greenhouse Sheeting without grommets is also available in the same sizes.
Hay Tarps
Hay Tarps protect bales from sun, heat, rain, and wind. Made from reinforced polyethylene, they are fully waterproof and resist UV rays, rot, and mildew. They come in many sizes and are easy to apply.
Using Hay Tarps extends the life and quality of your hay and can help increase crop yield and profits.
Poly Sheeting | Plastic Sheeting
Poly Sheeting is designed for construction, enclosures, and scaffold coverings. It protects fixtures, structures, and materials from rain, snow, wind, and dirt while letting sunlight through.
It comes in clear and translucent colors and is available in 5 Mil, 6 Mil, and 10 Mil thickness. Widths are 15', 20', and 40', with roll lengths of 100 and 200 feet. Flame retardant and string-reinforced options are also available.
Custom Poly Tarps
Need a size that is not in stock? Custom Poly Tarps are available through the Custom Size Tarp Builder app. Just enter your dimensions and get a tarp made to fit.
Effective and Creative Uses for Poly Tarps
Poly Tarps are useful in more ways than you might think. Here are some popular and creative uses:
Cover damaged roofs and structures / Collect yard trimmings and clippings / Drag and move heavy items / Protect materials, furniture, and vehicles from weather / Shield plants, trees, and bushes from frost or storms / Build temporary shelters and hunting blinds / Set up or cover tents / Collect rainwater at a campsite or backyard / Use as emergency blankets, stretchers, or ponchos / Rig an emergency boat sail / Make a hammock / Convert into a backpack, tote, or bag / Create a slip and slide / Build a kids' fort / Line car trunks, pickup beds, or pet areas / Make banners or signs / Use as drop cloths for painting / Cover floors or tables for crafts and cooking / Line ponds or ice rinks / Wrap holiday trees for transport or disposal.
Tarps Now Provides the Most Comple Selection of Poly Tarps
Whatever you need to cover or protect, there is a Poly Tarp for the job. Tarps Now carries a full range of Poly Tarps along with canvas, vinyl, clear vinyl, and mesh options.
Ready to order or need help finding the right tarp? Call us at (888) 800-1383 or email sales@tarpsnow.com. Our team in Michigan is ready to help.
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