Which Tarpaulin Do I Need? GSM, Sizes & Uses Explained
Covering a log pile, a leaking roof, garden furniture or a trailer this winter? The right tarpaulin depends on two things: how long it needs to last outside, and how much wind and weather it will face. Here's how to choose – with our five tarpaulins compared side by side.
Which tarpaulin do I need?
For a quick, short-term cover, a light duty 80gsm tarpaulin is fine. For anything left outside over winter – log piles, garden furniture, trailers – choose heavy duty (180gsm or more). For roofs and boats, use an extra heavy duty 270gsm tarp, or a 560gsm PVC tarpaulin for the toughest, longest-lasting cover. The higher the GSM, the stronger the tarpaulin.
- Decorating, dust sheets, a few days' coverLight Duty 80gsm
- Covering a large area or ground sheetProDec Multi-Purpose
- Log piles, garden furniture, trailersHeavy Duty 180gsm
- Temporary roof cover, winter-long protectionExtra Heavy Duty 270gsm
- Boats, scaffolding, haulage, permanent coversPVC 560gsm
What does GSM mean on a tarpaulin?
GSM means grams per square metre – how heavy the material is. A higher GSM means a thicker, stronger tarp that resists tearing, wind and UV for longer. It's the single best way to compare tarpaulins.
Best tarpaulins at a glance
Timco Light Duty Tarpaulin – 80gsm
| Weight | 80gsm |
|---|---|
| Material | UV-treated polyethylene, 8 × 8 weave |
| Edges | Reinforced hem |
| Sizes | 2 × 3m, 4 × 5m, 5 × 8m |
| Cost | £ – budget |
A lightweight, low-cost waterproof cover for jobs that only last a few days or weeks: dust sheets when decorating, covering a car boot or trailer load, or a quick cover for garden furniture before a shower. It's easy to fold, carry and store.
Pros
- Cheapest way to keep things dry
- Light and easy to handle
- UV treated
Cons
- Not built to stay outside all winter
- Thinner material tears more easily
Verdict: Great value for quick, temporary jobs – step up to heavy duty for anything left out for weeks.
↑ Back to topProDec Multi-Purpose Tarpaulin
| Material | Double-laminated, tear- and stretch-resistant polyethylene |
|---|---|
| Fixings | Reinforced aluminium eyelets every metre |
| Protection | Waterproof, rot proof and mould resistant |
| Sizes | 5.4 × 3.7m, 7.2 × 5.4m, 9.1 × 4.5m |
| Cost | £ – budget for the size |
A trade-quality blue tarp that comes in big sizes for the money – ideal when you need to cover a large area such as a building site, a stack of materials, a vehicle or a whole floor as a ground sheet.
Pros
- Large sizes at a low price
- Tear- and stretch-resistant
- Mould resistant – good for repeated use
Cons
- Eyelets are further apart (every metre) than our heavier tarps
- Only available in large sizes
Verdict: The best-value way to cover a big area.
↑ Back to topTimco Heavy Duty Tarpaulin – 180gsm
| Weight | 180gsm |
|---|---|
| Material | UV-treated polyethylene, 14 × 14 weave |
| Edges | Heat-sealed hem with polypropylene rope, reinforced corners |
| Fixings | Rust-proof aluminium eyelets |
| Sizes | 2 × 3m, 4 × 5m |
| Cost | ££ – mid-range |
The sweet spot for most garden jobs. It's more than twice the weight of a light duty tarp, with a rope-reinforced hem and rust-proof eyelets, so it copes with being left out through autumn and winter – perfect for log piles, garden furniture, trailers and machinery.
Pros
- Strong for the price
- Rope-reinforced edges resist tearing
- Rust-proof eyelets
Cons
- Only two sizes
- For roofs, choose 270gsm or heavier
Verdict: The best all-round choice for covering things in the garden this winter.
↑ Back to topExtra Heavy Duty Tarpaulin – 270gsm (Black / Silver)
| Weight | 270gsm |
|---|---|
| Material | Heavyweight polyethylene, 16 × 16 weave |
| Fixings | 12mm aluminium eyelets every 50cm, 3-rivet corners |
| UV | 3% UV inhibitor, 18-month limited UV warranty |
| Sizes | 12 sizes, 1.2 × 1.8m up to 12 × 15m |
| Cost | ££ – mid-range |
One of our best sellers, and a favourite for temporary roofing covers and boat covers. Eyelets every 50cm on all four sides mean you can tie it down tightly, which matters in winter wind. It's rotproof and shrinkproof, and with 12 sizes there's one for almost any job.
Pros
- Tough 16 × 16 weave
- Eyelets every 50cm – easy to secure
- 18-month UV warranty
- Widest size range we sell
Cons
- Heavier to handle than lighter tarps
Verdict: Our top pick for roofs and anything that has to survive a British winter.
↑ Back to topHeavy Duty PVC Tarpaulin – 560gsm
| Weight | 560gsm |
|---|---|
| Material | PVC-coated polyester |
| Fixings | 20mm solid brass eyelets every 50cm, 3-rivet corners |
| Edges | Rope-reinforced hems |
| Colours | Olive green or blue |
| Sizes | 1.3 × 1.9m up to 10 × 14m |
| Cost | £££ – premium |
Our heaviest and strongest tarpaulin – and our best-selling one. PVC-coated polyester is far tougher than polyethylene and stays flexible in sub-zero temperatures, so it won't crack in a frost. It's waterproof, rotproof and shrinkproof, and built for prolonged exposure to harsh weather: boats, haulage, scaffolding and long-term covers.
Pros
- The strongest tarp we sell
- Stays flexible below freezing
- Solid brass eyelets every 50cm
- Built for prolonged exposure to harsh weather
Cons
- Costs more than polyethylene tarps
- Heavier to carry and fold
Verdict: Buy once, buy right – the one to choose when failure isn't an option.
↑ Back to topTarpaulins compared
Cost guide: £ budget · ££ mid-range · £££ premium. Click a tarpaulin to see sizes and prices.
| Tarpaulin | Weight | Material | Fixings | Best for | Sizes | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Duty | 80gsm | Polyethylene, 8×8 weave | Reinforced hem | Short-term cover, decorating | 3 | £ |
| ProDec Multi-Purpose | – | Double-laminated polyethylene | Aluminium eyelets every 1m | Large areas, ground sheets | 3 | £ |
| Heavy Duty | 180gsm | Polyethylene, 14×14 weave | Aluminium eyelets, rope hem | Log piles, garden, trailers | 2 | ££ |
| Extra Heavy Duty | 270gsm | Polyethylene, 16×16 weave | 12mm aluminium eyelets every 50cm | Roofs, boats, winter-long cover | 12 | ££ |
| PVC Heavy Duty | 560gsm | PVC-coated polyester | 20mm brass eyelets every 50cm | Permanent covers, haulage, boats | 9 (green or blue) | £££ |
What size tarpaulin do I need?
A tarp needs to go over the top and down the sides, with spare to tie down. Measure the length, width and height of what you're covering, then:
Tarp width = width + (height × 2) + 1m
Example: a log pile 2m long, 1m deep and 1m high needs a tarp of at least 5m × 4m. If you're between sizes, go up – a tarp that's too small can't be tied down properly.
Covering just the top of something (like a roof or a stack of timber)? Measure the surface and add around 50cm on every side.
How to stop a tarpaulin blowing away
- Use every eyelet, not just the corners – this spreads the load so no single eyelet tears out.
- Pull it taut. A loose tarp flaps, and flapping is what rips tarps apart.
- Use ball bungees. They stretch from around 20cm to 40cm, absorbing gusts instead of ripping the eyelets – and they're quick to fit and reuse.
- Angle it so rain runs off. Pools of water stretch the material and weigh it down.
- Pad sharp corners underneath (an old towel or offcut works) so the tarp can't rub through.
Tarpaulin FAQs
What does GSM mean on a tarpaulin?
GSM stands for grams per square metre – the weight of the material. The higher the GSM, the thicker, stronger and longer-lasting the tarpaulin. As a rough guide, under 100gsm is light duty, around 180gsm is heavy duty, 270gsm is extra heavy duty, and 500gsm+ PVC is the toughest you can buy.
What is the strongest tarpaulin?
PVC tarpaulins are the strongest. Our 560gsm PVC tarpaulin is made from PVC-coated polyester, has 20mm solid brass eyelets every 50cm and stays flexible in sub-zero temperatures, so it's the best choice for permanent covers, boats and the harshest weather.
Which tarpaulin is best for covering a roof?
For a temporary roof cover, use at least an extra heavy duty 270gsm tarpaulin. Our 270gsm tarp is popular as a roofing cover, with eyelets every 50cm so it can be tied down tightly. If it needs to stay up through a whole winter, the 560gsm PVC tarpaulin will last longest.
What tarpaulin should I use to cover firewood or a log pile?
A heavy duty tarpaulin of 180gsm or more. Our 180gsm heavy duty tarp is UV treated with rust-proof eyelets, which suits a log store left outside all winter. Cover the top and sides but leave the bottom open so air can circulate and the logs stay dry.
Are tarpaulins waterproof?
Yes – all five tarpaulins in our range are waterproof. To keep water out in practice, keep the tarp taut and angled so rain runs off rather than pooling, as standing water stretches the material and can eventually tear the eyelets.
What size tarpaulin do I need?
Measure the length, width and height of what you're covering. Add the height twice to both the length and the width, then add around 50cm extra on each side for tying down. For example, a 2m × 1m log pile that's 1m high needs a tarp of at least 5m × 4m.
How do I stop a tarpaulin blowing away in the wind?
Tie it down at every eyelet, not just the corners, and pull it taut so wind can't get underneath. Ball bungees are ideal because they stretch slightly, absorbing gusts instead of ripping the eyelets. Pad any sharp corners underneath so the tarp doesn't rub through.
Can I use a tarpaulin as a ground sheet?
Yes. The ProDec multi-purpose tarpaulin and the 270gsm extra heavy duty tarp both work well as ground sheets for camping, building sites and decorating.
Find the right tarpaulin
Free shipping on orders over £49.99 (see our shipping policy). Not sure which to choose? Email Sales@stickystuffstore.com and tell us what you're covering.
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