Tarpaulin Weight Guide
The weight of a tarpaulin tells you how much material is in it, and it is the quickest way to compare how strong one sheet is against another. This guide explains how tarpaulin weight is measured, the grades we sell, and which grade suits which job.
What does gsm mean?
gsm stands for grams per square metre. A 200gsm tarpaulin weighs 200 grams for every square metre of sheet. The higher the number, the thicker and heavier the material, and the more it can take from wind, abrasion and handling.
Cotton canvas is usually sold by ounces per square yard (oz) instead of gsm. One ounce per square yard is about 34gsm, so our 21oz canvas is about 710gsm.
Our tarpaulin grades at a glance
| Grade | Weight | Material | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Under 120gsm | Woven polyethylene | Short-term and one-off jobs, dust and decorating cover, camping, light garden cover |
| Medium weight | 120 to 179gsm | Woven polyethylene | Log stores, garden furniture, trailers, market stalls, season-long storage |
| Heavy duty | 180 to 299gsm | Woven polyethylene | Roofing, building sites, farms, vehicles and boats |
| Super heavy | 300gsm and above | Five-layer polyethylene (350gsm) and PVC (560 to 610gsm) | Haulage, industrial sites, farms and covers left out for long periods |
| PVC | 560 to 610gsm | PVC | Trailers and lorries, machinery, hard-wearing industrial use |
| Clear | 100gsm to 320gsm, and 0.6mm curtains | Clear polyethylene and clear PVC | Greenhouses, patios, pergolas, market stall sides, anywhere light needs to get through |
| Canvas | 14oz to 21oz | Cotton and poly-cotton canvas | Breathable covers for machinery, vehicles, timber and hay |
Economy tarpaulins: under 120gsm
Lightweight, low-cost waterproof sheets that are easy to fold and carry. Choose economy when the cover is only needed for a short time, or when weight matters more than toughness, such as camping and quick DIY jobs.
In our range: 70gsm blue/green, 80gsm blue, green, camouflage and black/white, 90gsm orange, 95gsm camouflage, 110gsm white and blue sheets and a 1.8m x 100m blue roll, and 100gsm clear Monotex.
Medium weight tarpaulins: 120 to 179gsm
The everyday grade for covers that stay in place for weeks or months. Medium weight sheets are tougher than economy and still light enough to handle easily.
In our range: 140gsm silver and green/silver sheets and 140gsm pallet covers, and 170gsm green and clear mono covers, Monoflex Leno, striped market stall covers and clear scaffold sheeting.
Heavy duty tarpaulins: 180 to 299gsm
Built for trade use, exposed sites and covers that have to cope with strong wind. Heavy duty sheets use a denser weave than lighter grades, and our 250gsm and 270gsm sheets have eyelets every 50cm instead of every metre.
In our range: 185gsm brown/blue, 200gsm in green, blue, white, black, green/silver and super white, a 200gsm flame retardant white sheet, 250gsm green/brown, and 270gsm black/silver, green/silver and black/gold.
Super heavy and PVC tarpaulins: 300gsm and above
Our heaviest covers. The 350gsm blue/beige sheet is five-layer polyethylene. The 560gsm, 570gsm and 610gsm sheets are PVC, a different material from woven polyethylene: smooth, very hard-wearing and easy to wipe clean.
In our range: 350gsm blue/beige, 560gsm PVC, 570gsm forest green PVC, 610gsm green PVC and 610gsm PVC with 8mm shock cord.
Clear tarpaulins
Choose clear when you need to see through the cover or let daylight in. Clear polyethylene sheets are lighter and lower cost. Clear PVC is heavier, glass-like and suited to screens and side panels.
In our range: 100gsm clear Monotex, 170gsm clear mono cover, 170gsm clear scaffold sheeting rolls, 310gsm and 320gsm clear PVC sheets, a 310gsm glass clear PVC roll, a clear PVC ground sheet and 0.6mm clear PVC outdoor curtains. See clear tarpaulins.
Canvas tarpaulins
Canvas is breathable, so air can move through it and less condensation forms underneath. That makes it a good choice for machinery, vehicles, timber and hay that could sweat under plastic. Canvas is water-resistant rather than fully waterproof.
In our range: 14oz green cotton canvas, 17oz grey ripstop poly-cotton canvas, 18oz tan cotton canvas, 21oz green waxed cotton canvas and a 1.2m x 1.8m waxed canvas sheet. See canvas tarpaulins.
How to choose
- How long will it stay out? For days or a few weeks, economy is usually enough. For a season or longer, choose medium or heavy duty. For covers left out year after year, look at heavy duty, super heavy or PVC.
- How exposed is it? Wind is what damages tarpaulins most. On roofs, open sites, trailers and anything moving, choose heavy duty or above.
- Does it need to be waterproof or breathable? Polyethylene and PVC are waterproof. Canvas lets moisture escape, which suits machinery and natural materials.
- Do you need light through it? Choose a clear tarpaulin.
- Is fire safety required? Choose the flame retardant tarpaulin. Flame retardant does not mean fireproof, so keep any tarpaulin away from direct flames and extreme heat.
Once you know the grade, use our size guide to find the right size. If you are unsure which grade suits your job, contact us with what you are covering and where.