Tarps cover everything from BBQ grills to truck cargo. They provide flexibility while protecting objects from the elements. A typical tarp contains grommets for tie downs. Tarps, also known as tarpaulins, provide cover for many businesses, outdoor activities and personal use. Popular markets include industry, farming, construction, hauling, home and protecting goods.

A tarp’s color commonly indicates function. The all around economical blue tarps cover equipment, construction sites and items moved in the back of a pick-up. Silver and white provide heavy duty quality with UV protection. Environmentally friendly colors like brown and green, meet ordinance and covenant issues for some property owners. Yellow and orange tarps offer high visibility for safety. Camouflage and flame retardant tarps provide added security. When purchasing tarps consider the following:

1. Know the needed length, width and weight in ounces.

2. Look at the mill specs to gauge durability.

3. Select a specific color for particular needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate tarp distributors

Each tarp distributor carries a variety of sizes, material and tarp categories for all business needs.

I recommend: Foremost Tarp Co., Inc., carries a large line of weave and heavy duty tarps; click by color that includes blue, brown/green, camouflage, silver/brown and white tarps. For high quality tarps in industry, construction, farming or consumer retail businesses click “Shop by Category” for heavy duty, poly and canvas tarps at The Tarps-Tarps Com. See the nice selection of poly, canvas, mesh, neoprene, roofers, scaffolding and truck tarps at e-tarps.com, an E-Commerce distributor.

Find tarp manufacturers

Each tarp manufacturer focuses on quality and service. Mauritzon, Inc. began making tarps in 1888 and Glenn Harp & Sons, Inc. started over 30 years ago.

I recommend: Pick canvas tarpaulins, vinyl, heavy duty or light polyethylene, roofers tear-off tarps or others at Mauritzon, Inc. Go to Glenn Harp & Sons, Inc., for custom sized tarps or select another category from the list.

Search tarp suppliers

Each tarp supplier provides good pricing with wide selections from economical to heavy duty.

I recommend: Choose a tarp category from “Index” that includes poly, case lot, farm and industrial tarps from Eastern Marine Network, Inc.; case lots come with discounts. Find the canvas size you need, ranging from 6 by 8 to 20 by 20 feet at Tarpaflex US LLC, or select another category from the list. See Tarp USA a division of websalesusa.com for yard, roof, economy and other tarp selections with better pricing for bulk sales. Choose an economy blue tarp with sizes ranging from 4 by 6 to 120 by 120 feet at TARPS Direct, or click another category from the list.

Buy wholesale tarps

These wholesalers carry all categories of tarps and sizes with nice pricing and inventory.

I recommend: Find heavy duty, flame retardant, poly in several colors, camouflage, mesh and truck tarps with wholesale pricing at Max Tool. See the variety of poly tarps or choose another category by clicking from the list at TarpCoverSales. Select from the full list of tarps that includes everything from poly to baseball field tarps at Tarps Plus.

Get truck tarps

Find tarps for regular freight, soil, stone or debris protection for all types of trucks or tarp systems in manual and electric models.

I recommend: For dump trucks and haulers select the system of interest at LoAlbo Enterprises, Inc., a distributor of Aero, Donovan, Merlot, Mountain tarp and Pull Tarps. See the selection for flatbed trucks that includes lumber, ultra-light, mid-light, rings-on-a-roll and steel tarps at Tarprat, LLC. Go to AAA Tarps for a nice selection of PVC mesh, flip, flat bed, dump truck and other tarps for all types of hauling.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for mill thickness to determine a tarp's size label. Economy tarps typically come with 6-7 mills, standard tarps 8-9 mills and heavy duty over 10 mills.