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Clear Heavy Duty Poly Tarp - 135gsm Waterproof Tarpaulin
Regular price From $39.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Heavy Duty Poly Tarp 180gsm - Silver/Black Waterproof Tarpaulin
Regular price From $59.00Regular priceUnit price per -
Canvas Tarp 600gsm - Heavy Duty Waterproof Tarpaulin, Olive Green
Regular price From $109.00Regular priceUnit price per
Heavy duty tarps in poly and canvas, from 135gsm through to a 600gsm canvas, in twenty sizes up to 9m x 12m. All are fully waterproof, UV-stabilised for Australian conditions, and finished with reinforced edges and eyelets.
What weight tarp do you actually need?
GSM — grams per square metre — is the number that matters most, and it's the one discount retailers are quietest about. Most tarps sold as "heavy duty" in hardware aisles sit between 100 and 150gsm. Here's what the weights genuinely mean in use:
| Weight | Best suited to | Realistic life outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| 100–150gsm | Occasional and short-term use — ground sheets, covering gear, temporary shelter | Seasonal, with care |
| 180–250gsm | Regular use — machinery, loads, woodpiles, camp shelters, anything left out for weeks at a time | Several seasons |
| 600gsm canvas | Long-term and high-wear — permanent equipment covers, abrasion, valuable items | Years |
The honest rule: buy on how long it needs to last and how much physical wear it will take, not on the size of the tarp. A heavier tarp in the right size will outlast two or three light ones.
Poly or canvas?
Poly is lighter, cheaper, easier to handle and completely waterproof. It's the right choice for most jobs, and for anything you need to move, fold and re-rig regularly.
Canvas costs more and weighs considerably more, but it resists abrasion in a way poly can't, sits still instead of flapping, and lasts for years rather than seasons. Worth it when the tarp stays put and takes real wear.
Our range
- Clear poly tarp, 135gsm — the only one that lets light through. For pergolas, annexe walls, plants and anywhere you need weather protection without losing daylight. Eight sizes, 2x3m to 9x12m.
- Silver/black poly tarp, 180gsm — heat-reflective silver one side, heat-absorbing black the other. Our general-purpose heavy duty tarp. Nine sizes, 3x3.6m to 9x12m.
- Canvas tarp, 600gsm — silicone-coated canvas with PVC lining and steel eyelets. The heaviest we stock. Three sizes, 2x3m to 4x6m.
Getting the size right
Measure what you're covering, then add 300–500mm of overhang on each side so you have something to tie down. If the tarp will shed rain, set it up with a high point in the middle — pooled water is the single most common cause of a torn tarp.
Tension matters more than people expect. A tarp pulled tight lasts far longer than one left slack, because slack fabric moves in the wind and wears through at the fixing points.
Thinking of covering a caravan?
We should be straight with you: a tarp is a poor substitute for a fitted cover. It isn't cut to the shape of the van, so it shifts in wind and chafes against corners, gutters and window frames, and trapped moisture underneath can do more damage than the weather it's keeping off. For the van itself, use a properly fitted caravan cover. Tarps are excellent for ground sheets under the annexe, windbreaks, and covering gear, firewood and bikes at camp.
Not sure? Ask us.
We take the same consultative approach to tarps as we do to caravan covers. Tell us what you're covering, how long it needs to last and what it'll be exposed to, and we'll point you at the right weight and size — get in touch.