So, you know you need a tarp but you want to make sure you get the right size. No problem you think. …I just need to measure the length and width of what I need to cover, right? Well of course that’s fine if all you’re wanting to do is cover a particular area of wall or floor. However if you’re trying to cover a 3 dimensional object there’s a tiny bit more to it than that.

What you need to do when estimating for a 3 dimensional object, is start how we mentioned above - measure out the length by width of the area of the top of the object to be covered. Of course if it’s not a flat-topped object you may have to estimate this a bit to allow for anything pointing upwards. It’s best to overestimate at this point rather than underestimate as you don’t want to end up with a tarp that doesn’t cover as much, or as far down the object as you require.

Now you need to consider how far down the sides of the object you want the tarp to drape over and cover. Sometimes you only want to cover the top of the object, as in the trailer-top example above. Other times you’ll need to cover all the way down to the ground. The trick here is to measure from the top of the object down as far as you want the tarp to drape, double this number and then add that number to the length and width. So if you want the tarp to drape down 2 metres on all 4 sides you need to add 4 metres to the length and width measurements. It’s that simple.

Cut Size

One final thing to consider is ‘Cut Size.’ Cut Size is a standard industry term that refers to the size of a tarp before it’s seamed, hemmed and eyeleted. This means that the actual final size of a tarp can be anything up to 30 centimetres (1 foot) shorter than the size stated. Factor this extra 30cm in when choosing what size to order. Again of course it’s best to err on the size of overestimating rather than underestimating on this point. The last thing you want is a tarp that’s too short for your needs.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be sure to know you’ve ordered the best size for your needs.