The best roof tarp for most emergency roof-overs is a heavy-duty 16 mil poly tarp like the Xpose Safety Super Heavy Duty, because it balances tear resistance, wide availability, and price for the days or weeks a cover usually sits before a permanent repair. Thickness (measured in mils), grommet strength, and UV coating matter far more than color. Below are five real tarps ranked by the job they do best, with a comparison table and honest limits for each.
The Roofing Brief has not independently lab-tested these tarps. Rankings reflect published manufacturer specifications, standard mil and weave ratings, and how each product is used on real tarp-overs. Prices move with size and retailer, so treat the figures here as approximate bands current as of mid-2026, not fixed quotes.
The best roof tarps at a glance
These five roof tarps cover the common situations, from a two-day patch to a multi-week cover on a high-sun roof, plus one option for catching a leak from inside when you cannot safely get on the roof. Match the tarp to how long it needs to hold and how much wind and sun it will take.
| Roof tarp | Material and thickness | Grommets | Approx. price band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xpose Safety Super Heavy Duty (Top pick) | Woven poly, 16 mil, about 8 oz per sq yd, 16×16 weave | Reinforced, spaced around the perimeter | About $12 for a 6×8 up to a few hundred dollars for large sizes | Most storm tarp-overs needing thickness fast |
| Sigman Silver Heavy Duty | Woven poly, 10 mil, UV coated both sides | Every ~1.5 ft, rope-reinforced hems, plastic-cap corners | Mid-range, above a blue tarp | High-sun roofs and covers left for weeks |
| Tarps Now 20 Mil Super Heavy Duty | Reinforced poly, 20 mil, 10 oz, made in USA | #2 brass, every 24 in | Premium, large sizes run into the hundreds | Large spans and the longest hold in constant wind |
| Standard 5 mil blue poly tarp | Woven poly, 5 mil, UV coating both sides | Standard, around the perimeter | Under $50 for common sizes | Budget, short-term, or storm stockpiling |
| Roof leak diverter tarp (MOOFI / Tredre style) | PVC-coated 420D Oxford with 10 ft drain hose | Grommets plus suspension straps and S-hooks | About $30 to $70 for 3×3 to 5×5 | Channeling an active interior leak to a bucket or drain |
Top pick: Xpose Safety Super Heavy Duty 16 mil poly tarp
The Xpose Safety Super Heavy Duty is the best roof tarp for most emergencies because 16 mil woven polyethylene gives real tear resistance while staying light enough for one or two people to spread over a damaged slope. It runs about 8 oz per square yard with a 16×16 weave and reinforced grommets, and it is stocked at Home Depot (model BHD-810-A) and Walmart in sizes from 6×8 up.
Sixteen mil sits in the sweet spot for a cover that has to survive a few weeks of rain and moderate wind without the weight and cost of a 20 mil tarp. Small sizes start around $12, and a 30×50 runs into the hundreds, so you buy only as much span as the damage needs plus overlap.
Best for: the typical storm tarp-over where you want more thickness than a blue tarp and you need it in stock the same day. Limits: brown poly is not reflective, so on a high-sun roof it will degrade faster than a silver tarp left for the same number of weeks.
Best for sun and heat: Sigman Silver Heavy Duty 10 mil tarp
The Sigman Silver Heavy Duty is the roof tarp to reach for when the cover will bake in the sun for weeks. It is 10 mil woven polyethylene, UV coated on both sides, with grommets roughly every 1.5 feet, rope-reinforced hems, and plastic-cap reinforced corners. The silver face reflects sunlight, which helps the material and the attic underneath run cooler than under a dark tarp.
At 10 mil it is thinner than the Xpose pick, so it trades some puncture resistance for reflectivity and a lower price point, and it is made in the USA. Reinforced hems and closely spaced grommets give you more tie-down points, which reduces flapping and the wind fatigue that tears cheaper tarps at the corners.
Best for: hot, high-UV regions and any cover expected to sit several weeks before repair. Limits: 10 mil is not the choice for constant high wind on a large open span, where a 20 mil tarp holds better.
Best for the longest hold: Tarps Now 20 Mil Super Heavy Duty reinforced poly
For the longest hold on a large or exposed roof, a 20 mil reinforced poly tarp such as the Tarps Now Super Heavy Duty is the strongest practical choice. It uses 20 mil, 10 oz polyethylene with #2 brass grommets every 24 inches and is made in the USA in sizes up to 120×120, so it can cover a whole roof section or a commercial span in one piece.
Twenty mil and heavier grommets resist wind uplift and abrasion better than lighter tarps, which matters where a cover must hold for weeks to a month while permits and materials come together. The tradeoff is weight and cost: large made-in-USA panels run into the hundreds of dollars and are harder for one person to handle on a roof.
Best for: big spans, commercial roofs, and constant-wind sites where a cover has to last. Limits: overkill and hard to handle for a small residential patch you will fix within a week.
Best budget short-term cover: standard 5 mil blue poly tarp
A standard 5 mil blue poly tarp is the best budget roof tarp for a leak you will patch within days or for stockpiling before a storm. Five mil woven polyethylene with UV coating on both sides is the entry tier that most hardware stores carry, and common sizes cost under $50. It is waterproof, rot resistant, and mildew resistant, which is all a short cover needs to do.
The catch is lifespan: manufacturers and roofers agree blue tarps are not made for long-term or high-UV exposure, and a thin 5 mil cover can start breaking down within a few weeks of hard sun and wind. Buy two if a storm is coming, since they are cheap enough to keep spares.
Best for: a fast, cheap cover you will replace or repair within days, and pre-storm stockpiling. Limits: not a multi-week or permanent solution, especially in high-UV or high-wind areas.
Best for an active interior leak: roof leak diverter tarp
When you cannot safely get on the roof, a leak diverter tarp catches the drip from inside and routes it away. Models from MOOFI and Tredre use PVC-coated 420D Oxford fabric with a built-in coupler for a 10 ft, 1/2 in drain hose, plus grommets, suspension straps, and S-hooks to hang under the ceiling. Sizes run 3×3, 5×5, 7×7, and 10×10.
This is not a roof-top cover and does not stop water entering the structure. It manages the water once it is inside, funneling it to a bucket, drain, or out a window so it does not pool on drywall and framing. That makes it the right tool for renters, upper floors, and commercial spaces where roof access is unsafe or not allowed.
Best for: catching and diverting an active interior leak until a roofer arrives. Limits: a stopgap for the water inside, not a substitute for tarping or repairing the roof itself.
How to choose a roof tarp: thickness, grommets, and size
Pick a roof tarp by how long it must hold, how much sun and wind it will take, and the size of the damage plus overlap. Thicker mil ratings and stronger grommets buy time and wind resistance; more span than you need just adds weight and flapping. Work through it in order:
- Set the timeline. Days means a 5 mil blue tarp is fine. Weeks means step up to 10 to 16 mil. A month or more on an exposed roof means 20 mil.
- Match the exposure. High sun favors a reflective silver tarp; constant wind favors thicker material with grommets spaced 18 to 24 inches and reinforced corners.
- Size for overlap. The tarp should cover the whole damaged area and extend over the ridge and past the edges so water sheds off, not under. Buy the next size up rather than cutting it close.
- Check the tie-down points. Rope-reinforced hems and rustproof grommets every 1.5 to 2 feet let you anchor the tarp tight; a loose tarp fails far faster than a taut one.
- Plan the anchoring. Screwed 1×3 furring strips or sandbags hold better than nails alone. See our guide on how to tarp a roof for the step-by-step method.
How we picked, and what we did not test
We selected these tarps from products widely sold for roof and emergency use, then ranked them by published mil and weave ratings, grommet and hem construction, UV treatment, availability, and price for the job each one suits. The Roofing Brief did not run controlled tear, wind, or weathering tests, so these are not lab results.
Where specifications were not published, we say so rather than estimate. Prices are approximate bands that vary by size and retailer as of mid-2026. For context on the wind loads a temporary cover has to survive, see our wind damage roof statistics by region report, and for the repair decisions that follow, our guide to storm damage roof repair and replacement.
A tarp buys time; it does not fix the roof. Once the weather clears, compare it against a longer-term patch using roof leak repair products and, for flashing and seams, a roof sealant.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tarp for a roof?
For most emergencies, a heavy-duty 16 mil woven poly tarp such as the Xpose Safety Super Heavy Duty is the best all-round roof tarp, balancing tear resistance, availability, and price. For weeks of high sun choose a reflective 10 mil silver tarp, and for the longest hold on a large exposed roof step up to a 20 mil reinforced poly tarp.
How thick should a roof tarp be?
For a cover of a few days, 5 to 6 mil is usually enough. For several weeks, most roofers step up to 10 to 16 mil for better tear and UV resistance. For a month or more on an exposed or windy roof, a 20 mil reinforced poly tarp holds up best. Thickness is measured in mils, and higher mil ratings generally last longer under sun and wind.
How long can you leave a tarp on a roof?
A tarp is a temporary cover, and most sources treat 30 to 90 days as a common ceiling depending on material and climate. Thin 5 mil blue tarps can degrade within a few weeks in strong sun, while thicker UV-coated or 20 mil tarps last longer. Leaving any tarp on too long risks pooling, wind damage, and hidden decking rot, so schedule the permanent repair as soon as you can.
Is a blue tarp or a silver tarp better for a roof?
It depends on the job. A 5 mil blue tarp is cheaper and fine for a short patch of a few days. A silver heavy-duty tarp is usually thicker (often 10 mil), UV coated on both sides, and reflective, so it lasts longer in sun and keeps the space under it cooler. For a cover that will sit for weeks in a sunny climate, the silver tarp is generally the better choice.
What size roof tarp do I need?
Size the tarp to cover the entire damaged area plus enough overlap to reach over the ridge and past the eaves so water sheds off the edges, not under them. When in doubt, buy the next size up rather than cutting it close. A tarp stretched taut and anchored over the ridge sheds water far better than one that stops short of the peak.
Can I tarp my own roof or should I hire someone?
Homeowners can tarp a low, walkable roof in dry conditions using furring strips or sandbags, but steep, wet, or storm-damaged roofs are dangerous and may be better left to a pro. If the roof is high, icy, or structurally damaged, a leak diverter tarp used indoors can manage the water safely until a roofer arrives. Our step-by-step tarping guide covers the anchoring method in detail.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.