9 Best Painters Drop Cloths and Tarps

Using a Drop Cloth

A drop cloth is a sheet of material used by painters to protect floors and furniture from the drips and drabs that can trickle down from above. If you have a paintbrush in one hand and a paint can in the other, there should always be a drop cloth underneath you. That’s one of the cardinal rules of painting.

With all the different types of drop cloths and tarps available, it’s sometimes hard to know which is right for your next home improvement project. So we broke it down for you.

Types of drop cloths

Canvas

Pros:

• Durable and thick;
• Indoor and outdoor use;
• Washable and reusable.

Cons:

• Tends to bunch up;
• Expensive.

Plastic/vinyl

Pros:

• Waterproof;
• Drapable to cover furniture and odd shapes;
• Economical.

Cons:

• Not eco-friendly;
• Non-absorbent;
• Slipping hazard.

Heavy paper

Pros:

• Best for painting trim and woodwork;
• Recyclable.

Cons:

• Rips easily;
• Blows around in the wind.

Polyethylene tarp

Pro:

• Collects debris;
• Best suited for exterior projects;
• Multipurpose.

Cons:

• Use only as under-liner for painting.

Protective film

Pros:

• Lasts up to a month;
• Non-slip.

Cons:

• Time-consuming to put down.

Hardboard

Pros:

• Tough protection;
• Covers majority of surfaces.

Cons:

• Costly.