How to Measure Tarpaulins

Measure the length and width of the tarpaulin you will need. This will involve running a measuring tape along the item you are covering. For an open-topped truck, measure the length as the length of the truck, and the width as the width of the back of the truck. Write these measurements down. Draw a basic diagram of your truck, or other item, and label the dimensions on the paper.

Measure any overhang you may need over the top of the truck. If you are covering a flat surface, you will not need this, although for a truck the amount of overhang will be dependent on the size of fasteners you have. The overhang should be the height of the truck minus the length of fasteners you have.

Measure any irregular shapes you will need. For a truck this will include any curved sections. For other items, measure an irregular shape by measuring the outline, and add this to your diagram. You can now use this when working out how much tarpaulin you need to buy.

Use an appropriate set of units. If you are measuring a tarpaulin that needs to be 20 feet by 15 feet, do not use yards as the unit; similarly, inches will most likely be too small. Be accurate in your measurements, but use the most sensible set of units for your purpose.