Last Updated: Oct 15, 2021 @ 1:17 pm.

What's the best plastic sheeting? We asked our parent readers for their favorites . . . for building a homemade slip and slide, covering plants or home renovations. Here are the ones that came out on top. FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for families since 1994. We don't take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our work independent! Our reviews are 100% reader-supported!


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Best For Water Fun

Great for backyard water slide
We liked this sheeting for its strength and durability. Six mil thickness makes it durable enough for a slide. Also nice: made of recycled materials. And made in the USA.

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Best For Water Fun: TRM Manufacturing 61025C Weatherall Visqueen Plastic Sheeting

When shopping for plastic sheeting, one term you see is thickness expressed in mils—one mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Or 0.001 inch.

The most common thickness for plastic sheeting is 6 mils. That’s 0.006 of an inch thick. To compare this to other objects, a dime is 53 mils. A plastic grocery bag is about 2-3 mils.

While the general rule is the thicker the plastic, the stronger it is, some makers use additives in their plastic to make it stronger (even if it is the same 6 mil thickness).

Plastic sheeting has all sorts of uses—waterproofing, construction, covering plants and (our favorite) outdoor water activities.

Along those lines, want to create a do-it-yourself slip and slide? We’d suggest this plastic sheeting: TRM Manufacturing 61025C plastic sheeting.

It is just the right thickness (6 miles) and strong enough for a slide. Add water and a touch of dishwashing soap and voila! Hours of kid entertainment, slipping and sliding in your backyard.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• No plastic smell.

• Holds up in the wind.

• Nice 6 mil thickness.

• Opaque (that is, you can’t see through it).

• Made of recycled materials.

What Needs Work

• Not transparent. We realize some folks want plastic sheeting that they can see through—this isn’t the best choice for that!

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Best For Plant Covering

Best for light duty tasks
Easy to use, thin plastic is a favorite to keep plants protected from an early frost. Comes as one large roll that you can cut to size. Transparent enough to see what's underneath.
$24.41 ($48.82 / 100 Sheets)

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Best For Plant Covering: Frost King P1250R Super Strength High Density Drop Cloths

For gardners, there’s nothing worse than an early frost that threatens tender vegetation. To keep plants covered, we’d recommend Frost King’s P1250R super strength high density drop cloths. We found them easy to use . . . and easy on the wallet.

What We Liked

• One large roll that you can cut to size.

• Excellent for covering plants or a greenhouse.

• Semi-opaque.

• Also good for drop cloths while painting.

What Needs Work

• Thin. This plastic is 1.5 mil thick—that’s much less than the plastic sheeting recommended above. We think this is fine for garden uses like covering plants . . . but if you want something with thicker (and hence, more long-term durability), this isn’t the right choice.

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Best Vapor Barrier Plastic

Durable, 6 mil thick
If you need to insulate a basement or crawl space, this plastic sheeting is a good bet. We liked the overall quality . . . great for weather proofing or as a drop cloth.
$53.14 ($0.09 / Sq Ft)

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Best Vapor Barrier Plastic: Husky Plastic Sheeting

For the best vapor barrier between drywall and insulation (or for concrete), we’d recommend Husky’s Plastic Sheeting. Good quality at a price that gives more bang for the buck.

What We Liked

• Good thickness (6 mil).

• Great for weather proofing.

• 100 foot roll great for small to medium size jobs.

• Works well as a vapor barrier for basement or crawl space.

What Needs Work

• Opaque. Nope, you can’t see through this plastic.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!

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