7 Best Painters Drop Cloth and Tarp Picks to Protect Your Floors 2023

By Toni DeBella and Rachel Brougham

Updated on Aug. 22, 2024

Even the pros aren't immune to an occasional spill or splat. A painters drop cloth protects your floors and furnishings from an inevitable mess.

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Spills and splatters are inevitable during any painting project, but you can protect your furnishings and flooring with one single painting tool: a painters drop cloth. Using a paint bucket along with a painters tarp makes for an easy cleanup when it comes time to put the paint brushes, rollers and tools away. There are a few types of painters drop cloths on the market, so we did the research for you to find the best options for your next home improvement project.

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Able to absorb most paint spills yet lightweight enough to move easily from room to room, this Canvas & Supply pick is our choice for best overall painters drop cloth. Made of 100% cotton duck canvas, with hems double-stitched using rot-resistant thread, the cover traps dust and debris while helping to prevent paint disasters. This painters drop cloth is available in 10 sizes, meaning you’ll be able to find the right option for your next home improvement project.

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To get the job done with a no frills version, the Trimaco SuperTuff Plastic Drop Cloth is a prime budget-friendly choice. This 9-foot by 12-foot plastic painters drop cloth is leak-proof and easy to move around while keeping paint splatters and dust contained. To keep it safely in place, you can use painter’s tape to secure it into corners.

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There will be no slipping and sliding with the CoverGrip Canvas Safety Drop Cloth. It features little rubberized dots attached to the underside to keep this painters drop cloth securely in place. Just lay it down and apply pressure, the rubber dots will grab onto the covered surface and hold firm. It fits snugly on stairs and tucks into corners, making it a fantastic option to prevent paint drips on floors.

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Unlike flimsy plastic painters drop cloths that can slide beneath your feet, the Trimaco Stay Put Vinyl Drop Cloth is a slip-resistant, textured tarp with a tacky backing that’s especially suited for flat surfaces like hardwood, tile or laminate floors. The 2-mil-thick vinyl is leak-proof, drapable and clingy—ideal for preventing dust and protecting odd-shaped objects like kitchen islands and furniture from paint-related mishaps.

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For an eco-friendly option, the EcoDrop Paper Drop Cloth is made from 100% recycled materials. This paper is perfect for light painting and touch-up jobs, such as painting outdoor furniture or doing a little trim work. The 9-foot by 12-foot size can easily be cut into sections for smaller jobs, and at less than $7, it’s a smart option to always keep on hand.

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If your painting project will take place in a room with carpet, you’ll need a painters drop cloth that adheres to the fibers in carpeting. TapeManBlue Carpet Protection Film is a thin plastic skin that does just that, yet won’t leave behind any sticky residue, marks or damage.

It’s tear- and puncture-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about it ripping. The heavy-duty film protects against not only spills and water damage, but any tracked in construction debris as well. No tools are required to install it: Once it’s down, it stays there until you pull it up.

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Moisture, dirt and leaves can all pose challenges when painting outdoors, but the B-Air Grizzly Tarp is up to the task. This painters tarp is made from tightly woven polyethylene fibers and is a reliable option for collecting falling debris when you’re sanding a structure or painting wood siding.

When finished, just dump the mess into the garbage, wash off the tarp, and it’s ready for the next stage of the project. It comes in various sizes, and each features built-in aluminum grommets every 36 inches for secure tie-downs when the wind picks up.

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When looking for the best painters drop cloth, consider your project and what you need covered. If you have slick hardwood or tile flooring, consider a drop cloth with little rubberized dots to help it stay put. If you’re working outside, look for options you can tie in place. You’ll also want to think about how much you’re willing to spend, and if you want a painters drop cloth that can be washed and reused.

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.

Some painters drop cloths are water-resistant, preventing the penetration of water to some degree. Opt for plastic or vinyl if you’re looking for waterproof options.

Paint should not bleed through canvas drop cloths. Canvas is the material of choice for many professional painters as it is absorbing and has a tight weave.

Canvas drop cloths do have a tendency to shrink when washed and dried. Before washing, check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

Updated onProsConsProsConsProsConsProsConsProsConsProsConsProsConsCanvas drop clothsPlastic and vinyl drop clothsPaper drop clothsProtective filmsTarps