Best For Water Fun: TRM Manufacturing 610C Plastic Sheeting, 6 Mil, 10′ x 100′, Clear/Translucent

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 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

• A bit pricey if you don’t need the entire length. Yes, this roll has 100 feet of sheeting—if you don’t need that much, consider the next picks.

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.

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!