White and silver tarps are almost always heavy duty poly tarps and have an outdoor use. These two colors are commonly used for tarps by themselves or as part of a canopy structure. Silver tarps can reflect the sunlight, as well as have all other properties associated with a heavy-duty poly tarp, and white tarps make the area below the tarp less hot.

Blue tarps are the most commonly used medium-duty tarp and, often, a blue tarp is used for short-term covering and protection, as it is a medium duty material. Although other colors are available as medium duty, the blue tarp is most common. The blue doesn’t have any significance, other than the color stands out. In addition, blue tarps are most often used as hurricane tarps, as they can provide coverage for up to ninety days when constantly in use.

Green, brown, or camouflage tarps are best as hunting tarps. These colors are all available by tarp manufacturers as medium and heavy duty materials and, in some cases, the heavy duty green tarps are the roof of a canopy. These colors can blend into the area around and, if you’re looking for additional camouflage while hunting, these colors can hide your team and supplies. Other similar uses include use as an army tarp to hide supplies – and, in fact, camouflage tarps are used in army training camps – and can be garden tarps to blend in with the plants in the area.

Orange, yellow, or red tarps are colors usually designated to medium-duty tarps, as these are used temporarily, like a blue tarp, but are needed for standing out. In some cases of hunting, one of these orange or yellow tarps can help you stand out from your teammates when hunting.