Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting: Which Type Should You Use?

A grower’s guide to picking the right greenhouse plastic sheeting — and why two covers at the same mil thickness can have completely different lifespans.

Every greenhouse cover on the market is polyethylene. That’s where the similarity ends. Two rolls can share a mil thickness and a price point, and one will hold up through four seasons while the other shreds by spring. The difference is what’s built into the film — reinforcement and UV inhibitor load — not the number on the spec sheet.

Here’s what separates one greenhouse plastic sheeting option from another, and which Americover cover fits which job.

Why Greenhouse-Grade Plastic Isn’t Construction-Grade Plastic

Standard poly sheeting isn’t built for repeated sun exposure — without UV inhibitors in the resin, it yellows and shreds within months outdoors. Greenhouse film costs more up front because that UV package is built in, and it gets replaced far less often, which usually makes it cheaper over a multi-year cycle.

Clear or Blackout? Match the Cover to the Crop

Clear greenhouse plastic sheeting is the default because it lets light through for photosynthesis. Growers running light deprivation cycles — forcing early flowering in photoperiod-sensitive crops like cannabis or mums — need the opposite: total darkness on a schedule, a different product category covered below.

Quick Comparison: 6 Greenhouse Covers at a Glance

Long-Life Reinforced Covers, for Structures You’re Not Tearing Down

SolaScrim™ and Tuff-Scrim™ both laminate a scrim — a woven polyester grid — between film layers, which stops a small puncture from spreading into a sheet-wide tear. If your frame is permanent, either is built to stay up through repeated seasons rather than come down every fall.

Standard and Single-Season Covers, for Lower Upfront Cost

The non-reinforced Clear Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting is UV-stabilized and lasts as long outdoors as the reinforced options above — you’re trading tear resistance for price, not durability. The 10 Mil Dura-Skrim® is reinforced and UV-stabilized too, but built for a single season — a fit if you also want a multipurpose film rated for jobsite containment between grow cycles.

Light Deprivation: Total Darkness on a Schedule

The BOLD® Black Out Light Deprivation Tarp uses a carbon black interior layer for total light blockage and a white exterior to reflect heat. It isn’t a “thicker clear cover” — it’s a purpose-built product for growers controlling light exposure on a strict daily cycle.

Product	Image	Key Spec	Link
BOLD® Black Out Light Deprivation Tarp		8 mil, total blackout, 2–3 yr life	View product →
SolaScrim™ 10 Mil Clear Reinforced Cover		10 mil, 4-yr life, 84% light transmission	View product →
Clear Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting		6 mil, up to 4-yr life, 89% light transmission	View product →
6 Mil Clear Dura-Skrim®		6 mil, reinforced, no UV inhibitors (short-term)	View product →
10 Mil Clear Dura-Skrim®		10 mil, reinforced, up to 1-yr full exposure	View product →
12 Mil Tuff-Scrim™ Clear Cover		12 mil, 36–48 mo. average outdoor life	View product →

How to Choose

Start with two questions: how long does this cover need to last, and does the crop need full light or none at all? Permanent frame → reinforced and UV-stabilized (SolaScrim or Tuff-Scrim). Single-season hoop tunnel → the non-reinforced Clear Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting or 10 Mil Dura-Skrim costs less and still holds up. Skip the 6 Mil Dura-Skrim for anything staying up through a full season — it’s short-term/indoor-adjacent only. Running light deprivation? None of the clear covers apply; that’s BOLD’s job.

For a deeper look at how thickness factors into the decision, see Americover’s guide on deciding what greenhouse cover thickness you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mil thickness is best for a greenhouse cover?

There’s no single best thickness. 6, 8, 10, and 12 mil covers are all sold as greenhouse film, and the right one depends on reinforcement and UV inhibitor load — not thickness alone.

How long does greenhouse plastic sheeting last outdoors?

Anywhere from under a year to about 4 years, depending on the product. Non-UV-stabilized films are built for short-term use; reinforced, UV-stabilized covers like SolaScrim or Tuff-Scrim are rated for multi-year, full-exposure use.

What’s the difference between reinforced and non-reinforced covers?

Reinforced covers have a scrim or string grid laminated between layers of film, which stops small punctures from spreading into a full tear. Non-reinforced covers are a single film layer — lighter and cheaper, but more vulnerable once a puncture starts.

Can I use regular construction plastic sheeting on my greenhouse?

Not for long. Construction-grade poly isn’t UV-stabilized, so it yellows and can shred within months of full sun exposure. Greenhouse-rated film costs more but is built to resist that breakdown.

What cover do I need for light deprivation growing?

A blackout tarp, not a clear cover — like the BOLD® Black Out Light Deprivation Tarp, which uses a carbon black interior layer to block 100% of light on a controlled schedule.

Find the Right Cover Before Your Next Grow Cycle

Whether you need multi-year clear coverage, a single-season fix, or total blackout for light deprivation, Americover’s greenhouse plastic sheeting is manufactured in the USA and built for the exposure your structure actually gets. Browse greenhouse plastic sheeting and find your cover →