8 Most Important Tarp Knots to Know (with Diagrams)

Last Updated on 07/2024 by Diane

If you don’t know the right knots for tying out a tarp, your tarp walls and roof will end up sagging. Or the tarp might even collapse on you. Luckily, there aren’t too many tarp knots you need to know. I usually only use 3 knots to tie a tarp. However, if you know these 8 tarp knots, you will be able to pitch any tarp setup and in any conditions.

Tarp Knots Infographic

Keep scrolling for real-life pictures and more details about these tarp knots.

Here is what the tarp knots look like when used in real life. In these setups, I used the running bowline, taut line hitch and prusik knots. These are the three tarp knots that I use most often.

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How Much Rope Do You Need to Pitch a Tarp?

For a tarp ridgeline, you will probably need at least 30 feet (10m) for a 10×10 tarp or 40 feet (12m) for a 10×15 tarp. Depending on which setup you use, you may also need several shorter pieces of rope for the guylines.

Important: I recommend getting REFLECTIVE paracord (like the one by Werewolf shown below) so you don’t walk into your ridgeline or tie-out points at night! Yes, I’m speaking from experience here 😀

Most Important Tarp Knots

1. Running Bowline

Use for: Tying first side of horizontal ridgeline

There are a lot of knots that you can use for tying rope to a tree to make your ridgeline. However, the running bowline is considered best. It is a very secure knot, and the tension ends up on the knot (as opposed to the tree), so it doesn’t cut into trees and damage bark like with other tarp ridgeline knots (Leave No Trace!). This is why the running bowline is also used for hanging a hammock. However, the bowline isn’t adjustable, so the other side of your ridgeline needs to have a tautline hitch or you won’t be able to adjust the tension.

If you know how to tie a bowline but not a running bowline, you can: Tie a bowline knot onto side A of the ridgeline rope, wrap side A around the tree, thread side B through the bowline’s loop, and pull to tighten. However, it’s annoying to thread a long ridgeline through the loop. You risk your rope getting tangled, which is why it’s better to use the running bowlinne.

Running Bowline Instructions:

2. Tautline Hitch

Use for: Tying ridgelines, attaching rope to tarp, guylines.

The tautline hitch is arguably the most essential knot to know for tying a tarp. It’s possible to tie out all parts of a tarp with just this one knot (though it’s not always the best option). The reason is it is so great is because it’s an adjustable knot. Once tied, you can slide the knot around. This allows you to adjust the tension of the rope – something important for getting ridgelines and guylines taut. Without this knot, your tarp will likely sag.

Alternatively, you can use other sliding tension knots such as the buntline hitch, truckers hitch, McCarthey hitch, or Magnus hitch.

I also often use the tautline hitch to make tie-out points on tarps which don’t have grommets (or if the grommet broke or doesn’t have a grommet where I need it). Just wrap a smooth pebble in the tarp and tie the tautline hitch around it.

Taut Line Hitch Instructions:

3. Prussik/Prusik Knot

Use for: Tensioning tarp on ridgeline.

A common problem with tarp setups is that the tarp gets loose on the area where it hangs over the ridgeline. The prussik knot — also called the prusik knot — solves this problem.

Instructions:

Put the tarp over your ridgeline. Tie two prussik knots onto the ridgeline, one on each side of the tarp. For diagonal ridgeline setups, you’ll only need one prussik knot.
Attach the prussik knot to the tarp. You can tie the end direclty to a grommet or loop, or use a toggle stick.
Slide the prussik knots to tension the tarp on the ridgeline.

Using a Toggle Stick

In the diagram above, the prussik knot is closed with a fisherman’s bend. You can leave the ends open and tie the prussik knot directly to a tarp grommet or loop. However, this means you’ll have to untie two more knots when taking down your shelter. A better option is to use a toggle stick, as shown below.

To use a toggle stick, you’ll need a loop on your tarp. You can tie a loop to a grommet. Or, if your tarp doesn’t have any attachment points, you can make a tie-out point by wrapping a rock in the tarp with a tautline hitch, then tie a bowline in the hanging end (that’s what I did in the images below).

4. Bowline

Use for: Tying guylines to tarp grommets or loops

The bowline is called the “king of knots” because it creates such a secure knot. When pitching a tarp, you can use the bowline to attach guylines to tarp grommets or loops. Since the bowline isn’t adjustable, the other end of the guyline (that gets staked out) will need to be a tautline hitch.

Instructions:

5. Clove Hitch

Use for: Tying guylines to tarp with a toggle stick

The clove hitch is a very simple but surprisingly secure knot to make. When it is under tension, it won’t budge. But, once not under tension anymore, it can be easily removed. It’s also often used for tying toggles when hammock camping. You also need to know the clove hitch for some bear bag hangs.

Instructions:

6. Clove Hitch Over Stake

Use for: Tying guylines to stakes

This knot is also a clove hitch. However, this method of tying allows you to slip it over a fixed object, such as a stake. The clove hitch doens’t slide like the tautline hitch, so you won’t be able to adjust the tension of your guylines. However, it has the benefit of being easy to release.

Instructions:

7. Fisherman’s Bend

Use for: Tying two ropes together to make one longer rope

A “bend” is a type of knot used to tie two rope ends together. You will often need to do this when hanging a tarp, such as if you need to tie two ropes together to make them longer. I personally like the fisherman’s bend best because it’s easy, even with gloves on. But there are plenty of other bend knots you could use.

Alternatively, you can use the lap bend (below). It creates a larger knot, so might make your tarp bumpy. However, it is easier to untie. Just pull on end E to release the knot.

8. Sheet Bend

Use for: Tying guylines to tarp with broken grommets or loop

If the grommet or loop in your tarp corner breaks, you can use a sheet bend to attach a guyline to it. The knot is secure when under tension, but easily unties once the tension is released.

Alternatively, use the “pebble trick” shown in #2. Wrap a smooth pebble into the tarp corner and tie a tautline hitch around it.

Bonus Tarp Knots: Lashings

Use for: Tying poles to trees, lengthening poles

Some tarp setups require poles. To tie poles to objects, you will need to use lashing knots. I personally don’t use them for tarp shelters, but do love playing with lashing knots to make camp furniture out of branches.

There are three main lashings you’ll need to know for pitching tarps:

Round lashing: Some tarp pitches (like the dining fly) require very long poles. If you can’t find poles or sticks long enough, you can use the round lashing to connect multiple poles into one longer one.
Tripod lashing: This is used to connect three poles into a tripod, which can then be used to support a ridgeline pole.
Square lashing and diagonal lashing: Use this lashing to tie poles together perpendicularly, such as if you want to tie a ridgepole between two trees.

Round Lashing Instructions

Start with a clove hitch around both poles. Wrap the rope several times around both poles. Then finish with another clove hitch.

Tripod Lashing Instructions

Start with a clove hitch on an outer pole. Wrap over-under the poles several times. Then wrap vertically around the rope between the outer poles two times, and another two times around the other outer poles. Finish with a clove hitch.