Canopies provide wonderful protection from the sun, rain and other elements, but sometimes a strong gust of wind can set them sailing. The right canopy or tarp can make outdoor entertaining areas more pleasant and can also provide shelter for vehicles and other outdoor property. However, before you can think about using a tarp for protection, it needs to be properly anchored. That way, a sudden wind or a passing storm won't blow your cover away.

Whatever type of canopy you're using, it's best to secure it to protect against damage in high winds. Even if you're not anticipating inclement weather, it's always better to be prepared for the worst and to hope for the best. Shop the selection of anchoring tools available at Canopies and Tents to find everything you need get the job done right and to make sure your canopy isn't going anywhere. We provide the best tools and accessories for the job, offering the ideal anchoring solution for any setup or situation. The right tie-downs and tarp anchors will eliminate the risk for damage to your property and to the canopy itself, even when the wind picks up. Shop for canopy weights, heavy-duty ground anchors and more, all in one location.

Foot Pads, Tent Stakes and More to Secure Canopies

A solid canopy requires a good foundation. Start by purchasing the proper foot pads for your canopy. For pads come in multiple widths to fit your canopy's frames. Next, use our tent stakes to secure the foot pads into the ground. If your canopy is set up on pavement or another surface where tarp stakes aren't an option, use our rubber anchor weights for canopies instead. These types of tarp weights are non-damaging and while they're not as strong as a traditional tent stake, they'll keep your canopy in place in low to moderate winds.

No matter how you decide to anchor your canopy down, you'll need ball bungee ties, designed with elasticity to allow the canopy fabric to move naturally with the wind so that the material retains its integrity and does not tear. Insert your bungee ties through the grommet holes in the canopy and wrap them around the pipe to secure the canopy. Ball bungee ties have the added bonus of being replaceable, so you can switch them out as needed.

Ball Bungee Ties and Alternatives

Now that you know how to secure a canopy in the wind, you'll need to know how to choose the right size of bungee ties. Our ball bungee ties for canopies are available in multiple colors and in 6", 9", 11" and 13" sizes. Not sure which size anchors for canopy you need? Generally speaking, the longer the bungee ties, the more times you'll be able to wrap them around the pipe to achieve the tightness you want. We recommend choosing lengths a bit longer than you think you need, so you can adjust the tightness as needed depending on the weather and your setup. With that done, now you can decide how many bungee ties you'll need.

To help you get started, we'll work through an example. In this example, we'll determine the number of canopy anchors needed for a 10' x 10' cover with grommets every 1.5" using the following formula: 10 + 10 x 2/1.5 = 27 ball ties. Input your measurements in the equation shown to see how many ball bungee ties you'll need for your tarp.

Alternatively, you could opt to use our canopy tie-downs with sturdy hooks on both ends. You would use the tie-downs the same way you would the ball bungee ties, so the main difference is design. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions about how to use tent anchors or how to secure your canopy in high winds.