Tyvek Ground Sheet: The $5 Footprint Alternative
Cut Tyvek house wrap into a ground sheet for a fraction of commercial footprint prices. Here's how to do it right.
A commercial footprint for a 3-season tent runs $20-40. A Tyvek ground sheet costs $5 and weighs almost nothing. The catch is minimal: you need scissors and 15 minutes.
Tyvek is the white plastic sheeting contractors use under house siding. It's waterproof, lightweight (0.55 oz per square foot), and durable enough for multiple seasons of camping. It's also not a perfect footprint—but it solves the actual problem at a fraction of the cost.
What You Need
- Tyvek house wrap (3 ft x 150 ft roll, ~$15-20 at Home Depot)
- Sharp scissors or utility knife
- Tent floor outline (either sketch on Tyvek or use your tent as a template)
- Optional: Duct tape for sealing cut edges
The Build
Step 1: Get the template. Lay your tent floor on the Tyvek and trace around it with a marker. Or just cut a rectangle roughly 2-3 inches smaller than your tent footprint—you want it to sit inside the tent, not stick out (moisture gets underneath).
Step 2: Cut it out. Tyvek cuts cleanly with scissors. Make straight lines. You'll get 2-3 ground sheets from one roll if you're making them for multiple tents.
Step 3: Seal the edges (optional but worth it). Running a thin line of duct tape around the cut edges prevents fraying and extends durability. Takes 5 minutes.
Step 4: Use it. Lay it under your tent floor. It reflects moisture away from your tent bottom and protects against punctures from rocks or sticks. Done.
Cost vs Buying
A single roll of Tyvek ($15-20) makes 2-3 ground sheets. That's $5-10 per sheet. A commercial footprint (REI, Big Agnes, Nemo) runs $25-50 for a single tent.
If you have three tents, you're looking at $75-150 for commercial footprints. One Tyvek roll covers all three for $20.
Limitations
Tyvek isn't perfect. The material is thinner than commercial footprints—expect 2-3 seasons of regular use before the bottom starts thinning in high-wear areas. Commercial footprints last longer, but they also cost 5x more.
Tyvek can slip on certain tent floors (especially silnylon). If that's an issue, add a few dabs of contact cement or keep the sheet slightly under-sized so your tent weight holds it down.
Sharp rocks and roots will puncture it eventually. This is where it differs from commercial solutions—you're trading durability for cost. For car camping or established campsites, it's fine. For bushwhacking across scree or rocky desert, the risk is higher.
Temperature doesn't matter. Tyvek has zero R-value—it provides no insulation, only moisture protection and abrasion resistance. Never use it as a substitute for a proper sleeping pad.
When to Buy the Real Thing
If you're on multi-week backcountry trips with the same tent, invest in a commercial footprint. The durability justifies it. If you're car camping, testing a new tent, or using it casually, Tyvek wins on value.
Also skip this if you're setting up on pristine Leave No Trace alpine terrain. A ground sheet (any kind) should be used selectively to protect fragile areas, not as routine habit.
The Bottom Line
Tyvek ground sheets are practical, cheap, and effective. They're not luxury items—they're a solution to a real problem at a price that makes sense. For $15, you can outfit a quiver of tents for the cost of one commercial footprint.