HDPE geomembranes are available in six different gauges, ranging from 0.1 mm (400 Gauge) to 2 mm (8000 Gauge). Choosing the wrong thickness can mean overpaying for an oversized project or, even worse, the liner breaking prematurely. This comparison will help you decide which gauge suits your project, whether it's a vapor barrier under a slab or a large agricultural reservoir.
🎯 Choose the variant in 10 seconds
- If your case is temporary construction cover or stacked material protection: go to 0.1 mm variant (400 Gauge)
- If your case is a vapor barrier under a slab or light roof: go to 0.2 mm variant (800 Gauge)
- If your case is a small garden pond or a closed water tank: go to 0.5 mm variant (2000 Gauge)
- If your case is an agricultural pond or irrigation canal: go to 1 mm variant (4000 Gauge)
- If your case is an artificial lake or industrial reservoir: go to 1.5 mm variant (6000 Gauge)
- If your case is chemical containment, landfill, or critical sealing: go to 2 mm variant (8000 Gauge)
What to consider before choosing a variant
Geomembranes come in two roll sizes: lighter gauges (0.1 and 0.2 mm) in 2 m × 50 m rolls (100 m² per roll) and thicker ones (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mm) in industrial rolls of 5.8 m × 100 m (580 m² per roll). This implies huge differences in weight and handling. These are the main criteria for the decision:
- Final application: a vapor barrier under a floor (where the liner is protected and under no tension) is not the same as a lake exposed to the sun and water movement.
- Depth and hydrostatic pressure: the more water column above, the greater the pressure and required resistance. A 1 m pond demands less than a 5 m reservoir.
- UV exposure and expected lifespan: although all variants have high UV protection, thicker gauges withstand more years of exposure to the Dominican sun without degradation.
- Surface to cover and logistics: covering 50 m² can be done with a light roll that you can move with 2 people. Covering 2000 m² requires industrial rolls, a crane, and trained personnel. Also, consult our HDPE geomembrane usage guide to understand installation logistics.
- Puncture risk: if the ground has stones or sharp elements and you cannot remove them entirely, go up a gauge or add geotextile.
0.1 mm variant (400 Gauge): the ultralight sheet for temporary uses
- The most economical option in the catalog
- Ultralight 9.4 kg roll: one person can unroll it
- Covers 100 m² per roll (2 m × 50 m)
- Easy to cut with a knife and join with butyl tape
- Minimum thickness: does not support permanent water column
- No certified values for tensile, tear, or puncture strength
- Limited lifespan when exposed to the sun
- Not suitable for hot wedge welding
The 400 Gauge is the thinnest sheet in the range and is used exclusively for temporary covers: protecting stacked material on-site, covering excavations during the rainy season, or insulating surfaces that will not be under water pressure. Do not choose it for ponds or permanent vapor barriers: for those cases, go up to 800 Gauge or higher.
0.2 mm variant (800 Gauge): the light sheet for vapor barriers
- Economical and widely used in civil engineering
- Light 18.8 kg roll: two people to unroll
- Covers 100 m² per roll (2 m × 50 m): ideal for small projects
- Suitable for joining with butyl tape (no welder needed)
- Not suitable for lakes or containment under pressure
- Lower mechanical resistance than thicker gauges
- Shorter lifespan when exposed to the sun than 1 mm and above
The 800 Gauge is the most accessible option in the structural segment and the most commonly used as a vapor barrier under concrete floors, foundation insulation, and temporary civil engineering covers. It works well as long as the liner is mechanically protected and does not have to withstand direct water column pressure. If your project is a pond or a reservoir, you need to go up a gauge.
0.5 mm variant (2000 Gauge): entry to industrial format
- First gauge of the industrial format (5.8 m × 100 m)
- Tensile strength at break 10 N/mm
- Tear resistance 69 N
- Covers 580 m² per roll: fewer joins per project
- Roll weight 272.6 kg: requires 4-6 people or mechanical means
- Resistance inferior to the agricultural standard of 1 mm
- Not recommended for water column greater than 1.5 m
- No certified puncture resistance data
The 2000 Gauge is the entry-level option for industrial rolls and is chosen for ornamental garden ponds, closed water storage tanks (covered from the sun), small, shallow agricultural basins, and civil engineering projects where the liner is buried or protected. If your pond will be exposed to the sun or is deeper than 1.5 m, go up to the 4000 Gauge.
1 mm variant (4000 Gauge): the standard for ponds and canals
- Tensile strength at break 27 N/mm
- Tear resistance 125 N and puncture resistance 320 N
- Industrial roll of 580 m² (5.8 m × 100 m)
- Optimal balance between cost and durability
- Roll weight 545.2 kg: requires a forklift
- Joining with professional welder (not tape)
- Insufficient for landfills or aggressive chemicals
The 4000 Gauge is the most popular variant in the range and the reference for the agricultural sector in the Dominican Republic. It easily covers most cases: irrigation basins, canals, tilapia and shrimp ponds, medium-sized reservoirs, and open cisterns. It offers the best balance between mechanical resistance and cost per installed m².
1.5 mm variant (6000 Gauge): the robust choice for large reservoirs
- Tensile strength at break 40 N/mm
- Tear resistance 187 N and puncture resistance 480 N
- Longer lifespan when exposed to the Dominican sun
- International standard for large hydraulic projects
- Roll weight 817.8 kg: requires a crane or backhoe
- Higher cost per m² compared to 4000 Gauge
- Requires trained personnel for hot wedge welding
The 6000 Gauge is the usual thickness when the project exceeds 2 m of water column depth or when a lifespan of 20 or more years exposed to the elements is required. It is used in mining reservoirs, large ornamental lakes, and most industrial-sized aquaculture projects.
2 mm variant (8000 Gauge): the maximum for critical applications
- Maximum break strength 53 N/mm
- Tear resistance 249 N and puncture resistance 640 N
- Longest exposed lifespan in the range
- Ideal for industrial fluids and strong static loads
- The most expensive in the range
- Mandatory industrial handling (crane)
- Oversized for most agricultural works
The 8000 Gauge is the specification used in municipal landfills, secondary containment of fuel tanks, aggressive chemical warehouses, and projects regulated by strict environmental standards. If your project does not fall into these categories, the 6000 or 4000 Gauge is probably more appropriate and economical.
Comparative table of variants
All variants share the same material (HDPE), the same smooth black finish, and the same high UV protection. The differences are in thickness, presentation, roll weight, and mechanical properties.
| Feature | 0.1 mm 400 Gauge |
0.2 mm 800 Gauge |
0.5 mm 2000 Gauge |
1 mm 4000 Gauge |
1.5 mm 6000 Gauge |
2 mm 8000 Gauge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal use | Temporary cover | Vapor barrier | Garden ponds | Canals and fish farming | Large reservoirs | Landfills and chemicals |
| Thickness (mil) | 4 mil | 8 mil | 20 mil | 40 mil | 59 mil | 79 mil |
| Presentation | 2 m × 50 m | 2 m × 50 m | 5.8 m × 100 m | 5.8 m × 100 m | 5.8 m × 100 m | 5.8 m × 100 m |
| Area per roll | 100 m² | 100 m² | 580 m² | 580 m² | 580 m² | 580 m² |
| Yield strength | — | — | 10 N/mm | 15 N/mm | 22 N/mm | 29 N/mm |
| Tensile strength | — | — | 10 N/mm | 27 N/mm | 40 N/mm | 53 N/mm |
| Tear resistance | — | — | 69 N | 125 N | 187 N | 249 N |
| Puncture resistance | — | — | — | 320 N | 480 N | 640 N |
| Roll weight | 9.4 kg | 18.8 kg | 272.6 kg | 545.2 kg | 817.8 kg | — |
| Handling | 1 person | 2 people | 4-6 people | Forklift | Crane | Crane |
| Joining method | Butyl tape | Tape / hot air | Professional welding | Hot wedge | Hot wedge | Hot wedge |
Use case matrix → recommended variant
| If your case is... | Recommended variant |
|---|---|
| Temporary construction cover or stacked material protection | → 0.1 mm (400 Gauge) |
| Vapor barrier under concrete slab or basement floor | → 0.2 mm (800 Gauge) |
| Small garden pond or closed water tank | → 0.5 mm (2000 Gauge) |
| Agricultural pond, irrigation canal, tilapia pond up to 2 m | → 1 mm (4000 Gauge) |
| Artificial lake, industrial reservoir or dam greater than 2 m | → 1.5 mm (6000 Gauge) |
| Secondary containment for fuel or municipal landfill | → 2 mm (8000 Gauge) |
Quick rule of thumb for agricultural projects: for every meter of water column depth, go up one gauge level. Up to 1 m use 0.5 mm, up to 2 m the standard 1 mm, up to 3 m the 1.5 mm, and reserve the 2 mm for cases over 3 m or applications with chemicals. This rule prevents you from paying for an oversized gauge.
Do not buy 400 or 800 Gauge thinking you can use them as an "economic liner" for a permanent pond. Although the initial purchase may seem attractive, the thickness is insufficient to support the water column, long-term direct UV rays, and the weight of sediments. For any application that permanently contains water, start from 2000 Gauge.
Still don't know which gauge fits your project?
Tell us the area to cover, the water depth if any, the type of fluid, and if it will be exposed to the sun. You will receive a technical recommendation of the exact gauge and square meters you need to buy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine different gauge variants in the same project?
Technically it is possible but not recommended. The difference in thickness creates mechanical stress at the joint and reduces long-term watertightness. If you need localized reinforcement (for example, in a high-stress corner), use a patch of the same main gauge instead of increasing the gauge. For water column applications, always unify to the same thickness.
How do I know how many rolls I need to buy?
Calculate the area to be covered in square meters, add 10% extra (for overlaps and perimeter anchoring), and divide by the surface area per roll of the chosen variant: 100 m² per roll for gauges 400 and 800, and 580 m² per roll for gauges 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000. For example, a 500 m² pond with 10% extra (550 m²) is covered with 1 industrial roll of Gauge 4000.
Why is the same product sold in such different rolls (2 m × 50 m vs. 5.8 m × 100 m)?
Because each roll responds to a different use case. The 2 m × 50 m rolls are the standard manufacturing for thin gauges (0.1 and 0.2 mm), designed for small works and manual deployment. The 5.8 m × 100 m industrial rolls optimize large-scale installation: fewer joints per square meter covered and, therefore, fewer critical failure points. That's why all gauges from 0.5 mm onwards are manufactured in this second format.