Top 5 Best Pool Covers (2021)

Just filling your pool with water isn’t all there is to owning a swimming pool. To keep the water clean, skimming the top off or adding chlorine tablets isn’t enough. You need to regulate the temperature, make sure the pH level stays balanced, and, most importantly, keep debris out.

One of the best ways to keep your swimming pool clean and ready for your next dive is to cover it up with one of the best pool covers out there. With the right cover, you get to not just keep debris out but also keep harmful UV rays as well as creepy crawlies out.

For those of you with children or the elderly around, you will also be adding an extra layer of protection to your pool for them.

Choosing the best pool cover isn’t just a matter of picking one that looks good or costs more. Numerous factors come into play to determine the best pool cover – which is why we are reviewing the best ones for you, along with including a buying guide to help you make the right decision. So, let’s dive head-first into our reviews!

Our Best Pool Covers For 2020 & Beyond

• Sun2Solar Clear Rectangular Solar Cover
• Blue Wave Silver Round Above Ground Pool Winter Cover
• Intex Round Metal Frame Pool Cover
• Blue Wave NS110 8-mil Solar Blanket
• Robelle 3524-4 Super Winter Pool Cover

Here Are 5 of the Best Pool Covers in 2020

Sun2Solar Clear Rectangular Solar Cover

If you’re looking to keep your pool protected from the heat outside, or are simply trying to make sure the water within doesn’t freeze up, the Sun2Solar Clear Rectangular Solar Cover could be the best choice for you.

The cover is filled with air bubbles on the surface to make sure heat doesn’t travel through it. This can help you keep heath out as well as keep it in. If you lay it upside down, though, you will be able to trap the sun’s heat and heat up the water within. All you have to do is be mindful that your children don’t start popping the bubbles in this pool cover.

You will get a clear view of your pool even with the cover on since this cover is transparent.

Specifications

• 16 x 40feet
• For in and above ground pools
• Rectangle
• 2 colors; blue and clear

Pros

• See-through
• Can keep your pool warm
• No evaporation of water since the cover is air-tight
• Can fit smaller and medium-sized pools
• Cost-effective

Cons

• Bubbles may burst in extremely hot climates
• Might need modifications for larger pools
• Not as well-suited for extremely cold climates

Blue Wave Silver Round Above Ground Pool Winter Cover

To protect your above-ground pool from sunshine, rain, hail, winds, and snow, the Blue Wave Silver Round Pool Cover is a one cover fits all solution fit for your pool. It can safeguard your pool from outside debris and temperature easily. Installation only requires being mounted on the pool’s sides and is strong enough to hold its own even if your children accidentally walk on top of it. If they start jumping, though, that’s a separate story.

The underside is black, which means no light will pass through the cover and into your pool. This is rather effective at making sure there is no algae growth within your pool. Since no UV rays pass into the water either, there is no evaporation either. The lack of UV rays also means that chemical reactions slow down, so if you’ve added any chlorine pills or algae-growth inhibitors, you can rest assured that they will last much longer under the cover.

Specifications

• 25 x 45 inches
• Suitable for in- and above-ground pools
• Made of polyethylene
• Available in navy blue and black

Pros

• Fit for small and larger pools
• Fit for in- and above-ground pools
• No sunlight passes through; therefore, algae growth and chemical reactions slow down
• There are integrated loops at the corners to make sure the cover stays in place and is sturdy

Cons

• You should consider buying 5 extra feet on both sides for maximum strength
• Might not be as aesthetically pleasing as transparent pools
• Costly

Intex Round Metal Frame Pool Cover

The Intex Round pool cover has a unique design that helps it cover above-ground pools rather effectively, therefore making it an obvious candidate for our best pool cover list. The cover needs to be spread atop the metal frame with 10-inch hanging on each side.

This extra cover sheet is there to keep the cover securely in its place. Throughout the cover, you will find small drain holes that allow water to drain down into your pool instead of remaining on top of the cover in case of rain or dew.

Unfortunately, this also means that the cover can let in creepy crawlies. We recommend that you skim the top off after removing the cover. The corners have a rope to tie off tighten it around the pool once on. This will protect it from the children running around.

Specifications

• 12 x 14 feet
• Suitable for above-ground pools only
• Suitable for circular pools
• You can find the cover in navy blue, black, grey, and white.

Pros

• Suitable for round, above-ground pools
• Wind-resistant – meaning it won’t blow off as easily
• Easy to install, but removal can be slightly tricky
• Cost-effective

Cons

• Not as durable as others on our best pool cover list
• Only suitable for above-ground pools
• The tightening rope can snap
• Not suitable for keeping water warm

Blue Wave NS110 8-mil Solar Blanket

If insulation is one of your main concerns, the Blue Wave NS110 is right up your alley. This pool cover features one of the most efficient insulation layers among any of the pool covers we mentioned above. The only problem? That efficiency comes at a relatively high price.

If you can afford this pool cover, the Blue Wave NS110 doesn’t disappoint. From warming up your pool for you on sunny days to making sure the water doesn’t freeze up during the winter, you can expect this thermal barrier to fulfill its purpose and then some.

Again, there are air bubbles in the cover, so it isn’t suitable for extremely hot climates. The cover itself is made out of UV resistant polymers to make sure no UV rays enter your pool. Even though clear, you can expect your chlorine tablets and algae treatments to last much longer under the cover.

Specifications

• 33 x 33 feet
• Suitable for In and above-ground pools
• Made out of UV resistant polyethylene
• Available in aqua and clear color for maximum aesthetics.

Pros

• Can be used on small, medium, and large pools alike
• Suitable for in and above ground pools alike
• UV resistant
• Water doesn’t evaporate as quickly
• Protects your pool from the debris
• Durable as long as not exposed to extreme heat

Cons

• Costly
• Not suitable for extremely hot temperatures
• As cover gets old or is exposed to excessive heat, the bubbles may pop, and the plastic falls in the pool

Robelle 3524-4 Super Winter Pool Cover

For those of you living in colder climates and often find that you pool freezes over, even with those ‘thermal barrier’ type pool covers, the best pool cover for you might be one that is made specifically with winter in mind. The Robelle 3524-4 pool cover won’t disappoint you easily, but we must mention, this is perhaps one of the most expensive pool covers on our list.

The cover is made out of heavy-duty polyethylene and is designed to be used roughly. What you get for the price is well worth it, since the cover has been known to be able to perform impeccably even during the harshest of winters.

The cover traps heat under it very effectively to make sure the water doesn’t freeze over. Keeping the heath inside also means that it keeps the cold outside. The cover’s blue top and black belly allow no light to pass through either, halting the growth of any algae or bacteria that may want to make themselves at home during the winter season.

As for the summer, yes, you can use this cover as well. If you live in a very cold area, summers may not be as hot. But on the off chance that they are, we recommend that you be careful with this cover. The UV resistant coating does help warm the water up, but the product’s life can get significantly reduced if used excessively in extreme heat.

Specifications

• 25 x 45 feet
• Suitable for in- and above-ground pools
• Made of UV resistant heavy-duty polyethylene
• Black belly with a blue top

Pros

• Suitable for small, medium, and larger pools alike
• Although suitable for in-ground pools, you can use it to cover above-ground pools as well
• UV-resistant cover
• No heat is lost during the winter

Cons

• Expensive
• Not as suitable for above-ground pools
• Not as suitable for summers and it is for winters
• The winch you get with the cover is of poor quality. We recommend using your own for safety.

Buying Guide for the Best Pool Covers

We have chosen some of the best pool covers out there for you, but there is a world of pool covers out there that you can choose as well. After all, the heart wants what the heart wants, right?

For that, we have put together this buying guide and answered a list of frequently asked questions so that you know what to look for when buying. So, let’s get into it!

Choosing the Right Type of Pool Cover

No matter how expensive or feature-rich your cover may be, it will be useless if it’s not the right type. Here are the types of covers for you to consider;

1. Solar Covers. These covers are also known as bubble covers since they have thousands of air bubbles on it. When laid out, these bubbles act as a layer of insulation. The bubbles trap heat inside, effectively helping the water maintain its temperature. The bubbles are clear, meaning that they warm up the water without overheating it or leading to evaporation.
2. Thermal Covers. These covers are made insulating foam layers and are designed to keep your pool’s temperature constant. If you left your pool at toasty 82 degrees, you would find that even after a few days, the water will maintain its temperature. These covers are much better at making sure there isn’t any water evaporation because they need a tight seal to perform their work. If any water does get evaporated, it is trapped on the cover, trickling back down into the body of water.
3. Debris Covers. These covers aren’t there to maintain the temperature; instead, they focus on keeping foreign bodies out. The goal is to make sure you don’t end up skimming the top off every time you need to use the pool.
4. Automatic Covers.Automatic roll up and down with the flick of a button. There is a motor attached to the cover that pulls the cover on top or off the pool. If the cover hides after being pulled off, it’s called a hidden cover. These can be combined with any of the above covers to achieve the desired effect. These are some of the most expensive pool covers out there.

Choosing The Right Size For Your Pool Cover

The right sized pool cover can mean the difference between a cover that simply keeps debris out or one that can save a life. If the cover is too small, it can tear up due to being stretched over a large area. This means they won’t remain durable for long.

Too big, and they will get stuck in things, effectively inviting flaws. The optimal size of a pool cover is just 5 feet larger than the pool’s size. The idea is to make sure enough cover is left on all sides to be adjusted or tied off properly.

Choosing Mesh or Solid Pool Covers

The best pool cover is one that fulfills your purpose. Here, you need to make sure you choose the right material type. This includes choosing between a solid or a mesh pool cover.

While both can keep debris out, one can also keep water or durst out, i.e., the solid pool cover, while mesh covers only keep large debris out. Mesh covers are much more cost-effective compared to solid pool covers.

Durability

“You get what you pay for,” and in the scenario of pool covers, this means choosing the right material and covering the right bases. Some factors that determine the durability of your pool cover include, but aren’t limited to;

• Thickness of the cover
• Seam strength and length
• Reinforcement quality

Many of the best pool cover manufacturers also include warranties with their products to increase customer trust and increase your cover’s overall useful life if it faces an untimely demise.

Be careful with the warranties, though. The “limited coverage” usually means that the coverage is a bit too limited.

Conclusion

Finding the best pool cover for your swimming pool – be it your own or the community pool might seem like a daunting, tiring, and long process, but when researching, we found the opposite to be true! It involved a bit of back and forth, yes, but what we got at the end of the day was well worth it.

We hope our review or the guide was of any help to you. If you still have any questions, think we missed out something, or simply would like to share your two cents, let us know! We’d love to hear from you. If you bought any pool cover other than the one on our list, we’d love to hear about it!