--- title: "After Extensive Hands-On Testing, These Are the 5 Best Solar Pool Covers of 2026" description: "Harness the sun's power to warm a pool and keep out debris with the best solar pool cover. See which ones warmed water the best in testing." date: "2026-07-22" modified: "2026-07-22" authors: - name: "Tom Scalisi" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/tom-scalisi/" - name: "Timothy Dale" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/timothy-dale/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/best-solar-pool-covers/" categories: - "Exterior" - "Lawn, Garden & Pool" - "Pools & Water Features" - "Reviews" tags: - "Commerce" - "MPR" --- # After Extensive Hands-On Testing, These Are the 5 Best Solar Pool Covers of 2026 ![5 solar pool covers lined up against an above-ground pool]() *Photo: Tom Scalisi for BobVila.com* Solar pool covers absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it to the water, warming both above-ground and inground [pools]() to a comfortable temperature for swimming. Beyond temperature control, these durable vinyl, polyethylene, or polypropylene covers block the ultraviolet (UV) radiation that breaks down sanitizing chemicals while also minimizing evaporation to reduce your water bill and keep dirt and debris out. To ensure we suggested only top-tier products, we performed hands-on testing with the leading options, evaluating heat retention, durability, and ease of use. Based on our results, the [Sun2Solar pool cover]() earned our top pick thanks to its durable material and wide range of size choices. Keep reading to learn more about the best solar pool covers and see how each performed in our backyard tests. 1. **BEST OVERALL:** [Sun2Solar 1200 Series Crystal Clear Round Cover ]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#sun2solar-1200-series-crystal-clear-round-cover>) 2. **RUNNER-UP:** [Blue Wave 12-Mil Round Solar Blanket ]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#blue-wave-12-mil-round-solar-blanket>) 3. **BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:** [Intex 18-Foot Round Easy Set Solar Cover]() [↓*Jump to Review*](<#intex-18-foot-round-easy-set-solar-cover>) 4. **UPGRADE PICK:** [Sun2Solar 1600 Series Ultimate Blue Round Solar Cover ]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#sun2solar-1600-series-ultimate-blue-round-solar-cover>) 5. **BEST FOR UV RAYS:** [Doheny’s 1600 Standard Series Blue Solar Cover]() [↓ *Jump to Review*](<#dohenys-1600-standard-series-blue-solar-cover>) ## - **Top Pick: Sun2Solar 1200 Series.** Durable, versatile, and effective in heat retention with a range of sizes. - **Runner-Up: Blue Wave 12-Mil Solar Blanket.** Offers excellent heat absorption and UV protection. - **Best Value: Intex 18-Foot Solar Cover.** Affordable and efficient with unique design features. - **Upgrade Option: Sun2Solar 1600 Series.** Superior durability and heat retention, ideal for round pools. **Bottom line:** Solar pool covers are a cost-effective way to heat pools and reduce evaporation, with top picks offering durability, ease of use, and effective heat retention. ![Above ground pool with a blue pool cover on the top]() *Photo: Tom Scalisi for BobVila.com* ## Solar Pool Cover Comparison | | **Material** | **Color** | **Thickness** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **[Sun2Solar 1200 Series Crystal Clear Round Cover]()** | Polyethylene | Clear | 12 mils | | **[Blue Wave 12-Mil Round Solar Blanket]()** | Polymer | Clear | 12 mils | | **[Intex 18-Foot Round Easy Set Solar Cover]()** | Polyethylene | Blue | 8 mils | | **[Sun2Solar 1600 Series Ultimate Blue Round Solar Cover]()** | Polyethylene | Blue | 16 mils | | **[Doheny’s 1600 Standard Series Blue Solar Cover]()** | Polyethylene | Blue | 16 mils | ## Our Top Picks The following recommendations take into account the above shopping considerations as well as overall quality and value. Keep reading to discover some of the top options to warm up [above-ground or inground pools](). **Our Ratings:** Ease of Use **5/5**; Durability **5/5**; Performance **5/5**; Value **5/5** This clear solar cover’s goal is to collect and retain heat, and it does just that at 12 mils thick with a rigid polypropylene construction. Because it is clear, sunlight can go all the way to the depths of the pool, so even the deep end is warm. The thickness will resist tears and other damage, too. The particular cover comes in a range of sizes—from 12 feet in diameter to 33 feet in diameter—so users can get an exact fit for their swimming pool. If it’s not a perfect fit, this cover can be cut down because all sizes come with an extra 2 to 4 inches of material. We tested the 18-foot Sun2Solar 1200 Series Crystal Clear Round Cover, and it proved to be top quality during testing. We liked that it was very easy to put on the pool but still thick enough to be durable (12 mils). It also appeared to allow plenty of sunlight penetration—great for heat but possibly bad for chlorine consumption. The Sun2Solar 1200 Series did come with considerably more material than stated, so we believe most folks will have to trim it to fit their pools, but it’s simple to cut without being easy to tear. **What our tester says:** “The Sun2Solar cover was very easy to put on, yet it’s also thick enough to last. We also love that you can cut it to fit your pool, which not every option offers.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer **Get the Sun2Solar 1200 Series solar pool cover at** [**Amazon**]() **or** [**Walmart**]()**.** **Our Ratings:** Ease of Use **5/5**; Durability **4/5**; Performance **4.5/5**; Value **5/5** Blue Wave’s 12-mil-thick solar pool cover is durable enough to resist tears and other damage. Its translucent blue color blocks UV radiation, and a thick layer of air bubbles does a superior job of absorbing, transferring, and retaining heat. Round solar covers like this Blue Wave product aren’t just for round swimming pools. They’re a good pick for custom-shaped pools because they can be trimmed to fit more easily than round or oval covers. For custom pools, choose a cover that fits over the entire pool, then trim it to the right shape. This particular cover comes in five round sizes, including 15 feet, 18 feet, 24 feet, 28 feet, and 30 feet. The Blue Wave 12-Mil Solar Blanket did a great job of absorbing sunlight. And while it’s technically clear, it’s noticeably less clear than other covers, allowing it to block at least some UV light. At 12 mils, we were able to roll it out and unfold it with one person, and it started to lay flat as the sun warmed it. It did come with extra material for our 18-foot pool, which means getting a custom fit should be a breeze for most pool owners. **Get the Blue Wave solar pool cover at** [**Amazon**]() **or** [**Walmart**]()**.** **Our Ratings:** Ease of Use **5/5**; Durability **4/5**; Performance **5/5**; Value **5/5** Intex’s 8-mil-thick solar pool cover is a good choice for easy set and framed above-ground pools, though it will fit any circular pool with a diameter of 18 feet. This affordable solar blanket has a moderate level of UV resistance that helps to prevent evaporation during the day, while the lightweight cover aids heat retention at night by insulating the pool against dropping nighttime temperatures. The circular solar pool cover has thick air bubbles to help the absorption and transfer of heat from the sun into the water, raising the temperature slowly throughout the day. It is designed with a series of holes in the cover that some users mistake for a defect, but these holes are intentionally included to help release trapped air and drain water from the top of the cover. Full disclosure: The Intex was one of our favorite solar covers in the test. It’s not thick, but the blue color helps keep UV rays out while allowing heat in. Also, the holes in the field of the cover are a nice touch, as this was the only cover to actually lay flat. It fit our pool perfectly, and it has finished edges for a smoother feel. That was great for us, but folks looking to custom cut theirs to an 18-foot pool won’t have much material to work with. **Get the Intex solar pool cover at [Amazon](), [Lowe’s](), [Walmart](),** **or** [**Target**]()**.** **Our Ratings:** Ease of Use **4/5**; Durability **5/5**; Performance **5/5**; Value **5/5** Sun2Solar’s pool cover fits round swimming pools from 10 feet to 33 feet in diameter. Made of 16-mil-thick polyethylene, this cover has a thick layer of air bubbles that does a superior job of collecting, transferring, and retaining heat. The cover also insulates the pool at night and reduces evaporation. The translucent material lets in a lot of sunlight but doesn’t do a great job of blocking UV light. Since this round solar pool cover is thick, it’s a little more difficult to roll, fold, and store. But the increased durability and heat absorption make it worth the trouble. We did find that the Sun2Solar 1600 Series was a little less pliable than other pool covers, but the durability appears to be worth it. We did find that leaving it in the sun for a bit made it a bit easier to stretch over the pool, and it appeared to do a great job of letting sunlight in to warm the water. It did have a bit less extra material than the other covers, so it may be best for round pools only—custom cuts might not fly. **Get the Sun2Solar 1600 Series solar pool cover at** [**Amazon**]() **or** [**Walmart**]()**.** **Our Ratings:** Ease of Use **3.8/5**; Durability **5/5**; Performance **5/5**; Value **5/5** Folks looking to protect their pool against UV rays and the itchy chloramines they cause should consider Doheny’s Clear-Tek Micro-Bubble Solar Cover. This pool cover features microbubbles and a blue layer of polyethylene to prevent UV rays from breaking down the chlorine so quickly. This cover comes in several sizes, including 18, 24, 38, and 30-foot round, as well as some oval sizes. The 16-mils polyethylene is tough, allowing users to take it on and over without worrying about tears or damage. It does come with some extra length, so cutting it to size will be a breeze. Our test revealed that this solar pool cover is tough. We appreciated the deep blue color as we know it’ll prevent UV rays from making their way to our chlorine. The microbubbles appeared to work just as well at keeping the cover afloat, but there’s an added benefit of more insulating pockets to keep the pool warmer overnight. The only possible complaint is that the extra bubbles and thicker material do make this cover slightly heavier than the rest. **Get the Doheny’s solar pool cover at** [**Amazon**]()**.** ## [Jump to Our Top Picks](<#recap>) ## How We Tested the Best Solar Pool Covers | **Testing Stats** | | | --- | --- | | Products tested | 10 | | Time spent testing | 1 hour each | | Tests performed | 8 | | Price range | $50 to $140 | We wanted to ensure that we were suggesting the best solar pool covers we could find, so we performed hands-on testing to round them all up. The first thing we tested was how easy each pool cover was to install. All of them were relatively easy to put on with one person, but they required two people to remove them without making a mess. We checked their fit to see how much extra material each included. Then, we allowed them to sit for an hour in direct sunlight in midafternoon to see how much the water temperature moved. Testing these solar pool covers was quite an endeavor, especially outside of a controlled lab or testing facility. We did our best to stick with relatively consistent temperatures and sun exposure and tried to track temperature rise and drops throughout the day. What we found was that each of the pool covers increased the temperature 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit in 2 pm sun on 89- to 92-degree Fahrenheit days. Hitting 90-degree Fahrenheit water temperatures was the norm. Once we knew that each cover would do what it was designed to do, we compared their materials and construction, and we gave each an award based on its strengths. ## Our Testing Scores | | **Ease of Use** | **Durability** | **Performance** | **Value** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [**Sun2Solar 1200 Series Crystal Clear Round Cover**]() | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | | [**Blue Wave 12-Mil Round Solar Blanket**]() | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | | [**Intex 18-Foot Round Easy Set Solar Cover**]() | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | | [**Sun2Solar 1600 Series Ultimate Blue Round Solar Cover**]() | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | | [**Doheny’s 1600 Standard Series Blue Solar Cover**]() | 3.8/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | ## What to Consider When Choosing a Solar Pool Cover These solar blankets can be used on a range of different pools, including both inground and [above-ground swimming pools]() of varying sizes and shapes. The following are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing a solar pool cover, including the pool dimensions, material, thickness, and color. ### Pool Dimensions Swimming pool size is a top consideration since a proper fit allows for optimal function. To get the best heat transfer from the sun, the cover should be large enough to sit on the surface of the water. The shape of the pool is important, too. Solar covers are made to fit a variety of swimming pools, so shoppers can look for an oval solar cover, a cover for their rectangular pool, or even a compact solar blanket made to fit square pools. If the [pool is a custom shape](), shoppers may want to buy a cover larger than the pool so that the cover can be trimmed to fit. ### Material Solar pool covers are usually made of vinyl, polyethylene, or polypropylene. - **Vinyl** is durable and resistant to tears and sun damage. Vinyl covers are a good option for pool users who want to be able to remove a cover quickly without having to be too careful not to tear it. - **Polyethylene** is more lightweight. Covers made of polyethylene are affordable and effective at heat transfer. They can be prone to tearing, though, especially if the cover has a thickness of 12 mils or less. - **Polypropylene** is thicker than polyethylene and less flexible. Covers made of polypropylene are durable and block a lot of UV radiation, but they can be more difficult to roll and fold. ### Thickness Thicker solar pool covers absorb more heat from the sun, and they are also more resistant to rips, tears, and sun damage. Solar pool cover thickness is measured in mils. One mil is equal to 0.0001 inches. Common cover thicknesses range from 6 mils to 16 mils. Due to their thickness, these pool covers can be heavier and harder to fold up. ### Color Color is more than just an aesthetic choice for a solar pool cover. The color of a solar pool cover also determines how it functions. - **Clear solar covers** allow a lot of pool-warming sunlight to pass through to the water. They retain heat well and are a great insulator at night, but they do not block UV rays that break down chlorine. - **Clear-top/dark solar covers** absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it to the water while blocking some UV rays. This helps slow the production of skin-irritating chloramines. - **Dark solar covers** block a large portion of UV radiation and absorb the sun’s heat well, warming the pool quickly. - **Translucent solar covers** work like a clear solar pool cover, but they block more UV radiation from reaching the pool water and heat the water faster. ### Air Bubbles The best solar pool covers have a side covered with small air bubbles and resemble a giant sheet of bubble wrap. These air bubbles trap heat from the sun and radiate it into the water. When the sun goes down, the bubbles also act as insulators to prevent heat loss. Solar covers that do not have air bubbles can still trap and transfer heat, but they’re not as efficient. The thicker the air bubbles, the more tear-resistant the pool cover is. Thicker air bubbles also do a better job of insulating the pool at night. ### UV Resistance A solar pool cover’s UV resistance depends on its material, color, and the thickness of the air bubbles. - **Low UV-resistance** solar covers are thinner than 10 mils. They’re typically clear and made of lightweight polyethylene. While they will heat the pool, they’ll require a chlorine stabilizer to reduce the production of chloramines. - **Medium UV-resistance** solar covers are the most common. They range from 10 mils to 14 mils thick and are typically translucent blue or gray. They’re usually made of polyethylene or polypropylene. - **High UV-resistance** solar pool covers fall into two categories: bubbles or no bubbles. - **Covers with bubbles** are typically 14 to 16 mils thick and translucent or clear on top with a dark-colored underside. They are usually made of vinyl or polypropylene. - **Covers without bubbles** are thin, vinyl, and dark-colored to absorb heat from the sun. They block a lot of UV radiation but are not as effective at transferring heat to the pool water. ## The Advantages of Using a Solar Pool Cover The main purpose of a solar pool blanket is to help the pool water gradually increase in temperature over the day and keep the pool protected at night for better heat retention when the sun is down. While these solar pool covers may not have the same heat-production potential as an electric or gas pool heater, they are much more affordable. However, the initial cost isn’t the only way they can help the user save money. Solar pool blankets also reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the surface of the pool throughout the day and night. This helps to prevent the breakdown of [chlorine]() into harmful free chloramines, reducing the amount of chlorine required throughout the swimming season. - A solar blanket helps to increase the temperature and heat retention of the water by absorbing and magnifying the sun’s rays. - These solar pool covers are more affordable than investing in a [pool heater](). - The evaporation of pool water and subsequent increase of chloramines is slowed with a solar blanket. ## FAQs Still have questions about how a solar blanket works? Here are some common questions and their answers. ## Meet the Tester Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer specializing in the home design, construction, tools, and automotive industries. He has been involved in the trades for over 15 years as both a contractor and a commercial building mechanic. His work has been featured on This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes as well as his own pest control blog. As a lover of all things tools, construction, and DIY, he’s always looking for new tools and techniques while also sharing his knowledge with the DIY world. *Additional research provided by Timothy Dale.* ## Author Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer, author, and blogger with a passion for building. Whether it’s a DIY project or an entire website, Tom loves creating something from the ground up, stepping back, and admiring a job well done. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()