An above ground pool can be an amazing addition to any backyard, but understanding the ins and outs of upkeep is important. One of the easier, but still very important, things you need to do to properly upkeep your pool is have a good pool cover.

The best above ground pool cover will have a variety of helpful benefits for keeping your pool in top-notch condition. Also see: How To Choose The Best Above Ground Pool Cover.

Best Above Ground Pool Cover

	Robelle Super Winter Pool Cover	Blue Wave Bronze Above Ground Winter Pool Cover	Pool Mate Heavy-Duty Winter Pool Cover
For Pools	For above ground round pools	For above ground round pools	For above ground oval pools
Size Options	8 size options ranging from 12-foot to 33-foot	6 size options ranging from 15-foot to 30-foot	12 sizes ranging from 10-foot x 15-foot to 21-foot x 41-foot
Special Features	18 styles to choose from, 4-foot overlap	Snow, ice, and wind protection, Included cable and winch	Heavy-duty polyethylene, 4-foot overlap
Customer Ratings	4.0 / 5.0 Stars	3.8 / 5.0 Stars	3.9 / 5.0 Stars

Also see: Best Above Ground Pool Cover Comparison Table

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Quick Answer: The 5 Best Above Ground Pool Covers

1. Robelle Super Winter Pool Cover
2. Blue Wave Bronze Above Ground Winter Pool Cover
3. Pool Mate Heavy-Duty Winter Pool Cover
4. Intex Round Easy Set Protective Pool Cover
5. In The Swim Round Winter Pool Cover

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Above Ground Pool Cover Reviews

#1 – Robelle Super Winter Pool Cover

There is no doubt that Robelle makes some of the best winter pool covers for above ground pools. This is the Robelle Super Winter Pool Cover and is an excellent choice for a variety of above ground pools.

It is available in 8 different sizes making it fit well with above ground round pools sized anywhere from 12 feet in diameter to 33 feet in diameter.

A 4-foot overlap helps ensure the pool remains fully covered without a lot of stress and strain on the cover. The included cable is easily threaded through reinforced metal grommets that are found spaced around the edges of the cover. Then, the winch, which is also included, can be used to tighten up the cover and keep it securely in place.

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#2 – Blue Wave Bronze Above Ground Winter Pool Cover

Here we have the Blue Wave Bronze Above Ground Winter Pool Cover. This is actually the best rated above ground pool cover on our list.

It is very well-made, works for a variety of pools, and is more affordable than many comparable above ground pool covers. This is a cover designed for protecting your above ground pool from snow, ice, and wind.

It also helps reduce evaporation and therefore reduces the waste of pool chemicals. There are 6 sizes available ranging from options for 15-foot round pools to 30-foot round pools.

Like the Robelle covers, these do feature a nice 4-foot overlap to ensure that the cover can easily be positioned properly on the pool and then stay in position.

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#3 – Pool Mate Heavy-Duty Winter Pool Cover

While the rest of the pool covers on our list are for round above ground pools, the Pool mate Heavy-Duty Winter Pool Cover caters to oval pools instead.

Round above ground pools are more common but the oval ones certainly need a great pool cover too. This cover comes in 12 different sizes to work for virtually any oval above ground pool.

These sizes range from fitting a 10-foot x 15-foot oval pool to fitting a 21-foot x 41-foot oval pool. Like our previous picks, this does include a 4-foot overlap of the heavy-duty polyethylene fabric as well as an included winch and cable.

These things just ensure that the cover can be easily placed and then actually stays in place effectively.

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#4 – Intex Round Easy Set Protective Pool Cover

From Intex, this above ground pool cover is specifically designed for easy set pools. It is designed to fit snugly over the edges of the pool and includes rope ties that help you get the perfect fit with ease.

It is made of a strong 7 gauge vinyl polyethylene fabric and features drain holes throughout the cover.

The holes are small to make sure that the cover still prevents debris from entering the pool. They simply allow water to drain in order to prevent it from pooling on top of the cover.

This also prevents stress on the cover and therefore can extend the life of the cover. It is available in only 2 sizes, but that is generally fine considering it is made for easy set pools.

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#5 – In The Swim Round Winter Pool Cover

Our final pick comes from the popular brand In The Swim. This is a pool cover made specifically for 24-foot above ground round pools.

This is a popular size and style of pool, so it will be a good option for many. It features a slightly smaller overhang of 3 feet compared to the 4-foot overhang that the other similar style covers have on our list.

Even so, it does a good job helping with proper placement of the cover. It also includes a cable and winch for easy and effective tightening.

The 8 x 8 scrim of the laminated polyethylene fabric is on the lower side. However, it is still durable and capable of lasting quite some time.

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Above Ground Pool Cover Comparison Table

		For Pools	Size Options	Special Features	Customer Ratings
Robelle Super Winter Pool Cover		For above ground round pools	8 size options ranging from 12-foot to 33-foot	18 styles to choose from, 4-foot overlap	4.0 / 5.0 Stars
Blue Wave Bronze Above Ground Winter Pool Cover		For above ground round pools	6 size options ranging from 15-foot to 30-foot	Snow, ice, and wind protection, Included cable and winch	3.8 / 5.0 Stars
Pool Mate Heavy-Duty Winter Pool Cover		For above ground oval pools	12 sizes ranging from 10-foot x 15-foot to 21-foot x 41-foot	Heavy-duty polyethylene, 4-foot overlap	3.9 / 5.0 Stars
Intex Round Easy Set Protective Pool Cover		For above ground round pools	Available for 12-foot pools and 15-foot pools	7 gauge vinyl polyethylene fabric	3.9 / 5.0 Stars
In The Swim Round Winter Pool Cover		For above ground round pools	Fits 24-foot pools	Laminated polyethylene, Fits 24-foot pools	3.6 / 5.0 Stars

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How to Choose the Best Above Ground Pool Cover

From reducing evaporation and pool chemical waste to keeping out debris and holding in heat, above ground pool covers make pool maintenance much more manageable. Of course, the best cover for above ground pool use isn’t the same for everyone.

There are lots of factors to consider. You can learn more in our guide on How to Choose the Best Above Ground Pool Cover. We also encourage you to consider our top 5 picks for the best pool covers for above ground pools below!

Having a cover for your above ground pool is important, but choosing the right cover is even more important. With so many options, it can be easy to choose a cover that doesn’t quite meet your needs perfectly.

Read over the following considerations and you will have no problem figuring out exactly what you want and need in an above ground pool cover.

Size

There is no questioning that the most important thing to look at when purchasing a pool cover is the size of the cover. Most above ground pools are round and the size is described with one number – the diameter.

The thing that can trip a lot of people up in regard to size is if they should choose a cover that is larger than the size of their pool or not.

It is important to realize that pool cover sizes are described in terms of the size of the pool – not the cover. So, if you buy a 12-foot pool cover, you will get a cover for a 12-foot pool.

Pool covers have some overhang, so the cover itself would actually have a diameter larger than 12 feet. The same thing goes for oval pools – choose the size that describes your pool.

There is no reason to get a pool cover with a size that is larger than your pool size.

Material Type

Choosing a strong and durable material is always a good idea when it comes to pool covers. The most common material is polyethylene. This is a good material that handles water well and should remain durable overtime.

Scrim

What is more important in terms of material is the scrim. The scrim of a pool is kind of like thread count in a sheet.

The scrim describes how many fibers there are per square inch. So, the higher the scrim, the better quality and more durable the pool cover.

Weight

Fabric weight is also important when looking at the material of a pool cover. This goes hand in hand with scrim. The higher the scrim, the heavier the fabric tends to be. This is generally measured by ounces per yard.

Heavier options definitely have more durability. Just keep in mind that the heavier the cover is, the more work it can be to get into place effectively.

This is especially true for larger pools and will likely require more than one person to get the cover on properly.

Overhang

We mentioned this a little when talking about the size of pool covers. The overhang of a pool cover simply refers to the amount of fabric that will hang over the edges of the pool when the cover is in place.

So, a 12-foot pool cover with a 4-foot overhang would actually have a diameter of 16 feet. This allows it to cover the 12-foot pool and have some room to hang over the side.

This overhang keeps the cover in place better and makes it easier to tighten around the pool.

Adjustability

You definitely want a pool cover with adjustability built into it in some way. Being able to tighten the cover around the edges of your pool keeps it in place and ensures it won’t easily blow off the pool.

It also helps make sure there are no issues if your pool is off a little in terms of size.

Many covers have metal grommets around the edges and come with a cable that can be threaded through them. Then, a winch, also usually included, can be used to tighten the cable effectively and easily.

You may also find pool covers that have simpler rope ties for tightening/adjustability.

Drain Holes

Here is a feature that some pool covers have and others don’t. Drain holes have some cool benefits as they allow any water that collects on the cover to simply seep through into the pool. This keeps water from pooling on top of the cover.

That means less stress on the cover for increased durability. It also means that it will be easier to remove the cover without the weight of additional water and the mess of debris in that water on top of the cover.

However, many covers purposefully avoid such holes. That is because water draining into the pool can lower the temperature.

It also won’t reduce evaporation as effectively and can even lead to waste of pool chemicals. It comes down to preference mostly.

One thing to think about is that drain holes may be more helpful on easy set pools that can’t take as much weight on top of the cover.

Algae Control

Nobody wants a bunch of algae to grow in their pool. A really good pool cover will prevent just that. Many covers are designed to prevent or at least reduce the growth of algae.

Look for this feature especially in winter pool covers that will be on the pool for an extended amount of time without removal.

Warranty

Finally, warranty is always an important factor to consider. A longer warranty doesn’t just give you greater peace of mind that the company believes in the product.

It also means that you can rest assured that if something does go wrong, you aren’t just out of luck.

A good warranty of a decent length will allow you to get a new product, repaired product, or product refund if something happens to your pool cover that is the fault of the manufacturer.

Above Ground Pool Covers – FAQs

Are there hard covers for above ground pools?

Hard covers are not made for above ground swimming pools. Such a cover would be difficult to use and store. They would also put a lot of weight and stress on the pool.

Should I cover my above ground pool?

Absolutely! Above ground pools, like all pools, should be covered when not in use for a long period of time such as the winter. There are benefits for covering your pool anytime you aren’t using it though – even just overnight.

What is the best way to cover an above ground pool for winter?

Simply choosing a good quality winter pool cover for above ground pools is the best way to cover your above ground pool.

What is the best pool cover for winter?

There isn’t necessarily one best pool cover for winter. However, any good winter pool cover will be made of a durable fabric with an easy tightening mechanism and decent amount of overhang.

Buyer’s Tips for Above Ground Pool Covers

As you shop for an above ground pool cover, you want to be sure to choose one that will work well for your specific pool. The most important thing to consider is definitely size.

The size of the cover is described in terms of what pool it will fit on, so remember to choose a cover that matches the size of your pool.

Things like scrim, overhang, algae control, and warranty are also very valid and helpful considerations. Once you do choose a pool cover, don’t forget that where you purchase from is also very important.

The best retailers are ones that are well-known and well-trusted. Amazon is a perfect example of this and also happens to have some of the best customer service out there with fast and often free shipping.