Best Pool Cover Buyer's Guide: Mesh vs Solid Safety vs Solar

The right pool cover saves you hundreds of dollars per year in chemicals, water, and heat — and a couple of weekends in cleanup come spring. The wrong one rips in February, soaks through, or doesn’t hold weight if a child or pet walks on it. Here’s how to pick the right cover for your pool and climate.

The three main cover types

1. Solid winter cover

A vinyl tarp held in place by water bags or a cable. Cheapest, blocks all sunlight (preventing algae), but holds standing rainwater on top. Needs a cover pump to keep water off. Lifespan 3–5 years. Best for budget-conscious owners who close fully for winter.

2. Mesh safety cover

A reinforced mesh fabric anchored to brass anchors set in the deck. Rated for 4,000+ lbs to support a child or pet. Lets rainwater through (no standing water), filters out leaves and debris. Lifespan 8–15 years. Best for families with kids or pets, and the right choice for any pool that’s also a safety concern.

3. Solar cover (summer use)

A bubble-textured polyethylene blanket that floats on the water during swim season. Cuts evaporation 50–70%, raises water temperature 5–10°F, blocks debris. Lifespan 3–5 years. Different from a winter cover — not designed for cold weather use.

Liquid solar “cover” alternative

For pool owners who don’t want a physical solar blanket to wrestle with, liquid solar covers add a microscopically thin alcohol-based layer to the water surface that reduces evaporation by 30–50%. Easier to use; less effective than a physical cover. Best as a supplement, not a replacement.

Sizing a cover correctly

Measure your pool’s exact dimensions, then add 12–18 inches of overlap on every side. Safety covers should overlap the deck enough that anchors land in solid concrete or brick — usually 2–3 feet beyond the water’s edge. Mis-sizing a safety cover means the anchors land in soft ground or grass and won’t hold.

Which cover is right for your pool?

• Family pool with kids/pets, cold winter: mesh safety cover.
• Adults-only pool, mild winter, tight budget: solid winter cover with cover pump.
• Pool used 6+ months a year: solar cover (summer) + safety cover (winter).
• Pool owner who hates wrestling covers: liquid solar + safety cover for winter only.

Send PST Pool Supplies your pool dimensions and how you use it through the year — we’ll match cover type, size, and accessories.