Blue Wave NS110 18-Ft Round Solar Blanket for Above-Ground Pools, 8-Mil

Yes, for the right buyer. The Blue Wave NS110 18-Ft Round Solar Blanket for Above-Ground Pools, 8-Mil ranks #1 in our Best Solar Pool Covers list (top pick). Its biggest strength: highest review count (3,800+) of any solar cover in this roundup, the most-option for round above-ground pools. The main caveat: 3 to 5 year lifespan is the shortest of the mil-thickness tiers, needs replacing sooner than a 12-mil cover.

The main trade-offs owners and reviewers point to: 3 to 5 year lifespan is the shortest of the mil-thickness tiers, needs replacing sooner than a 12-mil cover; thinner material is more prone to puncture and UV degradation over a season of full sun exposure; round-only sizing, not usable on a rectangular or oval pool.

8-mil polyethylene bubble construction, 18-ft round sizing for above-ground pools, Raises water temperature up to 10-15 degrees F in full sun, Reduces evaporation by up to 95% and Trimmable at bubble seams for a custom fit.

Worth comparing: Blue Wave NS480 15-Ft Round Solar Blanket for Above-Ground Pools, 12-Mil Clear, Blue Wave NS420 16x32 Ft Rectangle Solar Pool Cover 12-Mil Blue and Blue Wave NS450 24x40 Ft Rectangle Solar Blanket for In-Ground Pools, 12-Mil Blue. Each ranks near it in our research for a slightly different buyer.

It's sold on Amazon. Prices and stock change often, so check the current listing before you buy, our link takes you straight to it.

Above-ground pool covers hook to the top rail of the pool wall using an elastic cable or winch-and-cable system, so the cover only needs to match the pool diameter plus a few inches of overlap. Inground pool covers anchor to the surrounding deck, which sits at ground level, so the cover has to extend well past the water's edge onto the coping and deck itself. Standard inground winter covers add a 4 to 5-foot overlap on every side (a 20x40 pool needs roughly a 25x45 cover), and safety covers are measured to the exact deck anchor points, which is why safety covers are far more often custom-fit than stock-sized. Buying an above-ground-style cover for an inground pool will leave gaps at the edges regardless of how it is anchored.

That depends entirely on who has access to the pool. If small children, pets, or anyone unable to swim can reach the pool area unsupervised, a winter tarp is not adequate protection, it is not weight-rated and can fail catastrophically under a person's weight, especially once pooled rainwater or snowmelt sits on top of it. Local and state codes in many areas require a compliant barrier (fence, cover, or both) around residential pools; an ASTM F1346-rated safety cover satisfies the cover portion of that requirement in jurisdictions that allow it. If the pool area is already fully fenced with a self-latching gate and unsupervised access isn't a realistic risk, a winter tarp is a reasonable and much cheaper choice for keeping debris and sun out during the off season.