How to Install an Above Ground Pool Cover

On this page (10 sections)

1. What should you have ready before you start?
2. How do you measure the pool for the right cover?
3. How do you get the cover onto the pool without tearing it?
4. How do you center and secure a winter cover?
5. How do you keep the cover from lifting in wind?
6. How do you handle rain and snow on the cover?
7. How do you remove and store the cover in spring?
8. How to install an above ground pool cover: the short version
9. Our scores for these covers
10. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The Yankee cover leads on fabric density and cold rating, the Shop Square cover wins on setup ease, and the LXKCKJ kit stands out for its anchor system on windy sites.

To install an above ground pool cover, center it over the pool with the overlap even all around, then tighten the cable or ratchet strap so the edge sits snug against the top rail. A cover that rests on the water surface handles wind lift and sagging better than one stretched above it.

Do the job on a calm, dry day before the first hard freeze. Two people make a large round cover far easier to center, and a helper can hold one edge while you work the tension around the pool.

What should you have ready before you start?

Gather the cover, its cable or ratchet kit, a water bag or pillow, and a pump before you climb the ladder. Read the maker's size chart and fitting notes first, because round covers include an overlap beyond the pool's diameter.

Clear leaves and toys from the water and skim the surface so debris doesn't get trapped under the cover. Check the top rail for sharp edges or loose caps that could rub the fabric.

Have a plan for the center. A water bag or an air pillow under the middle pushes the cover up slightly so rain and snowmelt run to the edges instead of pooling in the middle.

Set up a ladder or step stool on level ground. Don't stand on the top rail to reach across, and keep the cover folded loosely near the pool so you can drag it without snagging.

How do you measure the pool for the right cover?

Measure the pool's diameter wall to wall and match it to the cover size, checking the maker's size comparison chart for the overlap included. A round pool sold as 24 ft may measure slightly wider across the top rail.

Run a tape across the center in two directions and use the larger figure. For an oval pool, measure the long and short axes instead.

Round covers are cut to the pool size plus an overlap, so a cover sold for a 24 ft round pool is larger than 24 ft across. That extra skirt drapes over the rail and gets gathered by the cable or strap.

If your measurement falls between two listed sizes, choose the larger cover and take up the slack with the fastening rather than buying one that barely reaches the rail. For solar covers, the fit rules differ slightly, and our guide to the best solar covers for above ground pools covers those sizes.

How do you get the cover onto the pool without tearing it?

Unfold the cover on the ground beside the pool, then lift it across as a group instead of dragging it over the rail. Dragging catches grommets and seams on the top rail and can pull the fabric out of shape.

1. Lay the folded cover on a clean patch beside the pool, label side up.
2. Take two opposite corners and walk them around the pool.
3. Open the cover loosely over the water without pulling it tight.
4. Walk the edge until the overlap looks even on all sides.
5. Check the center sits over the water bag or pillow.

On a windy day, weigh the first edge down with a water bag before opening the rest. Stop if a gust starts to lift the cover and wait for calmer weather.

If the cover came with a ratchet strap and rope pre-installed, keep them out of the way while you center the fabric. LXKCKJ says its strap and rope arrive ready to use, which speeds up the first fit.

How do you center and secure a winter cover?

Pull the overlap even all around, then tighten the cable or ratchet strap in small steps until the edge hugs the top rail. A snug edge with no gaps is what stops wind from getting under the cover.

Work your way around the pool rather than tightening one side all the way. Take up a little slack at each point so the tension stays even and the cover doesn't slide off center.

How to fit a cable and winch cover

Feed the steel-core cable through the reinforced grommets, then turn the winch to draw it tight against the rail. The Yankee cover uses this setup, with a molded winch that tightens smoothly.

A 4 ft overlap on this 24 ft round cover gives you slack to work with while you center it. Its LDPE coating resists UV, and the black underside helps limit growth in the water over winter.

Tighten the winch until the skirt sits flat, then tuck any loose fabric under the cable.

How to fit a ratchet strap cover

Hook the ratchet strap through the edge loops, then click the ratchet to tighten the strap around the pool. The LXKCKJ kit adds ground nails and two ratchet straps rated at 1,500 lb breaking strength for windy yards.

Set the ground nails through the edge hanging loops at a few points around the pool, and use the ratchet to pull the strap snug. LXKCKJ suggests the cover sit in close contact with the water to resist collapse.

A helper makes it easier to keep the strap level while you tighten it.

Which cover is easiest to put on and take off?

The Shop Square cover suits anyone who covers and uncovers the pool each season without much help. Its molded winch turns smoothly, so tightening the cable takes little effort.

The 14 x 14 scrim count and 185 gsm density give it the same heavy fabric standard as the Yankee cover. Reinforced edges and grommets keep the cable from tearing through when you pull it tight.

Loosen the winch at the end of the season and the cover lifts off in one piece.

How do you keep the cover from lifting in wind?

Tighten the edge and add weight at the center and corners so wind can't slide under the skirt. A cover that rests on the water surface is already harder for gusts to lift.

Run the cable or strap as snug as it will go without pulling the cover off center. Add a water bag or pillow in the middle for round pools, and use the ground anchors on an exposed site.

Check the fastening after the first windy night. A strap that has stretched or slipped needs another turn before the next storm.

Never tie the cover to a fence or a nearby structure as a shortcut. A sharp pull in a gust can tear the grommets or bend the top rail.

How do you handle rain and snow on the cover?

Pump or siphon standing water off the cover before it gets deep enough to stretch the fabric or pull the fastening loose. Snow should be brushed off gently with a soft broom, never chopped at with a shovel.

A small cover pump sits on the cover and moves water to the lawn. Empty it before a hard freeze so the pump doesn't sit in ice.

Check the cover after heavy rain and again after a thaw.

Keep the water level in the pool near its normal mark so the cover has support underneath. A pool drained too low leaves the cover hanging and makes sagging worse.

If meltwater collects in the middle, adjust the water bag or pillow so the cover slopes toward the edge. A cover that sheds water lasts longer and is easier to clean in spring.

How do you remove and store the cover in spring?

Loosen the fastening, lift the cover from the center outward, and clean it before it dries. Let it dry fully, then fold it loosely and store it away from sunlight and rodents.

Pump off any remaining water first so the cover is light enough to lift. Two people should pull it off evenly so the skirt doesn't drag over the rail.

Spread the cover on a clean driveway or lawn and rinse both sides with a hose. A soft brush lifts algae and grit without scrubbing the coating off.

Let it dry in the shade rather than full sun.

Fold it in loose layers rather than rolling it tight, and store it in a dry bin or bag. Keep it off a concrete floor that stays damp.

A dry, folded cover is ready for the next closing.

For a solar cover, the fit and storage steps are a bit different, so see how to install a solar pool cover when that's the one you're fitting. Before closing, a cordless pool vacuum for above ground can clear the floor so less debris sits under the cover all winter.

If you're still choosing a cover, our roundup of the best winter pool cover for above ground pool compares the main styles.

How to install an above ground pool cover: the short version

To install an above ground pool cover, measure the pool, center the cover with even overlap, tighten the cable or ratchet strap, and add weight at the center. Then keep water and snow off it through the season.

Pick the Yankee cover first if you have a 24 ft round pool and want the deepest fabric and the coldest temperature rating. Choose the Shop Square cover if you want the quickest fit and removal each season.

Take the LXKCKJ kit if wind is your main problem and an 18 ft round pool needs ground anchors.

Do the first fit with a helper on a calm day. A cover that's centered and snug on day one needs far less attention once the weather turns.

Our scores for these covers

Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The Yankee cover leads on fabric density and cold rating, the Shop Square cover wins on setup ease, and the LXKCKJ kit stands out for its anchor system on windy sites.

Frequently asked questions

Can one person install an above ground pool cover?

A large round cover is awkward to center alone, so ask one helper to hold the opposite edge while you pull the overlap even. Small round pools can be a one-person job, but a 24 ft cover is easier and safer with two people.

Should the cover touch the pool water?

Yes, a winter cover that rests on the water surface resists wind lift and sagging better than one stretched above it. LXKCKJ suggests the lid sit in close contact with the water, and a water bag adds weight; an air pillow raises the center so water drains to the edges.

How tight should the cable or ratchet strap be?

Tight enough that the edge hugs the top rail with no gaps or loose folds, but not so tight that it pulls the cover off center. Work around the pool a little at a time so the tension stays even on all sides.

Do I need to drain water off the cover during winter?

Yes, standing water adds weight and can stretch or tear the cover. Pump or siphon it off after rain or snowmelt so meltwater runs away from the pool instead of collecting in the middle.

What size cover do I need for a round above ground pool?

Buy the size that matches your pool's measured diameter, and check the maker's size chart for the overlap it includes. Measure the wall to wall distance rather than trusting the pool's label, since the top rail can add width.