What’s the Difference Between a Pool Cover and a Winter Pool Cover?

If you’ve ever Googled “pool covers,” you know it can mean a lot of things—from thin solar blankets to heavy-duty, anchor-secured safety covers. Here’s the plain-English breakdown so you can pick the right protection for your pool.

“Pool cover” = a broad category

“Pool cover” is an umbrella term that includes solar/thermal blankets, tarp-style leaf or winter tarps, automatic safety covers, and mesh/solid safety covers. These products vary widely in purpose, strength, and how they’re secured. For example, automatic safety covers are powered systems you can open/close for daily safety and cleanliness, not just winterization. (Read more)

“Winter pool cover” = a safety cover made for the off-season

In industry practice, when people say “winter pool cover,” they usually mean a winter safety cover—a custom-fit, load-bearing cover (mesh or solid) that’s tightly anchored into your deck for the entire off-season. It’s designed to keep kids, pets, and debris out while your pool is closed. (Read more)

5 key differences at a glance

1. How they secure

• General pool covers can be as simple as a tarp held with water bags or cables, or an automatic cover that seals along tracks. Strength and safety vary a lot. (Read more)
• Winter safety covers use brass deck anchors and heavy-duty springs/straps to pull the cover drum-tight across the pool—engineered to stay put all winter. (Read more)

2. Safety & load rating

• General covers (e.g., tarps/solar blankets) aren’t engineered for accidental loads. (Read more)
• Winter safety covers are built and installed as a safety barrier for the off-season—secured and load-tested when properly installed. (Read more)

3. What they block

• General covers vary: solar blankets trap heat; tarps block leaves but can collect standing water. (Read more)
• Winter safety covers come in mesh (drains water, keeps debris out) and solid (blocks 100% sunlight to help prevent algae). Both are purpose-built for winter. (Read more)

4. Maintenance in winter

• General covers may need frequent pumping to remove pooled water, and wind can loosen their edges. (Read more)
• Winter safety covers (mesh) shed rain/snow through the fabric, reducing surface water management. Solid safety covers can use engineered drainage like Invis-A-Drain to move water without pooling. (Read more)

5. Fit & longevity

• General covers are often one-size-fits-many; lifespan and fit vary. (Read more)
• Winter safety covers are custom-measured for your pool’s exact shape and features, with premium materials that commonly last 10–15 years with reasonable care. (Read more)

Mesh vs. solid winter safety covers (quick guide)

• Mesh safety covers: Lighter to handle, no surface pump needed, great for heavy rain/snow regions; high-shade meshes block most sunlight while allowing drainage. (Read more)
• Solid safety covers: Block 100% of sunlight for maximum algae prevention; modern solids add integrated drainage to avoid standing water. (Read more)

Which one do you need?

• Choose a winter safety cover if you want off-season safety, the cleanest spring opening, and a cover that stays tight and tidy all winter. It’s the right tool for closing your pool. (Read more)
• Use other general covers (like solar or daily automatic covers) for in-season efficiency, heat retention, and everyday safety/cleanliness—but they’re not a substitute for a dedicated winter safety cover during the off-season. (Read more)

Ready for a safer, cleaner winter?

Explore Calm Water Pools’ lineup of custom-fit options—solid and mesh—in our Winter Safety Covers guide, including how the free pickup-and-measure service works and what to expect on timing and pricing. (Read more)

Note: Calm Water Pools sells the covers; installation is not included. Latham arranges free pickup of your existing cover, measures it for accuracy, and provides an exact estimate before your new cover is made. (Read more)