🛡️ Pool Cover Size Calculator
Calculate the cover size you need, including a standard overhang allowance on each side for secure anchoring.
How the cover size is worked out
The overhang is added to both ends of each dimension, because a cover hangs over two opposite edges at once:
cover length = pool length + (2 × overhang)
cover width = pool width + (2 × overhang)With the default 30 × 15 ft pool and a 1 ft overhang that gives a 32 × 17 ft cover. Notice how fast the material grows: the pool surface is 450 sq ft, the cover is 544 sq ft, and going to a 2 ft overhang makes it 34 × 19 ft, or 646 sq ft. All three inputs are in feet and a blank box is read as zero.
Picking the overhang
The right number depends on how the cover is held down, so measure at the water's edge and let the overhang cover the coping:
| Cover type | Typical overhang per side |
|---|---|
| Solar blanket (floats on the water) | 0 ft |
| Safety cover anchored into the deck | 1 to 1.5 ft |
| Solid winter cover held by water tubes | 2 to 2.5 ft |
Frequently asked questions
What size cover do I need for a 16 x 32 ft pool?
With a 1 ft overhang, 18 × 34 ft. A solid winter cover at 2.5 ft per side needs 21 × 37 ft, which is a lot more material for the same pool.
Do I measure the pool or the deck?
Measure the water's edge, inside face to inside face. The overhang is what reaches across the coping to the anchors, so measuring the deck would double count it.
Does a solar cover need an overhang?
No, set the overhang to 0. A solar blanket floats on the surface and is trimmed to the water shape; extra material rides up the walls, traps debris and stops the cover lying flat.