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8 mil and 12 mil covers are popular for residential or commercial pools. 12 mil can be considered the best thickness for a solar pool cover. 14 mil and 16 mil are also available. 

Solar pool covers are the perfect option for protecting your pool and heating the pool water. Solar pool covers are eco-friendly. They collect energy from sunlight to heat your pool water, so you can easily reduce your electric bill by using these pool covers. It makes them a cheaper option.

As there are so many options available in the market, it might be difficult for anyone to choose the perfect pool cover. You have to consider many factors before purchasing the best cover. One of the most vital factors is the solar pool cover thickness. Many people do not have any idea about it. In this blog, I will help you find out the perfect thickness for a pool cover.

Let’s discuss it in detail. 

Perfect Thickness for a Solar Pool Cover

All the solar pool tarps are built to collect heat from the sun. With the help of this heat, they warm your pool water. The heat retention also depends on the thickness. If the cover is thick, it collects more heat and holds it for a longer period. If you purchase a thinner cover, your pool water might lose its temperature quickly, as thinner pool covers cannot maintain heat for a long time. 

You can find solar pool covers in several thicknesses, such as 8 mils, 12 mils, 14 mils, 16 mils, etc. You have to choose the perfect thickness if you want a better performance from your pool. 8 mil and 12 mil covers are popular for domestic use. A simple comparison between these pool covers will help you to decide the best one for your needs. 

8 Mil vs. 12 Mil Solar Cover: What is the Difference?

The thickness of a pool cover is measured by Mil. Indeed, 12 mil solar pool covers are thicker than 8 mil solar pool covers. There are also 14 mils and 16 mils tarps available in the market, but 12 mils are the most popular and most used item. In short, the differences are:

• Thickness
• Durability
• Long-lasting performance
• Air bubbles

Here are the differences in detail-

Thickness

The performance of a solar pool cover depends on several factors, but the most important factor is its thickness. If you purchase a thicker cover, it will surely give you better performance than thinner pool covers. 

Durability

Thicker tarps are also more durable than thinner tarps. So, a 12-mil solar pool cover will give you better and long-lasting performance than an 8 mil cover. 

Air Bubbles

The thickness also affects the air bubbles of the pool covers. If the cover is thinner and smaller, it is natural that the air bubbles of the pool cover are also smaller. This can affect the warming process of the pool water. For example, an 8-mil solar pool cover is able to warm the water at about 5 degrees. On the other hand, a 12-mil solar pool cover will warm the pool water at about 12 degrees as it has bigger bubbles than the 8-mil item. 

Indeed, a 12-mil pool cover is better for heating your pool water. 

However, an 8-mil pool cover is more convenient and smaller than a 12-mil cover. You can quickly and easily roll the 8-mil cover because it is a thinner item. However, it is not easy to roll the 12-mil pool cover as it is a heavier item. 

Final Words

In this article, I have compared two popular solar pool covers based on thickness and performance. It is undeniably true that thicker items are better in durability and performance. You can buy a 16 mil cover, but it is tough to handle, so 12 mil is the popular thickness if you want better performance from residential pools. Most people choose this for covering their pool. 

However, it depends on your personal preference. If you have a large pool and want to use thicker covers, you can also purchase 16-mil pool covers instead of 12-mil. However, 12-mil thickness is also appropriate for larger pools. Nevertheless, if you want a user-friendly solar pool cover that you can easily roll and carry to every place, then an 8-mil pool cover is the better option for you as it is thinner and smaller.