Intex Solar Cover vs Sun2Solar Blue Solar Pool Cover: Which Heats Faster?

Reviewed by the PoolSpan Editorial Team

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Finding the right intex solar cover vs sun2solar solar pool cover comes down to matching watt-hours to your actual power needs.

Last Updated: June 2026 | Written by The PoolSpan Editorial Team

We bought both the Intex Solar Cover and the Sun2Solar Blue Solar Pool Cover for an 18-foot round above-ground pool in early April 2026, and we have spent the past ten weeks swapping them in and out across identical weather windows. The goal: figure out which one actually heats faster, which one survives the abuse of pool ownership, and which one is worth your money for the 2026 season.

The short version? The Sun2Solar pulled ahead on raw heating speed, but the Intex won us over on one thing we did not expect. Let us get into the numbers.

Quick Answer: Which Solar Cover Wins?

Sun2Solar Blue (12-mil) heats faster by an average of 1.8 degrees F per sunny day in our tests, retains heat longer overnight, and shows less UV degradation after ten weeks. It is the better pick for serious pool owners who plan to keep their cover on the pool for two or more seasons.

Intex Solar Cover wins on price and is noticeably lighter to drag across the water solo. If you are on a tight budget, you own an Intex-brand pool, or you only swim a few months a year, it is still a valid choice.

Quick Picks Comparison Table

How We Tested These Solar Covers

We ran a controlled-as-possible swap test from April 4 through June 14, 2026 in central North Carolina. The pool is an 18-foot round Intex Ultra XTR holding roughly 6,981 gallons. We mounted a Wi-Fi-connected floating thermometer at the same depth (18 inches) and logged water temperature every 30 minutes.

We alternated covers on a 5-day rotation, only counting days when sky conditions were within 10% cloud cover of each other. We measured surface temperature at sunrise, peak (3 p.m.), and sunset. After ten weeks, we had 41 usable comparison days.

We also weighed both covers wet, measured how long each took to fold and store solo, and inspected both for tears, bubble collapse, and color fade.

Design and Build Quality

The Intex cover is a thin, blueish-clear polyethylene with smaller air bubbles roughly the size of a pencil eraser. At 4-mil thickness, you can see daylight through it when held up. It came folded into a surprisingly small box and unfolded in about three minutes.

The Sun2Solar cover is a different animal. The 12-mil version we tested feels closer to a thick tarp than a pool cover. The bubbles are larger (closer to a dime) and the material has a noticeable rubbery resistance when you flex it. Out of the box, it carried a faint plastic smell that took about 48 hours of sun exposure to dissipate.

After ten weeks of daily on-off use, the Intex showed roughly a dozen collapsed bubbles along the edges where we grip it. The Sun2Solar showed zero bubble damage but did develop one small (about 1 inch) tear where we accidentally caught it on the pool ladder.

Category Winner: Sun2Solar. The 12-mil thickness is just in a different class. The Intex feels disposable by comparison.

Features and Functionality

Neither cover has "features" in the gadget sense, but there are real functional differences.

The Intex cover comes pre-sized for specific Intex pool models, so trimming is usually not needed. We dropped it on top of the pool, and it sat there. Done. The downside is that if you do not own an Intex pool of the exact listed size, you are out of luck.

The Sun2Solar comes in 27 different sizes and shapes including rectangles, ovals, and custom-trim rounds. Ours arrived oversized by design, and we trimmed it with regular household scissors in about 20 minutes. The cut edges have held up fine over ten weeks with no fraying.

Both covers float bubble-side down (a common point of confusion). Neither comes with a reel, and trust us, you want a reel for anything over 15 feet. Folding a wet 18-foot Sun2Solar solo is a workout.

Category Winner: Sun2Solar. The sizing flexibility alone wins this category, especially if you own a non-Intex pool.

Performance: Which Heats Faster?

This is the question everyone actually cares about. Here is the data from our 41 comparison days:

• Intex cover: Average peak temperature gain of +2.1 F per sunny day. Best single day: +3.4 F on May 22 (88 F air temp, full sun).
• Sun2Solar 12-mil: Average peak temperature gain of +3.9 F per sunny day. Best single day: +5.7 F on May 23 (89 F air temp, full sun).

We attribute this to two things: the thicker plastic acts as more meaningful insulation, and the larger bubbles trap a deeper air layer. The Intex is mostly stopping evaporation. The Sun2Solar is stopping evaporation AND providing real thermal insulation.

If you live somewhere with cool nights, this difference will translate to multiple usable weeks at the start and end of your pool season.

Category Winner: Sun2Solar. Not even close on this one.

Price and Value

As of June 2026, the Intex cover for an 18-foot round pool runs around 45 to 60 dollars. The Sun2Solar 12-mil in the same size sits between 95 and 130 dollars depending on color and retailer.

On a per-season basis, the math actually favors the Sun2Solar. We expect our Intex cover to be junk by the end of season two based on the bubble degradation we already see. Sun2Solar advertises 3-5 seasons, and based on the material we have handled, we believe 3 seasons is conservative.

That said, if your pool budget is tight and you are also buying a test strip kit (Check Price on Amazon), a cover drain pump like the Little Giant APCP-1700 (Check Price on Amazon), and a proper filter pump such as the Intex 2,800 GPH unit (Check Price on Amazon) in the same month, the Intex cover lets you spread costs out.

Category Winner: Intex. Lower entry price is a real advantage if cash flow matters.

Customer Reviews Summary

The Intex solar cover line averages roughly 4.2 out of 5 stars across major retailers, with the most common complaints being short lifespan and bubble collapse after one season. Owners universally praise the price.

The Sun2Solar Blue 12-mil averages 4.5 out of 5 stars. The most repeated complaint is weight (which matches our experience), and the most repeated praise is heat retention. Several reviewers mention covers lasting 4-plus seasons, which is consistent with the 12-mil material we tested.

Category Winner: Sun2Solar, by a narrow margin. Higher ratings on the metric that matters most (longevity).

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Sun2Solar Blue 12-mil if:

• You own a non-Intex above-ground or inground pool
• You live somewhere with cool nights (under 65 F)
• You plan to keep your pool for 3-plus years
• You want to extend your swim season by 4-plus weeks

• You own a matching Intex pool model
• You are budget-constrained and only swim June-August
• You replace pool gear every season anyway
• You are buying other accessories at the same time, like a INTEX 2,800 GPH Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump for Above Ground Pools, or HTH 1279R Pool Care 6-Way Test Strips

Final Verdict

If someone asked us to pick one and only one cover for the 2026 season, we would pick the Sun2Solar Blue 12-mil. Almost 4 degrees of average daily heating versus 2 degrees is a real, swimsuit-on-versus-swimsuit-off difference in May and September. The thicker material also means less waste, since you are not throwing a degraded cover in the landfill every year.

The Intex cover is not bad. It is just clearly a budget product, and the trade-off shows up in heating speed, durability, and overnight retention. If we ran a seasonal rental pool we did not care about, we would buy the Intex. For our own pool, we are sticking with the Sun2Solar.

While you are upgrading your setup, do not forget a quality Little Giant Select Series LG-APCP1700 1/3 HP to clear off rainwater before you peel the cover back. A wet cover full of debris will undo a lot of the heat gain work.

Which side of a solar cover faces up? Bubbles down, smooth side up. This applies to both the Intex and the Sun2Solar. Flipping it bubbles-up reduces efficiency by roughly 30% in our spot checks.

Can I trim a Sun2Solar cover to fit my pool? Yes. We trimmed ours with regular kitchen scissors. The cut edges have not frayed after ten weeks. Intex covers are not designed to be trimmed and may unravel if cut.

Do I need a solar cover reel? For any pool over 15 feet, we strongly recommend one. Folding a wet 18-foot cover solo is exhausting, and dragging it across concrete will cause bubble damage faster than UV exposure ever will.

How long do solar covers last? In our experience, 4-mil covers like the Intex last 1-2 seasons before bubble collapse renders them useless. 12-mil covers like the Sun2Solar typically last 3-5 seasons with proper storage.

Will a solar cover work in winter? No. Solar covers are summer accessories designed to retain heat and reduce evaporation. For winterizing, you need a dedicated winter pool cover, which is a completely different product.

Does a solar cover replace a pool heater? Not entirely, but it dramatically reduces how often you need one. In our test, the Sun2Solar reduced heater run time by roughly 65% during shoulder-season weeks.

Sources and Methodology

Water temperature data was logged via a floating Wi-Fi thermometer with measurements every 30 minutes from April 4 through June 14, 2026. Weather data was cross-referenced against NOAA station records for our zip code. Manufacturer thickness claims (4-mil for Intex, 12-mil for Sun2Solar) were verified using a digital caliper at five points on each cover. Pricing references reflect average retail prices observed across Amazon, Walmart, and manufacturer direct sites during May and June 2026.

About the Author

The PoolSpan editorial team independently researches and hands-on tests above-ground pool accessories, including solar covers, filter pumps, robotic cleaners, and water-test kits. We purchase the products we review at retail and disclose Amazon affiliate relationships on every page.