What Size Pool Pillow Do I Need? (Find Out Now!)

With shorter days and brisk temperatures upon is, it may be time to prep your pool for the winter. If you own a pool and live in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures during winter, you are probably very familiar with the process of closing a pool for the season. However, you may not be as familiar with pool air pillows.

These air pools have quickly become an essential component to the winterization process, as they help protect your pool walls during these harsher months. But, how do you know what size pool pillow to get? The three most common pool pillow sizes are 4’ by 5’, 4’ by 8’, and 4’ by 15’. What size pool pillow you need will depend on the size and shape of your pool.

That said, let’s take a deeper look at what pool pillows are, how to know whether or not your pool needs one, what size is appropriate for your pool, and more.

Unless you live somewhere that stays warm for most, if not all, of the year, the large majority of pools must be winterized to some extent. This process will need to occur whether you have an above-ground or an inground pool. Although winterizing a pool is often a pretty simple process, many homeowners have to go through a bit of trial and error when it comes to covering their pool and preventing ice buildup.

This is where pool pillows come in, as they play a crucial role in ensuring that your pool is ready for winter. A pool pillow is essentially a high-gauge vinyl inflatable floating bolster that keeps a gap between your pool cover and the water, while also protecting the cover from potential ice damage. They are most commonly used with above-ground pools.

The pool pillow is installed at the center of the pool prior to placing the pool cover on top, thus, preventing the pool from sinking in the center. As your pool freezes in the winter, ice will naturally expand to the pool’s outer edges. This ultimately puts strain on the sides of your pool and can possibly cause damage. However, when you have a pool pillow situated under your cover, the empty space it creates allows the ice to expand inward instead of outward.

This means that the pillow is basically acting as an ice compensator, absorbing the constant expansion of ice. It also acts as a tent, keeping leaves, snow, rain at the pool’s outer edges where you can easily reach and remove unwelcome debris.

There are some pool installers that do not advise purchasing pool air pillows, claiming that they don’t offer additional advantages. However, if you live in a frosty climate, pool pillows are a vital part of winterizing above-ground pools. Without the presence of a pool pillow, ice will continue to expand and put pressure on the outer walls of the pool. This can result in damage to the sides, the liner, and the pool cover.

So, if you’re not sure whether or not you need a pool pillow, ask yourself the following two questions:

Alternatively, you can use larger or multiple pillows. However, it’s important to keep in mind that using too many pillows or pillows that are too oversized generally do not produce the desired results. Pool pillows tend to be most effective when they remain in the center of the pool, which creates the perfect gap as opposed to covering a larger surface area.

So, if you’re wondering how many pool pillows you need, in most cases the answer is either one or two. The following table outlines the maximum pool pillow size and amount based on the size and shape of your pool.

To inflate your pool pillow, you first want to locate the small red valve on the top of the pillow. By pressing the valve inward with your finger, you’ll see the small opening where the air will go in. For the actual inflation, you can use a number of different tools to get the job done, including a bicycle pump, a hair dryer set to ‘cool,’ or a shop vac on reverse.

Though, you only want to inflate the pillow to between 60 and 80 percent of its total capacity. For the pillow to be effective at absorbing the pressure created by expanding ice, it needs to remain soft. Only filling it up slightly over half of its capacity will allow for appropriate compression. To ensure that the pillow remains inflated during the course of winter, put two strips of duct tape over the air valve.

In order for a pool pillow to work, it has to be positioned in the center of your pool, as this will ensure that it can evenly distribute ice, snow, rainwater, and debris. To make sure the pillow stays in place, you’ll need to use the grommets on the pillow along with some string, rope, or twine. Then, tie the string to the top ledges of your pool, leaving them slightly loose.

If you tie the strings too tightly, the grommets could tear or the string may break and cause the pillow to travel freely throughout the pool.

Pro Tip: Instead of using string, twine, or rope to secure the pool pillow, consider using Velcro. Stick one end of the Velcro to the pillow itself and the other to the underside of your pool, in the exact center.