5 Air Pool Pillow for Pool Winter Cover – The Comprehensive Guide of 2025

Having an above-ground pool in your backyard brings ultimate fun in the summer season. And the days of swimming enjoyment come to an end with the start of the winter season. 

The heck is- winter is just a pain in the neck for pool owners as they have to do a lot of maintenance workflow. For example, they need to cover their pool with a winter pool cover to protect their pool from winter’s worst. 

But is the pool cover enough to protect the pool? The stress coming from the accumulation of snow, leaves, and dirt on the pool cover may damage the pool walls. In this case, a pillow is a must to protect your swimming pool from potential damage as it distributes the weight and reduces the pressure. 

In this round-up guide, we reviewed the 5 best pool pillows for winter that meet your needs. So, let’s dive into it to check their details. 

#1: Blue Wave 4-ft x 4-ft Air Pillow for Above Ground Pool

Durable, easy to inflate, and functional are some phrases we find for this winter pillow that comes from Blue Wave. It uses heavy-duty 16-gauge vinyl as its construction material. 

It can handle the accumulation of rain, snow, and leaves on your winter pool cover due to its sturdy design. Therefore, the pool pillow can absorb the freezing winter’s pressure and guard your pool walls. 

To secure the pillow in the middle of your pool, it has four grommets. Just let the rope go through those grommets and tie the string with your pool edges. 

The ease of inflation is a remarkable feature we spot. Just use your air compressor to inflate this pillow within a minute or less. 

Pros

  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Simple to inflate
  • Include grommets to keep the pillow in its place

Cons

  • Could be deflated on too much pressure

#2: In The Swim 4-ft x 4-ft Air Pillows Winter Pool Cover

Reasonable yet functional is what we can say about the pool pillow that comes from In The Swim. The 4 x 4 winter cover pool air pillow is a perfect bait for your 24′ or smaller round above-ground pool. It holds up your winter pool cover nicely. 

When it comes to longevity, you can hardly find a heavy-duty pool pillow at this price point. It is made of 16-gauge vinyl to displace the pressure of ice freezing to prevent pool wall damage. 

Turns out, this pool pillow also increases the lifespan of your pool cover by reducing the pressure of rain, snow, and leaves accumulation. 

The only downside we discover is- it has grommets on two sides. Because of this, it will be a bit challenging to keep the pillow centered in your pool. 

Pros

  • Affordable Price
  • Sturdy Design 
  • Functional 

Cons

  • Grommets get flattened due to poor quality

#3: In The Swim 4-ft x 8-ft Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow

Leaving your above-ground pool covered with a cover is not enough to protect your swimming pool from winter’s worst. The pressure from the accumulation of snow or rain can bring damage to your wall due to expansion. To prevent this damage from ice & frozen water, this winter pool pillow from In The Swim works like a charm. 

Made of 16-gauge vinyl, it is sturdy enough to protect both pool cover and walls from winter’s worst. On top of this, this pillow can also reduce the build-up of leaves, snow, and rain. 

The dimension of this product is 4 x 8 feet. As a result, you can cover your 28′ feet pool with ease and shield it from winter damage. 

Therefore, it also includes grommets to secure the pillow in the middle of your pool to elevate the pool cover perfectly. 

Pros

  • Convenient to inflate
  • Well-made and built for last
  • Protect your pool from the stress of ice expansion

Cons

  • Some users complain it can’t hold air for a long time

#4: Swimline Winterizing Closing Air Pillow Cushion

Do you look for a companion for a pool cover that can support it and protect the cover from winter’s worst? Then, Swimline Winterizing Closing Air Pillow is what you need. 

It keeps your pool cover elevated over the water surface. So, the ice-cold pool water won’t freeze your swimming pool sheet and prevent its expansion. In other words, winter’s culprits like snow can’t damage the cover, increasing the lifespan of the pool sheet. 

Like other pool pillows, it features an integrated air valve. In return, you can inflate with ease. On top of this, it fits your 24′ pool as this pool pillow is 4′ x 4′ in size. 

Pros

  • Durable and keeps the pool cover off the pool water
  • Simple to install
  • Easy to inflate

Cons

  • The inflation valve is a bit tricky

#5: HydroTools by Swimline Pool Air Pillow

At the bottom of this list, we include HydroTools Swimline Pool Air Pillow for its ability to shield your pool cover from ice-cold water or snow. 

Like our other picks, this pool pillow also uses sturdy 16-gauge vinyl as its built-in material. As a result, it can withstand the pressure from freezy water and provide ultimate protection to your pool wall against it. 

Ease of use is the best feature we discover of this pool pillow. Just inflate it with an air compressor and set it in the middle of your pool. Then, secure it with string in its place. 

Pros

  • Convenient to install & use
  • Simple to inflate
  • Durable

Cons

  • It would be best if this pillow includes grommets instead of holes for securing it

Just Look Before Purchasing the Air Pool Pillow

Take the following criteria into account before picking a winter pool pillow for your above-ground pool. 

Size

The essential criterion you should consider first is the size of a pool pillow you will pick. If you fail to get the right size of air pool pillow, it can’t support your pool cover perfectly. For example, a 4′ x 4′ pool pillow will not be the best bait to lift a 28′ pool cover. In this case, you should choose a 4′ x 8′ pool pillow to elevate a 28′ pool sheet. So, pick the right size pool pillow that can support your swimming pool cover. 

Material

It is the most important criterion you must consider first. What material a pool pillow uses as its construction determines how long it will last. Also, how efficiently it will protect your pool cover and the pool walls depends on the material. We recommend you choose a pool pillow that is made of heavy-duty vinyl gauge. It reduces the stress on pool walls caused by freezing water. 

Ease of Use & Installation

Fortunately, every pool pillow we listed above is simple to install and use. Just get an air compressor and inflate the floating pillow. Then, place it in the center of your pool and secure it by hooking it with grommets. 

Stability

Here stability means whether it remains in its place or not. Luckily, each pool pillow we reviewed includes grommets or holes. You can run string through the grommets and tie the pillow with pool edges. As a result, the pillow will be in its place and don’t wobble around your pool water. 

How to Add an Air Pool Pillow

Frequently Asked Questions

What size winter pool pillow do I need?

It depends on the size of your swimming pool. You will need a 4′ x 4′ pool pillow if you have a 24′ above-ground pool. On the other hand, a 28′ pool requires a 4′ x 8′ pillow to lift the pool cover over the water perfectly. 

Is a winter pool pillow necessary?

Though you can winterize your pool with a pool cover only, a pool pillow will be helpful. It reduces the stress on your pool wall caused by freezy water. Therefore, it protects the pool cover from the winter’s worst like snow. That’s why most pool owners don’t hesitate to get a pool pillow. 

How many pool pillows do I need?

A 24′ pool requires only a pool pillow to support the pool cover. On the other hand, a large swimming pool needs several pillows to elevate the cover over the pool water. 

What can I use instead of a pool pillow?

You can use tire tubes or yoga balls instead of a pool pillow.

Final Verdict

Pool pillows are not a piece of equipment to winterize your pool. But they support your pool cover and increase its lifespan by protecting it from the extra stress of snow, rain, and leaves. Also, it shields your pool walls from the freezy water. 

Above, we mentioned the top 5 best pool pillows for winter that are durable, affordable, and functional.

What you need to do is- just pick the ideal one that fits your pool size. Also, you can choose a pool pillow based on your preferences.

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