Best Pool Skimmer Baskets of 2025

A pool skimmer is an indispensable accessory to your pool filtration systems. But, the basket inside the skimmer does the most work by capturing dirt, dust, and leaves while allowing the water to flow through it. 

However, the basket gets worn out easily as you need to remove and empty it daily. And you need to replace it immediately when it gets damaged or broken. Otherwise, your swimming pool will be stuffed with leaves, dirt, and debris. 

And this round-up guide on the best pool skimmer basket will help you choose the right replacement part. So, keep scrolling to discover the basket that fits your pool skimmer. 

Top 5 Best Skimmer Baskets You Should Consider

Check every in and out of the skimmer basket we enlisted to pick the right one that will fit your existing pool skimmer. 

#1: GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket (Best For In-ground Pool)

GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket
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GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket is the best skimmer basket for in-ground pools. You need no more digging around getting leaves out or no more suction loss as it collects all the leaves, dirt, and debris. Indeed, this basket will keep your pool crystal clean by capturing every dirt & dust by maintaining the peak performance of your pool pump & filter

This skimmer basket is specially designed with a unique tower vent. In return, it lets water flow through the skimmer even if the basket gets filled with debris & leaves. Therefore, it prolongs the life of the pump motor from running dry as it ensures continuous water flow. 

Dumping the basket is just a piece of cake. Grab the long handle and empty the basket within a matter of seconds.  

When it comes to fitment, you can hardly find a skimmer basket that will work with every pool brand. It fits Hayward Skimmer SP1070, Pacfab, Jacuzzi Deckmate, SwimQuip, and American Products skimmers. So, don’t worry about its compatibility. 

What We Like:

  • Well-made and long-lasting
  • Convenient to use & clean
  • Easy to remove

What We Don’t: 

  • Some users complain they need to trim it to fit their skimmer

#2: Hayward SPX1082CA Basket Assembly Replacement (Best For Hayward)

Hayward SPX1082CA Basket Assembly Replacement for Select Hayward Automatic Skimmers
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If you look for a replacement basket for your Hayward skimmer, this skimmer basket from Hayward will be your best bait. You can use this basket assembly with the Hayward Automatic Skimmers like  SP1082, SP1083, SP1084, 1085, 1086, SP1075, 1075T, 1076, and 1077. 

The dirt capacity of this Hayward Basket is large. The inner top part of this basket is 7 inches in diameter and its outer part is 7.4 inches. And the height of the Hayward skimmer basket is over 5 inches. Indeed, it can hold extra dirt, debris, and leaves before you need to empty them. 

Now, let’s move on to its construction. This Hayward basket assembly uses durable plastic as its built-in material, which adds durability. Indeed, you can use it for seasons after seasons. And the best part is that doesn’t float due to its weight (5.9 pounds), making it efficient in collecting debris. 

What We Like:

  • Large dirt capacity
  • Perfectly fit your Hayward skimmers
  • Last longer due to the sturdy construction

What We Don’t: 

  • You may need to deal with messes because of the flat handle design

#3: Pentair 516112 Handle Basket (Best For Pentair Skimmer)

Pentair 516112 Handle Basket Replacement Bermuda Gunite and Vinyl Liner Skimmer
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Are you struggling to find a replacement basket assembly for your Pentair Bermuda gunite and vinyl liner skimmers? Then, the Pentair 516112 Handle Basket will be your best trait. 

We go with this Pentair Skimmer Basket for several reasons- sturdy design and easy to remove. 

Firstly, let’s talk about its durable construction. This skimmer basket uses a long-lasting plastic body and it has a metal handle. So, it serves you years after years. The curved bail makes it a breeze to remove the basket, especially if there is a lot of leaf and debris inside the basket. 

Turns out, the metal handle stays upright and you don’t need to dig around to find the handle. Due to the sturdy design, the handle also doesn’t come off when lifting. 

Indeed, it is the best skimmer basket with a sturdy handle, which lasts longer and fits your Pentair skimmers perfectly. 

 What We Like:

  • Sturdy and long-lasting
  • Simple to remove from the water
  • Sturdy handle

What We Don’t:

  • The handle on the basket may split down

#4: CMP Vented Handle FlowSkim Skimmer Basket (Best For Above-Ground Pool)

Custom Molded Products CMP Vented Handle FlowSkim Skimmer Basket
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CMP Vented Handle FlowSkim Skimmer Basket is the best above-ground skimmer basket on this list. Its extended handle makes it a breeze even when raised, and you can easily use it in your above-ground pool. Therefore, this pool skimmer basket with a handle is compatible with SP1070 and U-3. 

The best feature we love most about this skimmer basket is its hollow handle angle. It creates a bypass for water to flow, even when the basket gets filled with dirt, debris, and leaves. Due to this handle design, you can also dump the basket easily and quickly. 

Therefore, the unique handle design of the skimmer basket also prolongs the life of the pump motor. As it lets the water flow continuously, this basket prevents the pump from running dry and protects your pump from getting damaged by overheating. 

What We Like:

  • Prolong pump life as it ensures continuous water flow
  • Easy to remove & dump due to the unique handle design
  • Convenient to use for the extra-large handle

What We Don’t: 

  • The thick mesh gets clogged more easier

#5: SkimPro Tower-Vented Skimmer Basket (Best Universal)

SkimPro Tower-Vented Skimmer Basket with Tower and Handle
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SkimPro Tower-Vented Skimmer Basket is the best universal skimmer basket on this list. It fits most popular skimmers in the market including, Hayward 1070 series, PacFab, Jacuzzi Deckmate, Sta-Rite, or American. So, you don’t need to hassle to find the basket that matches your existing pool skimmer. 

The advantage of this skimmer basket is that it lets the water flow through it even when the basket gets filled with messes. It shields your pool pump from running dry and prevents the motor from being damaged because of overheating. 

Its metal handle (the horizontal piece, not the “tower” at the top) is another breathtaking feature we spot. It provides weight to keep the basket down in the water, even when the suction is not on. Indeed, it doesn’t float, making the basket efficient in collecting dirt & debris. 

What We Like:

  • Can be used with different brands of skimmers
  • Last longer due to the sturdy construction
  • Protect the pump from running dry

What We Don’t:

  • The handle makes it just a little more difficult to remove crud from the basket

How To Choose The Best Pool Skimmer Basket?

Before buying a skimmer basket, consider the following criteria to pick the right one that fits your skimmer. 

Fit Your Skimmer Or not

The first criterion you should consider before choosing a skimmer basket is its compatibility. You can find different types of skimmer baskets with various shapes and designs. In other words, skimmer baskets from different brands are specially designed to use with a specific type of skimmer. So, it’s better to check its compatibility and see whether it fits your skimmer or not. If you don’t have enough time, go with a universal skimmer basket like the SkimPro Tower-Vented Skimmer Basket that fits most skimmers on the market. 

Durability

Once you find a skimmer basket compatible with your existing skimmer, consider its durability. You don’t want to get a flimsy basket that gets broken after using a season. So, choose a skimmer basket that uses durable plastic and it doesn’t corrode because of the chemicals you use to purify the water. 

Handle

Some of you may overlook this feature when purchasing a skimmer basket as it is a small piece of equipment. But this small accessory comes into play when you remove and empty the basket. A skimmer basket with a handle allows you to pull out the basket with ease. Indeed, the handle of a skimmer basket makes it a breeze to remove & dump the basket. 

Ease of Installation

You should also consider the ease of installation when buying a skimmer basket. It should be easy to install and uninstall as you may need to empty the basket every day. If you struggle to install the basket, you will also have trouble emptying the basket daily. That’s why we recommend you get a weighty basket. In return, the basket will stay in place instead of floating around, which makes it easy to install & uninstall the skimmer basket. 

Price

Fortunately, we don’t need to worry about the price of the skimmer basket. All the skimmer baskets we mentioned are within your reach and they don’t require you to spend a leg and arm. 

FAQs

  1. Are all pool skimmer baskets the same size?

    No, all pool skimmer baskets are not the same size. You must measure the size of your pool skimmer and choose a basket that fits it. However, you can find some universal baskets. But it’s best to measure the skimmer to get the right basket for the pool skimmer. 

  2. How do you measure for a replacement skimmer basket?

    If you need to replace the skimmer basket, you should measure the skimmer first. So, take the measurement of the basket’s outside, inside, and base diameter. Also, measure the height of the skimmer. Then, choose a basket according to the measurement you take. 

  3. What is the best pool skimmer basket?

    Here is the list of the best pool skimmer basket you should buy:

    GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket
    Hayward SPX1082CA Basket Assembly Replacement
    Pentair 516112 Handle Basket
    CMP Vented Handle FlowSkim Skimmer Basket
    SkimPro Tower-Vented Skimmer Basket

  4. Are skimmer baskets worth it? 

    Yes, skimmer baskets are useful. They capture dirt, debris, and leaves when water flows through it and prevent those wastes from reaching your pump. Indeed, it prolongs the pool pump life. 

Final Verdict

We reviewed the top 5 best pool skimmer baskets in the market. Now, it’s time to pick one from the list based on these criteria: compatibility, durability, handle, and ease of installation. 

There is no hidden technology in the pool skimmer basket. If you choose a large basket, it will capture more dirt, debris, and leaves. On the other hand, if you pick a basket with a handle, you can easily remove and empty it. 

So, choose a skimmer basket from our list that fits your existing pool skimmer.

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