Home » Pool Covers: What’s the Difference Between 400 & 500 Micron?

Pool Covers: What’s the Difference Between 400 & 500 Micron?

swimming pool cover Pool covers are a necessary accessory for any pool. Choosing the right thickness, either a 400 micron pool cover or a 500 micron pool cover, will affect both your budget and the cover’s lifespan.

If you’re reading this article, you probably already know the benefits of buying a pool cover and are just about ready to buy. You already know that a solar pool blanket will keep most of the debris out of your pool and make your pool warmer too.

So let’s get into it and find out which thickness cover you need. 

 What is a Micron?

Micrometer Pool covers come in a variety of sizes for use with most standard pool sizes, or can be cut to fit more exotic shapes. The thickness of the material is measured in microns. A metric measurement, one micron is equal to one thousandth of a millimeter.

The higher the number, the thicker the cover is. e.g. a 600 micron cover is thicker than a 500 micron cover.

While the variation between a 400 and a 500 micron blanket is slight, the difference can be significant.

The Thickness of Your Blanket

The most common thicknesses available in Australia for residential pools are 400 & 500 micron pool covers.

400 Micron Pool Blankets

These swimming pool covers are a good thickness. 400 micron is normally the minimum thickness that is recommended for a quality pool cover. A thinner cover such as a 300 micron will not last long and will quickly be degraded by the sun and pool chemicals.

Same goes for a 400 micron cover. It is a little thinner than the 500 micron cover and they consequently don’t last as long but they are still a good thickness. You’ll get most of the benefits of a 500 micron blanket including warmer pool water, reduced evaporation and money savings in pool chemicals.
The warranty for a 400 micron cover will be less than a 500 micron cover.

The pros/cons are as follows:

  • Lighter weight
  • Lower Cost than 500 micron covers
  • Warmer Pool Water
  • Reduced Evaporation
  • Reduced Chemical Use
  • Keeps out Debris
  • Doesn’t Last as Long as a 500 Micron Cover

500 Micron Pool Blankets

A 500 micron pool cover offers higher quality but they are about 25% more expensive. With a 25% increase in thickness, you gain an added layer of durability and slightly improved heat retention (although not much).

The heavier material is less susceptible to tears or punctures (like from falling branches). It will better resist damage from the pool chemistry and from UV rays for a longer period of time. The typical 500 micron cover will carry a much long warranty too.

The pros/cons are as follows:

  • 25% Heavier
  • Approx. 25% Higher Cost
  • Increased Durability
  • Slightly Higher Heat retention
  • Better Resistance to damaging UV rays
  • Better Resistance to Pool Chemicals
  • Reduced Evaporation
  • Reduced Chemical Use
  • Keeps out Debris
  • Better Resistance to Impacts (such as falling sticks & branches)

Depending upon the amount of use you plan for your pool and the protection you need from debris, you should be able to make a choice that best suits the needs and requirements of your pool, while keeping within a family-friendly budget.

We would love to hear about your experiences with Pool Covers: What’s the Difference Between 400 & 500 Micron? Please leave your comments below and share the article with anyone you think may be interested.

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Swimming Pool Covers

Related Reading:
Do pool covers really heat the water?
Will a pool cover eliminate cleaning?
Pool Covers – How to Measure & DIY Install

6 thoughts on “Pool Covers: What’s the Difference Between 400 & 500 Micron?”

  1. I have been through a few covers over the years and find the plain blue 500 micron the best all rounder, in terms of ease of use and longevity….High chlorine and trapped heat fastest killer…..Be wary of really cheap prices, probably selling thinner micron ….. Packaging weight (if shown) is the only way to compare and confirm micron thickness.

    Reply
  2. I have a 500 micron cover and it’s the best.. The cover I replaced it with was [*#$% – edited by Admin].. Probably a heap online one is say.. My Cover also came with a 10 year warranty.

    Reply
  3. Bought a 400 micron cover online which didn’t even last a season- it started to flake the first days it was on the pool. what would have caused this? Will this (eventually) be repeated in any pool cover?

    Reply
  4. Hi,
    The information about pool cover thickness is very useful but we need more info before we can proceed with ordering.
    We live on Gold Coast and receive a fair amount of sun, size our pool is 9 x 4 m. If the cover is properly installed and left on the water except when using the pool, what would be the average expected lifespan for 400 and 500 microns?

    Reply
    • Lifespan depends on many factors. If the pool is well balanced – the wrong levels will cause faster deterioration. The amount of sun the pool cover gets also makes a difference. And the brand of the cover. Really cheap ones only last a year. Better quality ones can last 2-4 years and the highest quality covers last 5-9 years. In the in end you normally get what you pay for. You should also check the warranty period to make sure you’re covered – some warranties are pro-rata so after several years, the warranty is almost useless. Hope that helps a little.

      Reply

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