How to measure your pool for a pool cover
Every cover we sell is custom-cut to your pool's exact dimensions, and measuring takes about five minutes with a tape measure. Facts checked: 27 July 2026.
Quick answer
Measure the water, not the paving: take the maximum width (A) and length (B) of the pool from the inside edges at water level, in metres, and round each measurement up to the nearest 0.1 m. A step area that protrudes from the main rectangle, or an attached spa, is measured separately. That is everything the quote tool needs to price every cover for your exact pool.
The five rules of measuring a pool
- 1
Measure at water level. A pool cover sits on the water surface, so measure from the inside edges of the pool — never across the paving or coping.
- 2
Width first. Measure the pool at its widest point. This is dimension A in the quote tool.
- 3
Then length. Measure the pool at its longest point. This is dimension B.
- 4
Round up, never down. Round each measurement up to the nearest 0.1 m. A slightly generous cover trims neatly to fit; a short cover cannot be stretched.
- 5
Steps and spas are measured separately. Anything that protrudes beyond the main rectangle — a side step, an offset step or an attached spa — gets its own width and length.
Measuring guides by pool shape
The diagrams below use the same dimension labels as our quote tool, so you can measure once and type the numbers straight in. The tool draws your pool to scale as you enter them, which makes a transposed number obvious immediately.
How do I measure a rectangular pool?
Measure the maximum water-level width (A) and length (B) of the main body of water. Steps, ledges and swim-outs contained within the rectangle need no separate measurement — the cover simply spans them.
How do I measure a pool with a side step?
Measure the main pool as a rectangle (A and B), then measure the step area separately: its width (A1) and its length (B1). In the quote tool you also choose whether the step sits at the left or right end of the pool.
How do I measure a pool with an offset step?
When the step area is set in from the end of the pool, measure the main pool (A and B) and the step area (A1 and B1) as before, plus the distance (C) from the bottom end of the pool to the near edge of the step — the quote tool calls this Distance from bottom (C). That distance positions the step area correctly on the cover.
How do I measure a pool with an attached spa?
The spa is treated as separate: measure the main pool (A and B), then the spa on its own — its width (A2) and length (B2) at the widest and longest points of the spa.
How do I measure a freeform or kidney-shaped pool?
Measure the widest point (A) and the longest point (B) of the pool, as if drawing the smallest rectangle the pool would fit inside. The cover is made to those maximum dimensions and trimmed to the exact shape of your pool on site.
What size cover will I actually receive?
Covers are deliberately supplied larger than the pool measurement you order, so there is material to trim to a neat final fit. Daisy, for example, supplies covers at least 300 mm longer and 150 mm wider than the ordered pool measurement, and recommends allowing around 200 mm extra on all sides for its WinterKleen covers. This is why rounding up is always safe: the trim allowance absorbs it.
If your measurements land between two of our common pool sizes, don't force them to match — enter your real dimensions and every cover is priced for your exact pool.
Pool measuring questions
Do I measure the pool or the paving?
Measure the water, not the paving. A pool cover sits on the water surface, so every measurement is taken from the inside edges of the pool at water level.
How accurate do my pool measurements need to be?
To the nearest 0.1 m is accurate enough, as long as you round up rather than down. Custom-cut covers are supplied slightly larger than the ordered measurement and trimmed to fit.
How do I measure a pool with steps or a swim-out?
Steps contained within the main rectangle of the pool need no separate measurement. A step or swim-out that protrudes beyond the rectangle is measured as its own width and length, along with its distance from the bottom end of the pool if it is set in from the end.
How do I measure a freeform or kidney-shaped pool?
Measure the widest point and the longest point of the pool. The cover is made to those maximum dimensions and trimmed to the shape of the pool on site.
Measured up? Get your exact price
Enter your dimensions and see every Daisy and Elite cover priced for your exact pool in under two minutes.
Get an Instant Quote