Automatic Pool Cover Cost: What You'll Really Pay in Australia
The automatic pool cover cost for an Australian pool ranges from a few thousand dollars to more than $54,000 before installation. That spread makes quotes difficult to compare. Two quotes for the same pool can differ by tens of thousands, and the cheaper one is not always fully automatic.
This guide sets out what each system costs, using Elite Pool Covers' published prices, and explains what moves the figure up or down. It covers automatic systems only. For blankets, mesh and other non-automatic covers, read the pool cover cost guide.
Elite's founder, engineer John Webb, invented Australia's first fully automatic pool cover system. Every figure below comes from Elite's live product pages, or is clearly marked as a general market range for any swimming pool cover type Elite does not price online.
Automatic Pool Cover Cost at a Glance
Quick Answer: The automatic pool cover cost depends most on the system type and where the roller sits. Elite's rigid slat systems start from $12,077 incl. GST (supply only), while a motorised roller or bench on a standard blanket costs far less.
Cost by System Type
- Rigid slat covers: $12,077 to $54,432 incl. GST, supply only, in Elite's online estimator for rigid slat covers. Installation, freight and site works are quoted separately.
- Automatic vinyl safety covers: industry guides commonly quote about $12,000 to $22,000 or more, installed. This is a general market range, not an Elite price.
- Motorised rollers and benches on a blanket: the Majestic Pool Bench System is from $2,780 incl. GST for the manual version; the motorised version is quoted. Motorised rollers are also quoted to suit the pool.
What Drives the Cost
- Placement: an above-ground track costs least; a recessed pit with a lid costs most.
- Pool size and shape: larger and irregular pools need more slats and custom work.
- Drive type: manually engaged, motorised, remote or app control, wired or solar power.
- Site works: pit construction, an electrician, freight and finishes.
- Upkeep: water balance, cleaning and servicing. Industry guides commonly put vinyl fabric replacement on automatic vinyl systems at $4,000 to $6,000 every 5 to 8 years.
Browse Elite's automatic pool cover rollers to compare systems. A written quote confirms the exact cost for your pool.
What Each Type of Automatic System Costs
The table below uses an 8 x 4 m pool, a common family size. Slat system prices come from the estimator on the Elite Aquaroll slatted cover page, based on standard Solar Blue slats.
| System |
How It Works |
Price Guide (8 x 4 m) |
Best For |
| Aquaroll Semi-Automatic U-Frame |
Above-ground track with a manually engaged drive |
$20,711 incl. GST, supply only |
The most affordable slat entry point |
| Aquaroll LUMINA |
Fully motorised above-ground end-post with RGB lighting and app control |
$22,190 incl. GST, supply only |
Retrofits to existing pools |
| Aquaroll Automatic Bench |
Motorised roller hidden under a poolside bench seat |
$31,315 incl. GST, supply only |
Pools with room for a built-in bench |
| Aquaroll False Wall Pit |
Roller hidden behind a false wall below the coping |
$34,485 incl. GST, supply only |
New builds and major renovations |
| Aquaroll Recessed Pit |
Fully in-ground pit with a lid |
$36,300 incl. GST, supply only |
New builds wanting the cover out of sight |
| Majestic Pool Bench System |
Bench that stores a standard blanket; manual, motorised on request |
From $2,780 incl. GST for the manual version; the motorised version is quoted |
Blanket owners wanting tidy storage |
| Elite Auto Roller System |
Motorised marine-grade aluminium roller for a blanket |
Quote only |
Domestic and commercial pools |
Slat prices exclude installation, freight and site works, which Elite quotes once it knows your site. The estimator is a budget guide, not a formal quotation. Prices are as listed on poolcovers.com.au in October 2026. Prices change, and a written quote confirms the exact cost.
For blanket-based automation, the Elite Auto Roller System ships as a fully assembled frame and suits both commercial and domestic pools. It is priced on request.
What Pushes the Price Up
Placement is the single biggest lever on the automatic pool cover cost. On the same 8 x 4 m pool, moving from the U-Frame to the Recessed Pit adds $15,589 before any building work. Concealed options also need the pool builder to form the pit or false wall.
That is why concealed systems generally suit new builds and major renovations. Retrofitting a pit into an existing pool means cutting concrete and coping, which adds builder costs on top of the cover. LUMINA was designed as a retrofit option, so it avoids that structural work.
Other factors that lift the price:
- Size: Elite's estimator covers 3 to 12 m long and 2 to 6 m wide. Pools outside that range are quoted individually.
- Shape: freeform and L-shaped pools need custom work.
- Slat colour: Elite offers six colours, and the choice can change the price.
- Site access and location: installation, travel, project management and freight vary by state.
- Electrical work: powered systems near the water may need a licensed electrician.
Is Your Quoted System Actually Automated?
"Automatic" is used loosely across the industry. Elite's own cost guide sets out three tiers: manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic, where a key turn or button opens and closes the cover. Confirm which tier a quote describes before you compare prices.
Elite's Semi-Automatic U-Frame, for example, uses a manually engaged drive. It is a slat cover on a track, and it is the lowest-cost way into slats. It is not the same product as a fully motorised LUMINA or pit system.
Ask these questions of any quote:
- Is the drive motorised, or does someone engage it by hand?
- Is it operated by key switch, remote or app?
- Is it wired to mains power, or solar and battery?
- Does the price include installation, freight and electrical work?
- What is the warranty on the cover, the motor and the controller?
The same applies to blanket systems. Many pool cover rollers are manual, while Elite's motorised roller options use a high-torque motor and long-range remote.
Lower-Cost Automatic Options
A slatted system is not the only route to push-button convenience. Automating a standard blanket costs a fraction of a slat cover and keeps the heating and evaporation benefits of a good blanket.
Elite's options for blanket owners include:
- Talos Roller: a semi-automatic above-ground roller for domestic pools up to 60 m², with battery power and remote control.
- Kratos Roller: a heavy-duty unit with a 140Nm motor and IP65-rated control box, built for larger and commercial pools.
- Majestic Pool Bench System: from $2,780 incl. GST for the manual version; the motorised version is quoted.
- Inground blanket boxes: Hideaway, In-Deck and Trojan Eco Box units can be motorised.
Elite's motorised Auto Roller can be paired with a quality solar pool blanket. Together, the two components provide push-button operation and the heat retention of a good blanket.
Where manual handling is acceptable, a manual roller is the lower-cost alternative. Elite's above-ground pool cover rollers start from $710 for the Deluxe Roller (stationary), roller only. Elite also lists blanket installation at $189 incl. GST, or $259 incl. GST for a blanket and roller.
Are Solar or Electric Rollers Worth the Extra?
For a cover that is handled daily, motorisation is generally worth the extra cost; for occasional use, a manual roller is sufficient. A motor removes the effort of rolling a heavy blanket, which is what keeps a cover in daily use. On a large pool, the handling time is significant. The remaining choice is how the motor is powered.
Wired systems run from mains power through an adaptor. They suit pools with a power point nearby and deliver consistent power in any weather. Solar and battery systems avoid running mains cabling to the pool. LUMINA's solar version uses an 80W solar panel and a 24V 7AH battery.
Electrical safety affects cost. Elite's Hideaway page notes that a unit within 1.25 m of the pool edge must be equipotentially bonded by a licensed electrician, under AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules). Allow for an electrician when budgeting for any powered pool roller.
Running Costs: Chlorine, Slat Staining and Servicing
A closed cover blocks UV, so chlorine normally rises. If it falls instead, the cause is usually water balance rather than the cover. Turn the chlorinator output down when the cover stays closed for long periods, and test the water weekly.
Where chlorine does not hold, check pH, stabiliser, phosphates and filtration run time. Elite's guide to pool water chemistry recommends a pH of 7.2 to 7.8 and chlorine of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. With the cover in place, Elite's guide caps chlorine at 2.5 ppm.
Slat staining and discolouration over the years are often linked to water chemistry. High chlorine trapped under a closed cover degrades the slats. After shock dosing, leave the cover open until levels return to normal. Rinse the slats with fresh water and a soft brush as part of routine care.
Colour choice matters too. Elite's six slat colours behave differently in the sun, and screens never show them accurately. Ask for a physical sample before you decide. Protect the slats and the motor housing by keeping chlorine levels balanced.
For servicing, budget for occasional motor and controller checks, plus an electrician where wiring is involved.
A Slatted Cover Is Not a Safety Cover
Aquaroll slats are buoyant and look solid when closed, but the cover has no load rating and is not tested or supplied as a safety cover. It must never be walked on, and it does not replace a compliant pool fence or adult supervision. Where a load-bearing cover is required, see Elite's pool safety covers. Kidsafe's water safety advice covers pool barriers.
Is an Automatic Pool Cover Worth It?
For a pool used regularly, it is. A cover only works when it is on the water. Automation removes the main reason covers sit unused on the deck.
Elite's Aquaroll heats the water and holds that heat, cuts evaporation and sheds rain and debris. Elite's Solar slats deliver the strongest heat gain in the range. Those savings accumulate every season, which offsets part of the automatic pool cover cost over the life of the system.
Where the budget does not extend to slats, a motorised roller with a solar pool cover retains heat and cuts evaporation at a far lower cost. For a side-by-side view of every cover type, read Elite's full pool cover buying guide.
Elite designs and manufactures its roller systems in Australia and has done so since 1989.
FAQs
What Are the Common Problems With Automatic Pool Covers?
The most common issues are debris left on the cover before opening, the cover drifting out of alignment, and wear on moving parts. Most are prevented by clearing leaves before rolling, keeping the track and roller area clean, and booking servicing when the drive sounds or moves differently.
How Long Does an Automatic Pool Cover Last?
Lifespan varies with UV exposure, use and water balance, so no single figure applies to every pool. As a reference point, Elite warrants Aquaroll slats for five years and the motor and controller for three years. Balanced water and routine cleaning give any system its best chance of a long service life.
What Is the Typical Cost of an Automatic Pool Cover Motor?
On Elite's systems, the motor is part of the system price rather than a separate line item. A replacement motor or controller outside warranty is quoted to suit the model, so ask for parts pricing when you compare quotes.
What Is the Most Affordable Way to Cover a Pool?
A standard blanket on a manual roller is the lowest-cost option. Elite's manual above-ground rollers start from $710 for the Deluxe Roller (stationary), roller only, and pair with a blanket cut to your pool. If daily handling becomes impractical, a motorised roller is the next step up.
Final Thoughts
The automatic pool cover cost comes down to three decisions: slats or a blanket, where the roller sits, and how the drive is powered. Check that every quote states supply only or installed, and whether the drive is truly motorised.
Elite supplies pool covers Australia-wide, from manual rollers to concealed pit systems.
Get an Elite Pool Covers Quote Today
Need specific pricing for your pool? Elite Pool Covers prices covers, blankets and roller systems to the exact dimensions of your pool. Give us a call on (08) 9240 2262 or request a personalised quote, to receive accurate pool cover pricing tailored to your unique requirements.