The 9 Best Hot Tub Cover Lifters and Spa Covers in 2020

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If you are looking for the best hot tub cover lifter, check out the Blue Wave NP5022 Spa Cover Lift. This low mount spa cover is a great way to easily lift a spa cover. The Blue Wave NP5022 is made with high-quality steel that is coated with black powder to prevent it from corroding or rusting over time.

Providing effortless operations, the Blue Wave NP5022 allows you to stop wrestling with the cover and reduces strain on your back. Featuring a one-year warranty, this design will fit most rectangular and square spa shapes that have radius corners measuring up to eight inches wide and spas that are up to eight-feet wide.

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Requiring clearance of only 18-inches, The Cover Rock-It uses plates under the spa to hold it securely in place by using the spa’s weight. When you fold down the cover, it stores neatly to the side of the spa allowing you to have a full view of the hot tub, which is one of the features you look for in the best spa cover lifts. Depending on your spa’s setup, you may need to lift or empty the hot tub to install this lift.

Simple to use, The Cover Rock-It will fit most spas that measure up to 96-inches. This is a durable lift that features zinc-plating along with a powder-coated finish.

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Effortless and versatile to use, the Cover Valet Caddy features a gas spring assisted design to make remove your spa cover simple and easy. With this unique design, you can easily install it on a wide variety of spa sizes and shapes that include octagonal and round spas and spas with cut corners or large radiuses.

Allowing you a complete installation in just minutes, the Cover Valet Caddy is equipped with a base plate that is mounted under the hot tub and a cabinet design that will work with any spa. The added power of the gas spring makes it easy to lower and lift the spa cover. Made with aluminum, this lift includes a high-grade powder coating for extra durability.

The Cover Valet Caddy stores easily on the side of your spa and is also adjustable, so you can lower and raise the cover when you store it. It does require a clearance of 36-inches to work effectively and works with spas that range from 30 to 40-inches tall. And, this hot tub lifter comes with a five-year warranty.

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The next hot tub cover lifter will fit any spa up to 109-inches that have a radius of up to 16-inches. The UltraLift Under Mount features bracket that eliminates the requirement of drilling holes in your deck or spa cabinet.

Using a unique mix of high-strength steel and aluminum, the UltraLift also uses a coating of a corrosion-resistant powder to ensure many years of reliable and hassle-free service. It does require clearance of 16-inches in the back of the spa to work effectively.

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Easily opened with just one hand, the compact and strong Cover Guy Hot Tub Cover Lifter helps to create an incredible hot tub experience. It will fit spas up to 96 x 96-inches or 16-inch cut corners. Simple to install, the included gas spring design will give you years of reliable service.

This maintenance-free spa lifter is made with large-diameter aircraft aluminum tubing that is coated with powder for extra durability. Providing easy lifting, Cover Guy Hot Tub Cover Lifter uses corrosion and rust-resistant gas springs. Plus, you can mount the cover lifter on the top or side of the hot tub for added versatility.

Requiring very little clearance, Cover Guy Hot Tub Cover Lifter fits into pretty much any location in your backyard including gazebos, decks, and along a wall. Eliminating torqueing and twisting, this is an easy to use hot tub cover lift that will eliminate the struggle to put the cover back on when you are done relaxing in the hot tub.

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Using all the typical features you see in a standard lift, the UltraLift Hydraulic & Deck Mount Hot Tub Cover Lift has the added bonus of dual gas pistons providing easy cover replacement and removal. You also get the versatility of choosing either a deck mount or a top mount depending on your privacy preferences.

Using a unique mix of aluminum and high-strength galvanized steel that is coated with a corrosion-resistant powder, the UltraLift Hydraulic Lift will provide many years of hassle-free and reliable service. This hydraulic hot tub cover lifter will fit spas that measure up to 109-inches with radiuses up to 16-inches. It does require clearance between 12 to 14-inches in the back of the hot tub to work effectively.

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Easy to use and reliable, the Cover Valet EX Cover Lifter works impressively well. Using reinforced aluminum construction, this is a durable lifter that will last you for years. Its durability helps to ensure that it will perform in any backyard environment, and it features a 5-year warranty.

Requiring a clearance of only 12-inches to operate effectively, the Cover Valet EX Cover Lifter also uses cast-aluminum mounting brackets to add to its performance and reliability. This jacuzzi hot tub cover lift will work with rectangular and square spas that measure up to 104-inches in size.

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Featuring a slide-under mounting plate, the Cover Captain Hot Tub Cover Lifter is perfect for most hot tubs. It does not require drilling as the mounting plate will keep the lifter securely in place. And, the cradle on this lifter won’t place any stress on the spas hinge cover, unlike other hot tub cover lifters that use a center crossbar.

Easy to adjust depending on your spa’s height and thickness, the Cover Captain Hot Tub Cover Lifter will install in just minutes and works with any spa shape. This cover lifter does require 19 to 226-inches in rear clearance to operate effectively, this lifter is made with a durable, heavy-duty powder-coated steel.

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Review

Featuring a hydraulic mount, the Byron Originals UltraLift features dual gas pistons that provide an easy cover replacement and removal. Providing the maximum lift assistance, you can either mount this lift on the deck or top of the spa. It will fit pretty much any shape or hot tub size up to 109-inches with a maximum 16-inch radius.

Requiring a 12 to 14-inch clearance to work effectively, the UltraLift allows you to adjust the cover’s height to your preferences for either a less obstructed view or to provide more privacy. Featuring aluminum brackets and galvanized arms, this spa lift also offers optional extensions if you need more coverage.

Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Hot Tub Cover Lifter

Shape

Not all hot tubs are square. Some are even octagonal, triangular, rectangular, and round. It’s important to make sure that the type of hot tub cover lifter you are choosing works with the shape of the hot tub, especially if you have a less common shape, which can make them harder to find and more expensive.

Operating Space

Depending on where your hot tub is placed, you may have a wall or fence that would make it impossible to use a hot tub cover if you mount it on the tub’s side. In this case, you need to purchase one that you can mount on the center.

Always check to see how much clearance a hot tub cover will need and then measure the area around your spa to make sure it will be able to operate correctly.

Mounting

Some hot tub covers will mount under the hot tub, which means you will have to drain it for installation. Others can screw into the sides of the tub’s paneling, but you need to make sure there isn’t a wall or fence in the way. It all depends on your tubs placement and how easy you want the installation process to be.

Hot Tub Cover Lifter FAQ

How does a hot tub cover work?

Using hydraulics to do the heavy lifting, a manual hot tub cover is the most common type you will see. Most of them will require that you fold the lid in half first and then slide it into its holder. Then, the holder will typically fold down on the outside of the hot tub.

As it hangs, there is a bar that will fully support the weight of the cover, so you an leave it folds that way until you are ready to put the lid back on. To replace the lid onto the hot tub, just pull the bar back to the cover’s center, which will pull the cover instantly with the bar.

How Much Room Does a Hot Tub Cover Lifter Need?

It all depends on the type of lifter you want to buy. Different lifters require a different amount of space to operate effectively. While some don’t need a lot of room, others will need up to half the length of the lid. Typically, expect the lifter to need about 12-inches behind the spa for your cover lifter to work correctly.

While it may not be listed on the requirements, you should also leave about 12-inches from each of the hot tub’s corners. With this extra space, the lid and lifter will have some area to move around, so you won’t have to deal with any scratches. Remember, if you have a special shape like an octagon, you will need more clearance than a square or round shaped hot tub.

What are the Easiest Hot Tub Cover Lifters to use?

Obviously, the expensive, automated lifters are probably the easiest to use. Of the manual hot tub covers, they are pretty much all the same when it comes to how easy they are to lift. Pretty much all brands use powder-coated aluminum or steel for construction, but it is a benefit if the design uses hydraulic arms to lift the cover on the hot tub and back again.

Hydraulic poles make it very easy to push the cover back without any strain. Plus, many of these designs allow you to move the lid on and off using just one hand.

How Easy Are Hot Tub Lifters to Install?

As far as installation, the easiest ones to install won’t require you to drain the hot tub. These hot tub cover lifters are typically side-mounted into plastic or wood panels hot tub lifters that have an under-mount design, you will have to first drain the tub.

Typically, you can install a hot tub cover with a cordless drill and a screwdriver by yourself in about 20 minutes. If you need to drain your hot tub, you will need at least four people to help you make it more complicated.