Best Spa Cover Lifts. Hot Tub Cover Lifter Reviews

Best Spa Cover Lifts

After much research and examination, we have determined that the best spa cover lifts on the market are the Cover Valet NP509 Spa Cover Lift and Caddy. The NP509 is a very simple, effective way to get your spa cover up and out of the way.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The gas-loaded hinges on the NP509 make lifting the cover a breeze, and the adjustable caddy will get the cover over on the side of the tub, positioned at a height of your choosing.

The Cover Valet NP509 will fit virtually all sizes and shapes of hot tubs and requires no permanent installation (you don’t need to screw anything into your hot tub!). The hot tub cover lifter is backed by a 5-year limited warranty, which is another huge plus.

This is the best spa cover lifter out there.

For more information on the Cover Valet NP509, please take a look at our product reviews section below.

Runner Up Best Hot Tub Cover Lifts

Cheaper than the Cover Valet NP509, but still quite functional, is the Cover Valet Hydraulic spa lid lifter. This spa cover holder has a piston system and allows users to easily lift the cover off and replace it. However, installation of this unit requires drilling holes into the side of the tub, so be sure to get yourself positioned correctly and follow the directions closely before you drill!

The Cover Valet Hydraulic will only work with square or rectangular tubs up to 7′ in size, though it will accommodate rounded corners. It is protected by a 5-year limited warranty, which is always a nice feature when purchasing a mechanical product like this one. It is one of the best hot tub cover lifts for the money.

For a detailed review of the Cover Valet Hydraulic, please see our Product Reviews section below.

Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Budget Pick: Hot Tub Cover Lifter

For those looking to get their hot tub cover out of the way on a budget, it’s hard to beat the ABC Spa Cover Roller. This product is less a spa lifter than a spa roller, but it does a great job of getting your spa cover out of the way, and when in place, the cover can act as a table. It is inexpensive, and it does require some muscle to get the hot tub cover folded over, but once it’s folded, the rollers easily bring the cover off to the side. The ABC Spa Cover Caddy will work with most rectangular and square tubs and will work with tubs with rounded corners.

The arms fold down when not needed, and are low profile. You have to drill into the tub to install the arms, but installation is pretty simple. If you’re on a budget, this is one of the top spa cover lifters out there.

For more information, see our product reviews section below.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Spa Cover Lifters Buyer’s Guide

There are a few different aspects to consider when searching for the right spa cover lifter. This buyer’s guide will cover the most important attributes to examine when considering a hot tub cover lifter.

Spa Size and Shape

Spas come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Square, rectangular, oval, octagonal, triangular, etc. Different models of hot tub cover lifts will only work with certain spa shapes. Be sure that the lift you are considering is compatible with your spa.

Clearance Around the Tub

Each of the hot tub covers lifts on our list requires clearance around the tub so that the cover will fit when the hot tub is open. Many of the lifters also require space around the sides to accommodate pistons or metal bars. We cover the clearance requirements around the tubs in each of our hot tub cover lift reviews.

Be sure to consider the location of spa steps and hot tub handrails when planning your cover lift.

Installation Requirements

There are two types of hot tub cover lifters, detached lifts, and attached lifts.

Detached Lifts

Some of the spa cover lifters require no permanent installation. They usually sit underneath the hot tub and use the weight of the tub to balance the weight of the cover that overhangs the side of the tub. These systems can be quite convenient if you are able to get them under the tub. If the spa is currently full, you may need to do some work to get it under. If the tub is empty, these are really easy to get under.

Attached Lifts

Attached spa lifts require holes to be drilled into the sides of the hot tub itself. These are permanent, and one needs to be very careful to make sure that they are in the right place. You cannot un-drill a hole, so extra care must be taken before installing these hot tub lifters!

Ease Of Operation

Some of the hot tub cover lifters on our top 5 list feature pistons, springs, or other mechanisms to assist the movement of the hot tub cover. Units with these mechanisms are usually easier to maneuver, and if you are concerned about moving the tub cover, it may be best to find one with these aid mechanisms. They usually are a bit more costly and may be more prone to failure than units without springs and pistons.

Folded Cover Position

Consider where you want your cover to be when it is folded up. Some may want the lid completely out of the way when folded, while others may want it up to provide privacy, block wind, etc. Each of the hot tub lid-lifters on our list places the cover in a different configuration, so consider how the folded up hot tub lid will fit in your environment.

Hot Tub Cover Thickness

Be sure that the spa cover lifter you are looking at will accommodate the thickness of your spa cover. Each of our reviews identifies the maximum cover thickness that is compatible with that hot tub cover lifter. For a look at the best hot tub covers out there, please take a look at our hot tub covers guide here.

Hot Tub Cover Lift Product Reviews

In this section we will review the top five spa cover lifts, and closely examine the positives and negatives of each.

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#1. Cover Valet No. NP509 Spa Cover Lift and Caddy

The Cover Valet NP509 Spa Cover Lift and Caddy is a full-featured spa cover lift with spring-loaded hinges and an adjustable spa cover holder for keeping the spa cover off to the side, and at the height you want.

This cover uses a gas-powered hinge to make raising and lowering the hot tub cover a breeze!

Dimension, Compatibility, and Clearances

The Cover Valet Spa Caddy NP509 will fit a wide variety of spa shapes and sizes. It will fit square and rectangular tubs, octagon, oval, and round tubs, and it will also work as a swim spa cover lifter.

It works very well at getting the cover up and out of the way with a minimum of effort, and the assembly is simple and does not require drilling holes in your tub, which is a significant plus in our eyes.

Dimensions, Compatibility, and Clearances

• Max. Spa Cover Width: This cover lifter will fit all tub sizes.
• Max Spa Cover Thickness: 5″, or 6″ with a taper
• Clearance needed at back: 36″ for tub cover when lifted
• Spa Height Compatibility: 30″-40″. There is a conversion kit that will extend that range from 41″-55″ if necessary.
• Cover Ground Clearance When Opened: Variable, adjustable.

Assembly

Assembly is pretty simple. A power screwdriver and a wrench will be necessary, but it goes together pretty simply. To view the instructions on how to assemble this unit, click here.

Installation

The installation consists of sliding the metal base plate under the side of the tub about 12″-14″ until the bars rest against the edge of the tub. From there, the hot tub cover is placed inside the lifter, and you’re all set.

It is easiest to install this hot tub cover lifter when the spa is empty. However, in many cases, it is a pain to empty the spa just to get the cover lifter on, so we would suggest the following:

• Using a hammer and a small flat head screwdriver, hammer the screwdriver under the tub in order to lift it a small amount.
• Using a second, larger flat head screwdriver, hammer the screwdriver under the tub to lift it further.
• Hammer a pry bar or crowbar under the tub in order to get it to the proper height to slide the metal base plate inside.

You need to be very careful with this method, as you do not want to damage your spa! If you are concerned, it would be best to empty the spa.

The Bottom Line: The Best Spa Lifter

The Cover Valet Spa Cover Lift NP509 is made of high-grade powder coated aluminum, which is excellent quality and capable of handling rough outdoor environments.

This is the highest quality spa cover lift on the market today.

It fits virtually all hot tubs and covers, does not require drilling holes in the tub, and is spring loaded for ease of use.

It is covered by Cover Valet’s 5-year limited warranty, which is a big plus in our eyes. We can be sure that Cover Valet stands behind their products.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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 #2. Cover Valet Spa Cover Lift Hydraulic

The Cover Valet Spa Cover Lifter Hydraulic is a spring-assisted spa cover lifter, making it quite easy for an individual to lift a spa cover, and to close the spa cover back down without assistance.

This unit uses two spring-loaded pistons to aid in the maneuvering of a hot tub cover and works very well.

When fully opened, the spa cover sits up in the air above the spa, projecting vertically half the length of the total spa (e.g. for a 7′ spa, the cover will project up 3’6″). This results in the view being blocked completely, which may be a plus for privacy. Of course, it may be a minus if you are losing a beautiful view!

By positioning the cover this way, the wind may also be blocked, which may be a positive if you’re in a windy area.

Dimensions, Compatibility, and Clearances

This spa cover lifter will fit the following tub sizes and configurations, and needs the following clearances around the tub:

• Max. Spa Cover Width: 89″ wide x 89″. The Cover Valet 7910 will adjust to fit smaller tubs.
• Max Spa Cover Thickness: 6″ (assuming the cover is not completely saturated with water)
• Clearance needed around the sides: 2″ for tubes, plus space needed to get tubes installed
• Clearance needed at back: 12″ for tub cover when lifted, depending on thickness of cover
• Cover Ground Clearance When Opened: The Cover sits at the height of the spa

Assembly

This package comes disassembled, and the assembly involves attaching the brackets to the pistons and getting the lift mechanism set up. This is not particularly hard. The next step is to install these brackets onto the tub, which is more difficult.

Installation

The installation for the Cover Valet 7910 must be done with care and thought. It involves drilling holes into your tub, so be sure that you are careful at following the instructions, as you don’t want to have to drill those holes again in a different place!

To take a look at the instructions for installation, click here.

Once you have the holes drilled, you put the cover onto the lifts on each side, and the pistons should work their magic, helping you cover and uncover the tub!

The Bottom Line: Excellent Spa Lifts

The Cover Valet 7910 is a good spa cover lifter, and the springs make it very easy for most anyone to lift a cover. Beware that the pistons project out from the sides a couple of inches, and if people aren’t careful, they can bump into them.

The set is made of powder coated steel, which should keep it going for years in an outdoor environment.

The Cover Valet Spa Cover Lift No. 7910 is backed by a 5-year limited warranty, which is great. Cover Valet stands behind their products, and that is a big plus in our eyes.

Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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#3. ABC Spa Cover Roller

The ABC Spa Cover Roller is a different beast than the other spa cover lifters on this list, and it gets your hot tub cover out of the way at a pretty aggressive price.

The ABC Spa Cover Roller doesn’t really lift your tub per se. Instead, it uses a roller mechanism to roll the cover onto a tray, mounted on the side of the tub. The spa cover lays flat on the tray and can act as a table, which is a nice feature.

Each of the arms can fold down and out of the way when not needed. Both the ABC Spa Cover Roller’s arms have four rollers to aid in moving the hot tub cover out of the way.

Dimension, Compatibility, and Clearances

The ABC Spa Cover Roller will work with all square and rectangular hot tubs. This hot tub cover caddy will work with rounded corner spas.

• Length of Roller Arms: 30″
• Max. Spa Cover Width: 8’6″+
• Max Spa Cover Thickness: Fits any hot tub cover thickness
• Clearance needed at back: Minimum of half the length of the overall hot tub (e.g. 4′ for an 8′ long hot tub)
• Spa Height Compatibility: 30″ high tubs or over will work. Mounting brackets are 18″.
• Cover Ground Clearance When Opened: Cover sits at the height of the top of the tub walls

Installation

The ABC Spa Cover Roller is very easy to install: all that is needed is a screwdriver to mount the two spa rollers to the side of the spa. If you have a shingle-style hot tub, you may need to fiddle with the sides of the tub to ensure that the roller bracket installs fully. With any flat-sided tub, installation is a breeze.

For those with hot tub covers with plastic liners, the mounting brackets must be installed into the structure behind the plastic as well, in order to ensure proper load capacity. The caddy, when installed properly, should be able to hold 150lbs.

The Bottom Line:

The ABC Spa Cover shelf is a really cleverly designed spa cover caddy and works quite well. It does not have spring loaded pistons, but if you can get the cover folded in half, it’s easy to get the cover out of the way.

The ABC Spa Cover Roller has a 1-year warranty against manufacturer defects, which is good, though not as good as some of the other items on this list.

For those on a budget, the ABC Spa Cover Roller is the best hot tub cover lifter available.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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#4. Blue Wave Low Mount Spa Cover Lift

The Blue Wave Low Mount Spa Cover Lift makes lifting your spa cover a breeze. It allows for one person to lift the cover, and the cover rests on the side of the tub when open, projecting about 12″-24″ above the lid of the tub on that side. This allows for privacy, but it also blocks the view.

This cover lifter makes it easy for one person to open the tub, but with no springs or counterweights, it may still be difficult for one person to close the tub.

Dimension, Compatibility, and Clearances

This spa cover lifter will fit the following tub sizes and configurations, and needs the following clearances around the tub:

• Max. Spa Cover Width: 96″ wide x 96″. Blue Wave Low Mount Spa Cover Lift will adjust to fit smaller tubs down to 72″.
• Max Spa Cover Thickness: 6″ (assuming the cover is not completely saturated with water)
• Clearance needed around the sides: 5″ for tubes, plus space needed to get tubes installed
• Clearance needed at back: 18″-36″ for tub cover when lifted, depending on size of cover
• Cover Ground Clearance When Opened: The Cover will sit 4″-5″ off the ground when opened.

The Blue Wave Low Mount Spa Cover Lift will function with rectangular and square tubs up to 8′ x 8′. It will accommodate rounded corners on tubs under that dimension, but it will not function with a circular or other oddly shaped tubs. The sides of the tub must be square, though the corners can be rounded.

The brackets are designed for hot tubs with rounded corners. If your tub is perfectly square, you may need to modify the brackets a bit to make everything work.

Assembly

This spa cover lifter needs to be assembled. The tubes are attached with socket wrenches and ratchets.

Installation

The brackets of this spa cover lifter are not straight. They are designed to fit rounded-corner spas. If your spa has square corners, you’ll have to straighten the metal with a vice and hammer (or, perhaps a better idea would be to choose a different spa cover lifter!).

You must drill about 15 holes, each about 1/8″, into your tub. The brackets are then installed into these holes using self-tapping screws.

The Bottom Line: High-Quality Jacuzzi Cover Lifts

The Blue Wave Low Mount Hot Tub Cover Lifter is an inexpensive hot tub cover lifter that is functional but may require some creativity in installation. It will definitely require some muscle.

You don’t need to lift up your tub, but you do need to drill several holes in it, and if you screw up, you can’t un-drill those holes, so be careful!

This spa cover lifter is constructed of solid steel and is powder coated to ensure longevity. The Blue Wave Low Mount Spa Cover Lifter is backed by a 1-year limited warranty. We are pleased to see a warranty on this item, but the Cover Rock-It’s 5-year warranty is certainly a much more impressive offer.

For those on a budget who are not afraid to be a bit DIY, this is a nice hot tub cover lifter. If you spend a bit more, you can get an easier-to-install lifter that is more reliable.

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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#5. The Cover Rock-It

The Cover Rock-It Spa Cover Lifter is a simple, useful spa cover lift that allows a single adult to open a hot tub cover on their own. It makes opening a spa a pretty easy task for one person, and it holds the cover in place.

When opened, the cover sits vertically on the side of the unit, folded in half. Depending on the size of your cover, generally 12″-21″ of the cover sticks out above the top of the hot tub on that side, resulting in a blocked view from that side. This is great for those seeking privacy but is a downside if your primary view is from the side where the cover will go.

Dimension, Compatibility, and Clearances

This spa cover lifter will fit the following tub sizes, and needs these clearances around the tub:

• Max. Spa Cover Width: 96″ wide x 96″. The Cover Rock-It adjusts to fit smaller tubs.
• Max Spa Cover Thickness: 6″ (assuming the cover is not completely saturated with water)
• Clearance needed around the sides: 4″ for tubes, plus space needed to get tubes installed
• Clearance needed at back: 18″-36″ for tub cover when lifted, depending on size of cover

The cover rock it adjusts to fit a variety of tubs, be they square or rectangular. If your tub has rounded corners or some other feature that makes it not square or rectangular, this cover lifter should still work, assuming the tub fits under the 96″ x 96″ threshold. If you have a round spa, this hot tub cover lifter probably will not work.

Assembly

The Cover Rock-It comes unassembled, arriving with six tubes and two bags of parts. The tubes get hooked together with nuts and bolts (it will help to have a 17mm socket and ratchet, and a 17mm box end wrench). This process takes 15-20 minutes.

Be sure to make sure all of the screw holes are facing up before you start screwing this unit together.

Installation

Next is the more difficult part: you need to lift your tub up off the ground enough to get the metal plate underneath. This is certainly easiest if it is not already filled, but assuming it already is, you should try the following:

• Use a hammer to push a small flat head screwdriver under the tub, lifting it up a bit.
• Once you have one screwdriver in, repeat with a larger screwdriver, lifting the tub up a bit more.
• Once you’re off the ground a bit, use a pry bar or crowbar to get the tub up a little bit higher. It only needs to be up a little bit, and the metal plate needs to go about 3″ in off the end of the tub.
• Adjust the plate location using a rubber mallet to tap it into proper position.
• Remove the screwdrivers and pry bar.

You need to be very careful with this method, as you don’t want to damage your spa. Be gentle and if you get the sense things aren’t working as planned, stop.

Alternately, you could empty the tub, which would make installation easy.

The Bottom Line: Nice Spa Cover Holder

The Cover Rock-It is a really great spa cover lifter. It is simple to install, does what it is designed to do, and is built to last. The tubes are made of thick powder-coated metal and should be capable of handling the elements.

This spa cover lift is covered under a nice 5-year limited warranty, which counts as a big plus in our book!

As an added advantage, the Cover Rock-It is available on Amazon Prime!

Last update on 2024-12-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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