Square metres of absorber against cubic metres of pool

The best solar mats for 2026

A solar mat is an unpowered absorber the filter pump pushes water through, and it is the only heating on this site with no running cost at all. Because it has no power rating, it is specified by area — and the rule that makes this shelf comparable is the ratio between absorber area and pool surface. As a starting point, makers and installers work to roughly half the pool surface area in collector for a useful temperature lift, and a quarter for a modest one. A single 120 × 120 cm panel on a 3,66 m round pool is about one seventh, which is why a mat bought singly so often disappoints: the expectation is wrong rather than the product. The second specification is the construction: EPDM or LDPE mats, which are flexible, cheap and lie on a roof or a lawn; and rigid polypropylene collectors such as the Steinbach units, which are more efficient per square metre and cost more. Then the connection, 32 or 38 mm, and the question that decides whether the installation works at all — the bypass. A solar collector adds head to the circuit and should be plumbed with a three-valve bypass so it can be isolated, because a pump pushing its whole flow through a mat in cool weather is cooling the pool rather than heating it. We compare absorber area, material and construction, connection size, bypass requirement and stated temperature lift.

These parts, one figure beside another

1. 

   Intex Solarmatte 120 × 120 cm

   A 120 × 120 cm solar mat — 1.44 m² of absorber, the smallest on this shelf. The listing consists of one bullet, and it is the article number.

   Absorber area

   1.44 m², calculated at 1.20 × 1.20 m — the smallest in this family, where the others run 1.80 to 3.96 m²

   Material

   Not published

   Construction

   Not published

   Connection size

   Not published

   Bypass requirement

   Not published — as with five of the seven mats in this family

   Stated temperature lift

   Not published

   Amazon reference

   B07R185TPL (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   6941057402031

   • The smallest footprint here, for a terrace or a small lawn with no room for a 4 m panel
   • Square rather than long, which suits a corner
   • One bullet, and it is the article number

   Best for: A small Intex pool where 1.44 m² of absorber is all there is space for

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2. 

   HST Sicherheitstechnik Solarmatte 300 × 82 cm EPDM

   A 300 × 82 cm EPDM mat — 2.46 m² — built from 44 parallel tubes of Ø 9 mm, stated suitable for salt and fresh water and connecting by click without extra parts.

   Absorber area

   2.46 m², calculated at 3.00 × 0.82 m

   Material

   EPDM, stated weather- and UV-resistant and stable after years, suitable for salt and fresh water

   Construction

   44 parallel tubes of Ø 9 mm — the only tube count and tube diameter published in this family

   Connection size

   Ø 32/38 mm, connecting directly to the filter system

   Bypass requirement

   Not published. Multiple mats combine by click connection without additional connecting parts

   Stated temperature lift

   Not published

   Amazon reference

   B0H21YNCV9 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4260370143462

   • The only mat here to publish its tube count and tube diameter — 44 tubes of Ø 9 mm
   • EPDM named, and stated suitable for salt water as well as fresh
   • No temperature lift and no pool volume published

   Best for: A salt-chlorinated pool, where the collector sits permanently in brine

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3. 

   HAF Solarkollektor 300 × 60 cm

   A 300 × 60 cm collector — 1.80 m² — stated to warm up to 10 000 litres by as much as 6 °C, and stated in its own title to come without a bypass valve.

   Absorber area

   1.80 m², calculated at 3.00 × 0.60 m

   Material

   Not published

   Construction

   Not published. Push-fit system with no gluing

   Connection size

   Compatible with 32 mm and 38 mm hoses

   Bypass requirement

   Supplied WITHOUT a bypass valve — stated in the product title. The only listing in this family to say so

   Stated temperature lift

   Up to 6 °C on up to 10 000 litres — one of two temperature claims in this family, and the same figure as the other

   Amazon reference

   B0DZ3X6GL5 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4262519341005

   • Publishes a temperature lift against a stated pool volume — 6 °C on 10 000 l
   • States in its own title that no bypass valve is included
   • The bypass has to be bought separately, and the listing only says so in the title

   Best for: A 10 000-litre pool where a bypass valve is already fitted

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4. 

   STEINBACH Solarkollektor Compact

   An LDPE collector for pools up to 20 000 litres holding 8 litres of water, assembled ready and needing only its two hose adapters. Its published dimensions — 600 × 700 cm — are 42 m².

   Absorber area

   The listing publishes 600 × 700 cm in both the title and the contents, which computes to 42 m². The other mats in this family occupy 1.44 to 3.96 m², so this page reports the figure as published without resolving it

   Material

   LDPE, stated high-quality and durable, also suitable for salt water

   Construction

   SUN LDPE collectors, delivered ready to assemble; only the two connection adapters have to be fitted, without tools. Water content of the collector: 8 l

   Connection size

   Ø 32 mm or Ø 38 mm pool hoses, via two adapters

   Bypass requirement

   Not published. Connected between the filter pump and the pool inlet nozzle

   Stated temperature lift

   Not published. Stated for pools up to 20 000 litres

   Amazon reference

   B003AQR57C (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   9008748491235

   • The only collector here to publish its water content — 8 litres
   • LDPE named and stated suitable for salt water
   • Publishes 600 × 700 cm, which computes to 42 m² against 1.44 to 3.96 m² elsewhere on this shelf

   Best for: A pool up to 20 000 litres, once the seller has confirmed the collector’s actual dimensions

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5. 

   KESSER Solarkollektor 400 × 70 cm

   A 400 × 70 cm collector — 2.80 m² — published at up to 6 °C for pools to 16 000 litres, from a range of eight sizes with volumes stated from 4.7 to 18.4 litres.

   Absorber area

   2.80 m², calculated at 4.00 × 0.70 m. Eight sizes are published, from 300 × 70 cm to 600 × 140 cm

   Material

   UV-resistant plastic, no polymer named

   Construction

   Modular, connected in series. Water volumes published across the range: 4.7 l for pools to about 12 000 l, up to 18.4 l for pools to 48 000 l

   Connection size

   Standardised 32 mm and 38 mm, compatible with common pool hoses and filter and pump systems

   Bypass requirement

   Not published. End caps, stainless hose clamps, hose adapters and PTFE tape are supplied

   Stated temperature lift

   Up to 6 °C, stated to depend on sunlight, flow and pool size — one of two temperature claims in this family

   Amazon reference

   B0BSLM3V4W (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4255598316347

   • The only listing here to publish a whole size range with volumes and pool ceilings
   • Publishes a temperature lift AND names the three things it depends on
   • No polymer named, only UV-resistant plastic

   Best for: A pool of a known volume, chosen from a published range rather than a single size

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6. 

   T.I.P. Solarheizung SPH 10000 S

   A framed solar collector for pools to 20 000 litres rated at a 10 000 l/h flow, on adjustable feet — the only collector here that stands rather than lies.

   Absorber area

   Not published

   Material

   UV-resistant plastic frame, stated a stable housing for permanent outdoor use. No polymer named

   Construction

   Framed collector with adjustable feet for flexible positioning, and two hose connections

   Connection size

   Not published as a diameter. Two hose connections, stated to integrate quickly into existing pool filter systems

   Bypass requirement

   Not published

   Stated temperature lift

   Not published as degrees. Stated to extend the season by more than six weeks, for pools to 20 000 l at a flow rate of 10 000 l/h

   Amazon reference

   B0GP22FGQ2 (one reference across 6 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4011458115655

   • The only collector here to publish a flow rate — 10 000 l/h
   • Adjustable feet, so it can be angled toward the sun rather than laid flat
   • No absorber area published, on a solar collector

   Best for: A permanent installation where the collector is angled and left in place

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7. 

   Arebos Solarheizung 2er Set

   The largest absorber on this shelf — two mats of 300 × 66 cm, 3.96 m² — and the only product in this catalogue’s solar family supplied with a complete twelve-piece bypass set.

   Absorber area

   3.96 m² across two mats, calculated at 2 × (3.00 × 0.66 m) — the largest in this family

   Material

   Not published

   Construction

   Two heating modules, positioned in a sunny spot

   Connection size

   Suitable for 32 and 38 mm hoses, via the supplied bypass set

   Bypass requirement

   INCLUDED — a 12-piece bypass set: 3-way valve, 3 hose adapters, T-piece, 6 hose clamps and PTFE tape. The only bypass supplied in this family

   Stated temperature lift

   Not published

   Amazon reference

   B08VNWFNPF (one reference across 5 Amazon marketplaces)

   EAN

   4260627425891

   • The only solar product here supplied with the bypass a collector actually needs
   • The largest absorber area on this shelf at 3.96 m² across two mats
   • No temperature lift, no pool volume and no material published

   Best for: A first solar installation, where the valve, the T-piece and the clamps all have to arrive together

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