Pool Heaters & Heat Pumps
Best Small Pool Heater (2026): Top 5 by the Specs
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Specs below come from each product's Amazon listing; we do not test products in person.
For a small pool, the NATURAQUELL heat pump leads this list with 18,000 BTU for pools up to 5,200 gallons and 8-year warranty support. Every pick here is an electric heat pump with heating and cooling, sized from 2,600 to 6,500 gallons, so match the gallon figure to your pool.
Starting out? See the main guide: Best Pool Heater
Top picks at a glance
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Best OverallNATURAQUELL Swimming Pool Heat Pump9.8 View on Amazon -
9.7 View on Amazon -
9.7 View on Amazon -
Also GreatDOEL Mini Swimming Pool Heat Pump9.3 View on Amazon -
9.2 View on Amazon
Compare the specs
Ranked on heat output, phone app control from each listing, plus how many buyers have rated it. A dash (—) means we could not confirm that figure from the listing.
| Pick | Heat output | Phone app control | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NATURAQUELL Swimming Pool Heat Pump | 18,000 BTU | Yes | — | 8-year |
| 2. MICOE 18000 BTU Pool Heater for Above | 18,000 BTU | Yes | — | 2-year |
| 3. AQUASTRONG Swimming Pool Heater for Above Ground | 18,000 BTU | — | 72 lb | 3-year |
| 4. DOEL Mini Swimming Pool Heat Pump | 17,100 BTU | — | — | — |
| 5. TURBRO 18,000 BTU Swimming Pool Heat Pump | 18,000 BTU | — | 80 lb | 2-year |
NATURAQUELL Swimming Pool Heat Pump
It pairs 18,000 BTU for pools up to 5,200 gallons with WiFi app control, a touch panel and 8-year warranty support.
- Heat output: 18,000 BTU
- Phone app control
- 8-year warranty stated
Good for
- Owners of above-ground pools up to 5,200 gallons
- Buyers who want WiFi app control and a touch panel
Skip it if
- You need heating for a pool over 5,200 gallons
- You want a warranty longer than 8 years
It has a titanium heat exchanger and a COP of 4.1 with Energy Save 45% under comparable operating conditions. The 8-year warranty support covers installation questions, troubleshooting and replacement guidance.
MICOE 18000 BTU Pool Heater for Above
It pairs 18,000 BTU for pools up to 5,500 gallons with app and touchscreen control and a 2-year warranty.
- Heat output: 18,000 BTU
- Phone app control
- 2-year warranty stated
Good for
- Owners of above-ground pools up to 5,500 gallons
- Buyers who want app and touchscreen control
Skip it if
- You need heating for a pool over 5,500 gallons
- You want a warranty longer than 2 years
It has a titanium tube heat exchanger, a COP of 4.88 and operation at 50 dB. The control panel and app adjust temperature and scheduling, and the unit runs in ambient temperatures from 32 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, heating water up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A 15-minute DIY install kit is included, with a 2-year warranty and lifetime support.
AQUASTRONG Swimming Pool Heater for Above Ground
It pairs 18,000 BTU for pools up to 6,500 gallons with dual-mode heating and cooling and a 3-year warranty.
- Heat output: 18,000 BTU
- 3-year warranty stated
Good for
- Owners of above-ground pools up to 6,500 gallons
- Buyers who want dual-mode heating and cooling
Skip it if
- You need heating for a pool over 6,500 gallons
- You want a warranty longer than 3 years
It has dual-mode temperature control that heats water between 41 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and cools it within 41 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 5.5 COP. The precision thermostat holds temperature within 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and an intelligent auto-defrost system removes ice buildup. It comes with 1.25-inch hose adapters and 1.5-inch conversion kits, and it weighs 72 lb with a 3-year warranty.
DOEL Mini Swimming Pool Heat Pump
It pairs 17,100 BTU for pools up to 2,600 gallons with heating and cooling modes in a mini size.
- Heat output: 17,100 BTU
Good for
- Owners of small above-ground pools up to 2,600 gallons
- Buyers who want heating and cooling in a mini pump
Skip it if
- You need heating for a pool over 2,600 gallons
- You want a noise figure below 45 decibels
It has a titanium heat exchanger with copper tubing, heating and cooling modes, and a smart control panel for temperature, modes and anti-freeze functions. It runs at 45 decibels and is sized for 2,600-gallon above-ground pools or spas.
TURBRO 18,000 BTU Swimming Pool Heat Pump
It pairs 18,000 BTU for pools up to 6,000 gallons with a programmable timer, GFCI plug and 2-year warranty.
- Heat output: 18,000 BTU
- 2-year warranty stated
Good for
- Owners of pools up to 6,000 gallons, including inflatable pools
- Buyers who want a programmable timer and GFCI plug
Skip it if
- You need heating for a pool over 6,000 gallons
- You want a warranty longer than 2 years
It has a titanium heat exchanger, a four-way valve for switching between heating and cooling, and a 5.5 COP. Cooling covers 46 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit and heating covers 59 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, in ambient temperatures from 41 to 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It includes hose clamps, hose connectors and a drain outlet adapter, with a GFCI plug, auto-defrost and a 2-year warranty.
How to choose
Match gallons to BTU output
BTU is the heat output figure for a heat pump. The NATURAQUELL, MICOE, AQUASTRONG and TURBRO pumps each give 18,000 BTU, while the DOEL Mini gives 17,100 BTU. Compare that figure with the pool size each maker gives: 5,200 gallons for the NATURAQUELL, 5,500 gallons for the MICOE, 6,500 gallons for the AQUASTRONG, 2,600 gallons for the DOEL Mini and 6,000 gallons for the TURBRO. Pick the gallon figure that covers your pool.
COP and energy use
COP is an efficiency figure: a higher COP means more heat moved for each unit of electricity used. The NATURAQUELL gives COP 4.1 with Energy Save 45%, the MICOE gives COP 4.88, and the AQUASTRONG and TURBRO give COP 5.5. Compare COP figures only where two picks both give one.
Controls, timers and upkeep
Controls differ across these picks. The NATURAQUELL has WiFi app control and a touch panel. The MICOE has a control panel and an app with scheduling. The AQUASTRONG has a smart control panel, and the DOEL Mini has a smart control panel with anti-freeze functions. The TURBRO has programmable timer functions and a simple panel. For upkeep, the AQUASTRONG has an intelligent auto-defrost system, and the TURBRO has auto-defrost that melts ice off the coils. Before installation, confirm outlet, breaker, pump flow and local electrical requirements.
FAQ
What size pool heater do I need for a small pool?
Compare the gallon figure with your pool size. The NATURAQUELL covers pools up to 5,200 gallons, the MICOE covers up to 5,500 gallons, the AQUASTRONG covers up to 6,500 gallons, the DOEL Mini covers up to 2,600 gallons and the TURBRO covers up to 6,000 gallons.
Which of these pool heaters have app control?
The NATURAQUELL has WiFi app control with a touch panel. The MICOE has app control with a touchscreen.
What does COP mean for a pool heat pump?
COP is an efficiency figure for a heat pump. The NATURAQUELL gives COP 4.1, the MICOE gives COP 4.88, and the AQUASTRONG and TURBRO give COP 5.5.
Do these pool heaters also cool the pool?
All five heat and cool: the NATURAQUELL, MICOE, AQUASTRONG, DOEL Mini and TURBRO each give heating and cooling modes.
