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The Spruce / Kevin Liang
If you live in an area with reliably harsh winters or in an area where temperatures occasionally dip below freezing, then an outdoor faucet cover is a must. These simple devices help protect your irrigation system from freezing or bursting when the temperatures plummet.
Ben Kuhl, home remodeler and CEO of Shelf Expression, advises, "When selecting a cover for your outdoor faucet, there are several key factors to consider. You want a cover that is durable, well insulated, and the right size for your spigot. Make sure the cover provides complete protection against water damage to your faucet or pipes, as well. And, for added convenience, opt for a cover that is simple to install and remove. Also, check your cover regularly to ensure the cover is still securely in place and has not been damaged."
We researched the top outdoor faucet covers from multiple brands, considering each for its insulating capabilities, durability, ease of use, and overall value.
Best Overall
Frost King FC1 Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Thick foam for effective protection against freezing temperatures
Easy to install
Foam gasket fills in gaps when using the cover against an uneven surface, such as siding
Won't fit over large spigots or those with oddly shaped handles
Keep your outdoor faucets safe from freezing weather with the FC1 from Frost King. We picked this as the best outdoor faucet cover, thanks to its sturdy construction and effective performance, even when temperatures dip well below freezing. This foam faucet cover is made from 5/8-inch-thick polystyrene, and it has a 3/4-inch-tall softer foam gasket around the base. The foam gasket fills in gaps between the faucet cover and the wall or fence that houses the faucet being protected, so you can use this cover even on walls that have siding or other uneven surfaces.
The faucet cover measures 8 inches high, and the opening at the base is 5.5 inches by 6 inches, tapering down to 3 inches at the top. That's large enough to cover most typical hose spigots, but if yours has a large handle, the cover might not be big enough to cover it completely, so be sure to measure before purchasing. Once you have your foam faucet cover, installation is a breeze: Slip the loop around the faucet handle, place the faucet cover over the spigot completely so its base is against the wall, pull the cord tight enough to hold the cover in place, and then slide the plastic locking clamp down against the top of the faucet cover to prevent it from blowing away in the wind or slipping out of place during heavy rain.
You can reuse this faucet cover for years, although like any foam product, it may begin to break down after a few seasons in harsh weather conditions. Once winter is over and temperatures in your area are reliably above freezing, you can remove the faucet cover and store it in a spot where it won't be crushed or exposed to intense heat or open flames.
Price at time of publish: $13 for a 2-pack
Type: Hard | Material: Polystyrene foam | Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 6 inches
Best Budget
WNATN Outdoor Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Easily attaches with Velcro strap
Reflective stripe
Thick cotton insulation
A few complaints of inconsistency in amount of insulation
If you want an effective faucet cover that doesn't cost a bundle, then you'll like this sock-style offering from WNATN. Made of heavyweight polyester coated with a waterproof finish to ward off rain, the insulation is thick cotton, which works very well to hold in warmth and fend off chill. The polyester inner lining is further reinforced to help prevent rips or scrapes to the fabric. A reflective strip around the outside of the cover makes it easy to spot even in dim light.
This sock cover measures 7.8 inches high and 6.2 inches wide, and because it is flexible, it will fit over most standard hose bibs with lever or round handles, even those a little larger than average. Attaching the cover requires nothing more than slipping it over the entire plumbing fixture, and then wrapping the Velcro strap tightly around the neck of the cover to keep it securely in place and lock out cold temperatures, rain, bugs, and rodents. You get a pack of two covers for a very reasonable price, but you can also buy packs of three or four if you have multiple outdoor facets. Once winter is over, these are easy to store until the next cold snap. We have read a few customer complaints of inconsistent insulation in the product, but you can email the company and return the product for a new one if you are unsatisfied.
Price at time of publish: $15 for a 2-pack
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester and cotton | Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.2 inches
Best for Sprinkler Valves/Backflow Preventers
Redford Supply Company Cold Snap Insulated Sprinkler Cover
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Amazon
Double insulation for superior protection
Available in many sizes to fit large plumbing fixtures
Expensive
Your hose spigot isn't the only part of your outdoor plumbing system that's in danger of freezing and bursting when the temperatures drop. If you have a sprinkler system for your yard that runs on a timer, then you also have sprinkler valves that turn the sprinklers on and off. If your sprinkler system runs off the same water lines that provide drinking water for your home, then a backflow preventer, which keeps water going to the sprinklers from backing up into your home's potable water supply, is also likely installed somewhere along the way. Both of these fixtures generally stick up several inches above the ground, and so they are exposed to the elements.
Protect your yard's irrigation system with a Cold Snap cover from Redford Supply Company. Their soft covers come in a wide range of sizes, so you can find one to fit just about any set of valves or backflow preventers. The 16-inch-wide by 20-inch-tall cover will slip over most such plumbing fittings, protecting them from freezes, rain, wind, intense UV radiation, and other weather conditions. The outside of the cover is 600-denier Oxford polyester, which is supremely strong and waterproof. Inside, there are not one, but two layers of very thick cotton insulation and reflective foil to provide superior insulation. The cover has Velcro straps to secure it around your plumbing fixture, and it even has two metal grommets at the bottom that can be used for holding a lock, if theft is a concern. This cover is more expensive than the other options on this list, but this durable product should protect your sprinkler valves and backflow preventers all winter long.
Price at time of publish: $42
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester, foil, and cotton | Dimensions: 16 x 20 inches
Best Sock
ArtiGifts Pro Outdoor Faucet Cover Sock
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Amazon
Strong drawstrings are easy to tighten
Good protection from cold temperatures
Might be too small for some hose bibs
Here's a sturdy sock-style faucet cover that will keep your hose spigot well-protected from frost, rain, sleet, and other tough weather conditions all season long. Made of Oxford polyester filled with thick insulating cotton, these soft covers are flexible enough to easily slide over your outdoor faucet and then fasten in place with the strong drawstring. As long as you secure the drawstring tightly, the sock will stay in place even when the wind kicks up.
You get a pack of two of the covers, which measure 7.7 inches tall by 5.9 inches wide. That's big enough for most typical hose bibs, but it might not be large enough to fit over a bulky lever handle or a very wide round handle. And while the sock is soft and flexible enough to handle a curve, it isn't designed to cover extensive lengths of plumbing elbows or tees. However, if you just need to cover the faucet, this is a great choice that will serve you well for several seasons.
Price at time of publish: $13 for a 2-pack
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester and cotton | Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.9 inches
Best Foam
Home Intuition Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Excellent insulating protection
Easy to install
Can last for many years
Might not cover larger spigots
A few complaints of receiving covers damaged during shipping
While they are admittedly not the most attractive option, when it comes to insulating power it's hard to beat a good foam faucet cover. This sturdy model from Home Intuition will give you peace of mind that your outdoor faucets aren't going to freeze or burst when the weather turns nippy. Made of 5/8-inch-thick expanded polystyrene foam for superior insulating protection, the hard cover also has a 3/4-inch-tall soft foam gasket around the base, which fills in any gaps between the faucet cover and the wall, even if your house has siding, brick, stone, or another uneven surface around the spigot.
The cover installs easily with its looped cord that secures around the hose handle on one end and securely attaches to the top of the cover on the other, keeping the cover securely in place through the winter season. This faucet cover is 7 inches tall and 6 inches across the bottom opening, so it will fit over most hose spigots with reasonably sized handles. Store the cover where it won't be squashed, and away from intense heat during the off-season, and it will last you for many years of winter protection.
Price at time of publish: $12
Type: Hard | Material: Polystyrene foam | Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 6 inches
Best Plastic
Frost King FC2 Plastic Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Not easily damaged
Excellent insulating capabilities
Won't fit over large hose bibs or other plumbing fittings
One downside to hard foam faucet covers is that the exposed Styrofoam can crack or be damaged if struck by blowing debris or squashed during storage. The solution to that problem is this plastic-covered faucet cover from Frost King. It's a 1-inch-thick cover made of polysterene foam with a hard plastic shell. It will keep your hose bib or other small plumbing fixtures safe from snow, rain, wind, and freezing temperatures year after year, as long as you store it properly during the off-season.
The faucet cover secures to your hose spigot with a rubber cord that loops over the faucet's handle on one end and clips to the top of the cover on the other. It measures 6.25 inches tall by 6.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches deep on the outside. Note, however, that the foam fills quite a bit of the inside, so the inner measurements are around an inch smaller, making this a tight fit over anything but a standard hose bib.
Price at time of publish: $8
Type: Hard | Material: Polysterene foam and plastic | Dimensions: 6.25 x 6.5 x 5.5 inches
Best Tall
Demedo XXL Outdoor Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Fits tall plumbing fixtures
Thick insulation
A few complaints that the cover is not long enough for the yard hydrant
If you have tall plumbing fixtures that stand up from the ground, such as Rainbird sprinklers, extended hose bibs, or yard hydrants, then you need an equally long faucet cover to keep your irrigation system from freezing during winter storms. Most faucet covers are designed only to fit over a hose bib that protrudes from a wall, but the XXL Outdoor Faucet Cover from Demedo is 25 inches long by 13 inches wide, making it large enough to cover most yard hydrants and similar irrigation fittings from top to bottom. It fastens in place with a drawstring that pulls tight and then clips shut to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.
The soft faucet cover is made from 420-denier polyester surrounding a thick layer of 3M Thinsulate cotton insulation, so it will keep your yard hydrant or other tall plumbing fixtures well protected through the entire winter season. It's available in black, blue, or beige, so you can choose the color that's the least obtrusive in your yard. As with any outdoor faucet cover, be sure to measure the fixture you want to cover before purchasing.
Price at time of publish: $20
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester and cotton | Dimensions: 25 x 13 inches
Best L-Shaped
Tohonfoo Pressure Vacuum Breaker Cover
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Amazon
Fits around elbows and other oddly shaped plumbing fixtures
Two layers each of cotton insulation and reflective foil
Won't entirely cover long plumbing fixtures
Some outdoor plumbing fixtures, such as pressure vacuum breakers, backflow preventers, and sprinkler valves, tend to have elbows or L-shaped bends that make it difficult to use a regular faucet protector designed for a straight length of plumbing. If that's an issue for you, then you'll appreciate the L-shaped cover from Tohonfoo, which fits over many oddly shaped plumbing fixtures. It's made from 600-denier Oxford polyester with two interior layers each of thick cotton insulation and cold-snap foil. The soft cover attaches over your plumbing fixture with Velcro, keeping it firmly in place. There are metal grommets as well, should you want to attach a lock for extra security.
The cover measures 13 inches high and 12 inches wide on the closed sides. One of the openings measures seven inches and the other is nine inches, so this should fit over most plumbing fixtures, even those with handles or valves. Note that if your fixture is very long, this might not cover it entirely. Still, this is an excellent faucet cover for those oddly shaped or larger fixtures within an irrigation system.
Price at time of publish: $23
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester, foil, and cotton | Dimensions: 12 x 13 inches
Best for Large Spigots
Demedo Enlarge Outdoor Faucet Cover
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Amazon
Very easy to install
Fits over large hose bibs
Few complaints that the cover isn't fully waterproof
If your hose bib is larger than average, has a large lever or round handle, or has attachments that make it bulky, then most sock-style faucet covers and hard covers won't fit over it securely. For those situations, we recommend the Enlarge Outdoor Faucet Cover from Demedo. It measures 10 inches high by 6.3 inches wide—the typical sock cover measures around 9 inches by 6 inches—so it's not overly large, but just roomy enough to fit most hose spigots that are a little too large for other sock-style covers.
The soft cover is made of 420-denier polyester fabric with an interior coating of reflective foil and a thick layer of 3M Thinsulate cotton insulation. It has a drawstring that fastens securely to keep it in place over your faucet, even if the weather turns blustery. Once winter is over, it's very easy to store; just put it in a spot where it won't be in contact with sharp tools or open flames, and it will be ready to serve again the following winter.
Price at time of publish: $16 for a 2-pack
Type: Soft | Material: Polyester, foil, and cotton | Dimensions: 10 x 6.3 inches
Our top recommendation of outdoor faucet cover is the Frost King FC1 Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover, due to its excellent insulating capabilities, ease of installation, and reasonable size that fits over most standard hose bibs. But if you prefer a sock-style faucet cover, then we recommend the ArtiGifts Pro Outdoor Faucet Cover Sock, which stays in place securely, keeps faucets well protected from freezing weather, and fits over most standard hose spigots.
What to Look for in an Outdoor Faucet Cover
Type
There are two basic types of outdoor faucet covers: hard and soft.
Hard covers, which are cup-shaped, are made of Styrofoam alone or Styrofoam with a plastic outer shell. A soft foam gasket around the base of the cover helps seal the gap between the cover and the side of the house or the wall that houses the faucet. Most hard covers, including our top choice from Frost King, have a rubbery loop that slips over the faucet to keep the cover in place, and these covers remain firmly in position until removed. As long as you ensure that the loop is securely positioned around the faucet and locked to the outer part of the cover, these are unlikely to blow away.
Hard covers do an excellent job of insulating faucets, but they do have some downsides, as well. Because they are rigid, they won’t fit around oddly shaped pipes or spigots, nor can you squeeze them into tight spots. They are also bulky to store during their off-season.
Soft covers, often called "sock covers," are made of nylon or polyester with an additional waterproof coating. Inside, they have a layer of insulation, most often cotton. Some, including the Demedo Enlarge Outdoor Faucet Cover, also have layers of reflective Mylar for extra insulating power.
Soft faucet covers have either string ties or Velcro to secure them to the faucet, which means that if you don’t make sure the ties are tight, or should the ties break, the faucet cover can blow away. Still, the benefits of sock covers include their low price, their ability to squeeze into tight spots or around oddly shaped spigots, and their easy storage during their off season.
Insulation
Hard foam covers typically don’t have other insulation, as the Styrofoam itself is the insulator. Foam works very well to protect spigots and pipes from freezing in temperatures down to freezing and a little below. The Frost King FC2 Plastic Faucet Cover has an additional layer of hard plastic on the outside, which helps protect the foam from cracks or other damage.
The most common insulation in sock faucet covers is thick cotton. Some brands include an additional layer of Mylar or similar foil-like material that adds an additional layer of protection against the cold. These covers protect very well in temperatures down to freezing, but if the temperature falls well below zero, a faucet cover might not be enough to keep your pipes safe.
Ease of Installation
It’s generally very easy to install a faucet cover. For hard covers, including the Home Intuition Outdoor Foam Faucet Cover, there’s normally a cord with a loop of rubber on one end that slips over the faucet or pipe. The other end of the cord passes through the top of the cover. After fastening the loop around the faucet, you pull the other end of the cord to secure the cover firmly against the wall or fence, and then twist or clip the cord in place so it won’t come loose.
Sock covers usually fasten around the spigot or pipe with either a length of Velcro or long ties. You need to be sure to fasten them securely, and also ensure that the cover is entirely surrounding the spigot for the best protection.
Remember that whichever cover you choose, you will need to remove it to use the faucet.
Size and Shape
The typical faucet cover, such as the ArtiGifts Pro Outdoor Faucet Cover Sock, is around six inches by nine inches. However, many spigots are bigger than that, especially if they have a large handle, so be sure to measure yours before choosing a protective cover. Extra-large covers generally will cover any outdoor faucet, including those with round or lever handles.
You’ll also find a wide selection of protective covers designed for other parts of your irrigation system, including covers for tall sprinklers—we recommend the Demedo XXL Outdoor Faucet Cover—covers that fit over sprinkler valves, and covers designed to protect backflow preventers and other oddly shaped plumbing fixtures. Always measure before choosing a faucet protector.
For plumbing fixtures with odd shapes, you’ll find protectors that are L-shaped or T-shaped, with snaps to fit them around the plumbing fixture. The Tohonfoo Pressure Vacuum Breaker Cover is one such cover, with an L-shape that fits easily over many types of valves and plumbing fixtures. Of course, there are also faucet covers that are merely very large squares or rectangles, which can fit over even the oddest of shapes as long as you take care to buy a cover that’s big enough. The Redford Supply Company Cold Snap Insulated Cover measures 16 by 20 inches, which fits over most irrigation fixtures.
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Should you let your outdoor faucets drip or cover them?
If you can turn the water supply to your outdoor faucet off completely and drain the pipe before cold weather arrives, then letting your faucet drip is a reliable way to prevent freezing. However, it also wastes water, which can be a major issue in many areas where drought is an ongoing problem. Covering your outdoor faucets and plumbing fixtures keeps them safe from damage due to cold, without wasting water. Plus, the covers help prevent openings that rodents or bugs can use to access the interior of your home.
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Are outdoor faucet covers worth it?
Outdoor faucet covers are very inexpensive—generally less than $15—and the cost of repairing damage due to a burst pipe, to say nothing of the inconvenience, can be very high. It’s definitely worth protecting your outdoor plumbing fixtures, particularly if you live in an area that regularly drops well below freezing.
Ben Kuhl, home remodeler and CEO of Shelf Expression, advises, "Winter weather can be tough on outdoor faucets and pipes, causing them to freeze and possibly break, leading to costly repairs. By using an outdoor faucet cover, you can protect your faucet and pipes from harsh elements and help prevent freeze damage. Not only that, but the cover can also keep your faucet clean and free of debris and contaminants, ensuring it stays in good working condition for whenever you need it."
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What happens if you don’t winterize your outdoor faucets?
Should temperatures drop to freezing or below, unprotected plumbing fixtures, including hose spigots, can freeze, which prevents water from moving through the pipes. Since water expands as it freezes, the pressure can build high enough to burst or crack your pipes, hose spigots, and other plumbing fixtures.
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When should you cover your outdoor faucets?
If you live in an area that normally has very cold winters, then add covering your outdoor faucets to your list of winter preparations. Generally, it’s best to cover them after your last use of the season, but before freezing weather sets in. If you live in an area that isn’t normally intensely cold, but the forecast calls for a cold snap with temperatures below freezing or close to it, then cover your outdoor faucets before the thermometer drops. Once the pipes are frozen, the insulating cover won't do any good, so make sure to install the covers before the freeze, not during or after it.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, a writer who specializes in home and garden products. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best outdoor faucet covers for this article, she consulted dozens of customer and third-party reviews and websites, and considered each product's insulating abilities, ease of use, durability, and price point. Ben Kuhl, home remodeler & CEO of Shelf Expression, offered further helpful input.