The Best Aboveground Pools, and Everything You Need to Know About Buying One

Aboveground pools come in two primary categories: soft-sided and hard-sided.

A soft-sided aboveground pool (the majority of the models you’ll find online and the type of pools our experts recommend, below) is built using a waterproof fabric structure hung on a metal frame. It is well suited for DIY installation and can be assembled in just a couple of hours, is meant to be taken apart and dried off at the end of each season, and is by far the less expensive option, starting at just a couple hundred dollars (hard-sided models start at well over a $1,000 as of publication).

The downside? Soft-sided pools “may start to show signs of wear and tear within a single season,” saysDan DiClerico, former HomeAdvisor expert and current director of home improvement and outdoor withGood Housekeeping.And they’re not really meant for year-round use — ideally, they should be drained, disassembled, and stored at the end of the season, or if you want to leave it up, drained, dried, and covered. So if you live in an area with true seasons, they almost always need to come down before cold weather hits. With proper care and periodicliner replacement, they can last several years, though depending on cost over time, it may make sense to eventually replace the whole pool rather than replacing the liner repeatedly, especially if other components like the filter wear out as well.

A hard-sided aboveground pool has a rigid structure made from steel, resin, or aluminum panels, within which is suspended a vinyl liner, and is meant for permanent or semipermanent installation. A hard-sided pool can easily last a decade or more, says DiClerico, though you periodically have to replace the liner. It uses a more robust filtration system, can be heated, is available in saltwater models, and can be left up all year. If you’re looking for something that approaches the scale, volume, and features of an in-ground pool, a hard-sided model is likely what you’re thinking about.

Hard-sided models can be much more difficult to install, and typically require the help of a professional, so you will want to plan on putting aside a bigger budget for site preparation and installation, or purchasing the pool through a pool company that will deliver and set up the pool for you. Barry Vineberg, owner ofLong Island Swim-Pool Service, suggestsThe Pool Factory, a company that, in his estimation, “probably sells half the aboveground pools in the country now. It will still be significantly cheaper than an in-ground pool, but it will cost more than the smaller and more compact pools our experts recommend below.

While aboveground pools — especially the soft-sided models we discuss here — are not nearly as complicated to install as their in-ground counterparts, you’ll want to be aware of any installation challenges in your yard before buying.

Both soft- and hard-sided aboveground pools come in a variety of sizes and shapes. If you have the room, Bari suggests choosing a round-shaped swimming pool over an oval, because they make better use of your space: “It’s stronger, cheaper to build, and provides more swimming area.” Larger rectangular pools may have the room for swimming laps or other exercise, but they are often the priciest and may have more structural weak points than round pools.

You’ll want to make sure your town or city allows for the kind of pool you want to install. “Every town is different,” when it comes to zoning regulations, explains Andrew Bari, owner ofWestrock Pool and Spa. You’ll need to find out the necessary distance between your pool and the property line, as well as the distance between your pool and your house. To confirm your community’s regulations and to check to see if you’ll need a permit, a visit or call to the zoning board and building department is a good first step.

The aboveground pools we discuss below — all soft-sided models in relatively manageable dimensions — are meant for DIY installation and don’t require special electrical hookups or much site preparation beyond identifying an appropriate stretch of flat ground free of obstacles like rocks or tree stumps.

That said, DiClerico points out, “A lot of pools are sold as kits and are marketed asDIY-friendly, and they are, but I put the level of difficulty as moderate to high.” Vineberg says of DIY pool setup: “You have to be really handy to do it yourself … otherwise it’s going to end up with wrinkles, off level, and sometimes not safe.”

If you are an experienced DIYer, you can probably erect your pool, especially if it’s a smaller model, in an afternoon. For those less confident in their handyperson skills, Vineberg recommends hiring an installation professional. This is especially true with hard-sided aboveground pools, though larger models of soft-sided aboveground pool (like this32-foot-long pool from Intex) aretechnicallymeant for DIY installation but may require significant work, even just to prepare the site ahead of installation as well as to set up the pool.

Still, even a more affordable, smaller soft-sided aboveground pool can present an installation challenge, and proper installation is critical for proper pool function and user safety. Vineberg says it can cost $1,500 or more for the leveling and preparation of ground that might be needed. For semipermanent, hard-sided aboveground pools that use more robust filters and pumps, you’ll want to budget for an electrician as well. These can “require a dedicated 20-amp circuit with a GFI,” Vineberg says.

Aside from the safety concerns associated with proper assembly and installation of the pool, user safety is the paramount concern for any pool. And that means, primarily, ensuring the safety of kids using the pool.

“My biggest safety recommendation is active adult supervision,” says pediatrician Jessica Hochman, M.D., host of the podcastYour Child Is Normal.“Designate a ‘water watcher’ whose sole responsibility is monitoring the children in and around the water. That person should avoid distractions such as phones, conversations, household tasks, or even stepping away briefly. If the water watcher needs to leave, there should be a direct handoff to another responsible adult. Never assume someone else is watching.”

DiClerico told us it’s also a good idea to call your insurance provider to check your homeowners coverage before getting an aboveground pool.

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