There are fewer more enjoyable activities during the warmer months than splashing around in your backyard pool with friends and loved ones.
Above-ground swimming pools have never been more affordable for keeping cool during the long hot days of summer.
The best part about an awesome above-ground pool is that you don’t need to create a permanent installation in your yard to get the benefits of cool water and endless cannonballs.
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There are plenty options to choose from, including your standard oval or rectangular above-ground pool, saltwater pool, steel-framed, our favorite inflatable above ground pools, and much more.
To help you narrow your search and zero in on the best above-ground pool for you and your summer goals (all the fun!), we’ve reviewed the top ones on the market.
This guide will equip you with everything you need to know about choosing the right pool, including construction, liner material, price point, size, water volume, ease of installation, and more.
If you’re ready to crank up the fun this summer in your backyard, here is a look at the best above-ground pools.
Best Above Ground Pools
At a glance, here are the three best above-ground pools when you consider budget, durability, ease of installation, and included accessories (pump, filter, cover, etc).
Our Rating | Where to Buy | ||
Intex Ultra XTRA Above Ground Pool |  | ||
Intex Ultra XTRA Above Ground Pool | | ||
Bestway MAX Pro Above Ground Pool | |
Intex ULTRA XTR Above Ground Pool
💦 The Intex ULTRA XTR is the best above ground pool on the market thanks to industry-leading construction and added features that make it an “all-in-one” above-ground pool.
The Intex XTR is our top choice for best above ground swim pool for most people. Intex is one of the top names when it comes to backyard pools, with tens of thousands of people across the country relying on Intex pools for keeping cool each summer.
Built with a metal frame that is rust-resistant, the Intex Ultra XTR is a sturdy and good-looking pool that is ready for maximum summer-time fun.
Included with each round above ground pool, which ranges from 16ft x 48in up to 20ft x 48in, is a Krystal Clear Sand Filter and Pump. The pump and filter are an essential for keeping your swimming pool clean and ready for action, and this pump as a standalone is one of the best on the market.
Each pool also ships with a cover to wrap the pool overnight (which helps retain proper water temperature and reduces pool chemicals from evaporating), a ground cloth, pool liner, and even a ladder to make getting in and out of the pool a breeze.
Key features:
- Pump, ladder, ground cloth and liner included
- Easy set-up time
- Rust-resistant frame
- Capacity of 5,061 gallons for the 16ft x 48in model
- Two-year warranty
Intex pools are the best on the market, and the Ultra XTR is the perfect above ground swimming pool for most people and families.
Bestway Steel Pro MAX Above Ground Swimming Pool
💦 We love the Bestway Pro MAX for ease of installation and durable sidewalls that will stand up to long summer days of splashing.
Bestway is another leading name in the backyard pools industry.
Built with a corrosion-resistant frame made of alloy steel, this pool is sturdy and strong, making it ideal for smaller families. Bestway’s patented FrameLink System features a band that goes around the frame and liner of the pool to give it an added layer of stability.
Dads will especially love them as the set-up process is fast and easy, with no tools required for setting up the pool at the beginning of the summer and taking it down when the weather gets cool.
The Bestway above ground pools are smaller than the ULTRA XTR, with sizes ranging from 10ft x 30” to 12ft x 39.5”, and despite the robust construction and frame, the pool can be packaged up to a weight of just 55lbs.
Key features:
- Pump and cartridge included
- Capacity of 1,710 gallons for the 12ft x 30” model
- 12-month warranty on pumps, 90-day warranty on liner
Bestway makes some of the sturdiest backyard pools on the market, and for this reason we love the Steel Pro MAX swim pools.
Where to buy
Coleman Power Steel Vista Series II Swim Pool
💦 We love the Bestway Pro MAX for ease of installation and durable sidewalls that will stand up to long summer days of splashing.
Looking for a more heavy duty above-ground pool that also happens to look great?
The Coleman Power Steel Vista Series are an awesome choice for families who want a pool that is tough and looks great.
Let’s start with the construction of this thing: it’s strong.
Made with a rust-resistant steel frame that won’t corrode under water and sun exposure, the interior of the pool has a tile-patterned 3-ply vinyl liner that won’t rip or tear, while the exterior of the liner is a rattan wicker print that will look great in your backyard.
There’s one feature of the Coleman Power Steel Vista Series that sets it above the rest of the pools on this list—portholes! Seriously. This adds an element of fun to the pool, and also helps parents keep an eye on their kids when in the water.
Key features:
- Rip-resistant three-ply vinyl liner and rattan wicker print for improved aesthetics
- No tools required
- Capacity of 6,092 gallons for the 18ft x 48” model
- Port holes for added fun and safety
Coleman
Where to buy
Summer Waves Above Ground Pool
The Summer Waves Above Ground Pool set combines a lot of the best features from the other pools on this list.
Each pool comes with a pump and filter system, a ladder for making it easier to get in and out of the pool, a ground cloth to protect the liner from rips from rocks, and a maintenance kit to help streamline the cleaning of your swim pool over the summer months.
Key features:
Intex Rectangular Above Ground Swim Pool
Rectangular above ground pools are great for narrow spaces and maximizing yard space. The Intex’s Ultra Frame gives you excellent versatility of sizes and durability.
Intex’s line of Ultra XTR above ground pools also come in rectangular shape and in a variety of lengths, from 18ft all the way up to 32ft.
These pools consistently rank at the top of the list when it comes to durability and quality of construction.
The liner of the pool is a good-looking gray with an inner liner that has a tiled print. A galvanized steel frame is both resistant to corrosion and extremely sturdy.
Intex ships each of their rectangular above-ground swim pools with a ladder specifically designed for these kinds of pools, a Krystal Clear sand filter pump that can circulate water at a rate of 2,800 gallons per hour, and both a cover and a ground cloth to protect the pool.
Key features:
- Clean look that works well with most backyards and decks
- Sturdy design and steel frame that is powder-coated to resist corrosion
- Available in lengths of 18ft, 24ft, or 32ft.
- Ships with a pool pump and filter, ladder, ground cloth and a custom pool cover
- Assembly takes approximately 90 minutes
- No tools required
Summer Waves Quick Set Inflatable Above Ground Swim Pool
Looking for an above ground pool that you can quickly inflate for splashing around? This 600-gallon inflatable by Summer Waves is your go-to.
Inflatable pools are the fastest ones to set up, and this 600-gallon inflatable above ground pool by Summer Waves is the quickest of the bunch, taking minutes to get ready for splashing around.
Available in two different colors, including your typical water blue and a faux wicker, these pools are excellent for smaller children. The lining of the pool is made with three-ply PVC with an inner layer of mesh that gives the walls of the pool a little bit of flex.
What we especially love about this affordable and inflatable pool is the filter pump with cartridge that is included. Swimming pools get dirty from use, and instead of having to drain it repeatedly the filter extends the use of each batch of water.
Inflatable above ground pools are an excellent starter pool for families and young children, and this 10ft by 2.5ft deep inflatable pool is the best of its kind on the market.
Key features:
- Capacity of 600 gallons
- Easy install—takes minutes to inflate
- Pump and cartridge included
- Quick drain plug (connects to standard garden hose)
- Very affordable, ideal pool for first-time pool owners
How We Chose the Top Above Ground Swim Pools
Above ground swim pools are a sizable investment.
The following factors were considered when we were putting together our list of the top above ground pools.
Shape.
Above ground swim pools come in round and rectangular shapes.
Round pools are ideal for larger yards and better suited for recreation and leisure.For pure splashing and fun, a round above-ground pool checks the boxes for most people and families.
Rectangular-shaped pools take up less yard space with their hard lines and corners, making them ideal for narrow yards. Rectangular pools work better with decks as they tend to have straight edges, which means you can line up the pool right next to your deck for easier access.
Larger rectangular pools are best suited for people who want to be able to swim in their pool. While you won’t be able to do laps like you would at the local YMCA, you can do a few strokes in larger rectangular pools that are 30ft in length.
Construction. Above ground pools are designed to last and are made from materials that stand up to standard wear and tear, but also need to be chlorine-resistant and built to withstand long months in the sun. Look for swim pools that have a durable PVC nylon liner that is tear-resistant. The frames of above ground swim pools vary, but the best ones have steel pipes that are powder-coated to prevent corrosion from exposure to water and sun.
Added Features. Above-ground pools come with a fair amount of maintenance and cleaning. A good pump and filter can help cut down on a lot of the leg work when it comes to cleaning your above-ground swim pool. If you aren’t digging a hole for the pool, a ladder is almost essential, and a pool cover will help prevent pool chemicals from blowing off and will help regulate water temperature overnight and when the pool is not in use.
Assembly. Because of their inherently temporary nature, we looked at how easy the pool is to set up and whether or not tools are required to put the pool together. Most of the above-ground pools in this list do not require tools or specialized equipment for setting up. We also only selected swim pools that could be assembled in an hour or less.
Price. The cost for most above ground pools is very reasonable, with pools costing as low as $150 to larger models costing around $2,300. We focused on quality pools in this guide that are also reasonable in price.
Conclusion
