Cheapest, Easiest-to-Install Above-Ground Swimming Pools

Above ground swimming pools win the game of summer because they capitalize on the convergence of several factors:  speed of completion, low cost, and the ability to do it yourself.

If you can get past downsides such as short product lifespan, no property value increase, and smaller pool sizes, there is no other way of having your own pool put up as easily and as cheaply as with an above-ground pool. Above-ground pools are a do-it-yourself reality for millions of people.  We researched round above-ground pools in the 48-inch and deeper class (see Methodology for details) with an eye toward lower costs and higher quality. Results were surprising in a number of ways.

Above Ground Swimming Pool: Basics

1. Types: Three structural types of above-ground pools are available: inflatable, metal framed, and metal walled.
2. Prices: One objective yardstick in comparing pools is measure the pool’s true capacity. In other words, how many gallons can it really hold? Outer dimensions can be deceptive, especially with the thicker walls in the inflatables category.
3. Inflatables: These pools have improved and the 48-inch deep class pools are hardly kiddie pools. They are cheapest but deliver far less water volume than the other types.
4. Metal-Framed: With metal framed pools, a flexible liner is held in place by a metal frame. This gives you more water volume than with inflatables but cost far less than metal walled pools.
5. Metal-Walled: Pools with rigid metal walls are by far the most expensive and are best if you plan on keeping your pool for five years or more. These pools give you more water volume than inflatables.

Costs

Costs of inflatable and metal framed pools are fairly comparable, with metal frame pools costing about 17% more than inflatables. Metal walled pools are significantly more expensive than both.

The chart above shows the price span for a 48-inch deep x 18-foot diameter wide pool in each of the three structure categories. Metal wall pools are about three to four times more expensive than the two other types.

Across all of the circular (round) 48-inch and 52-inch deep pools in the study, the average costs were:

• Inflatables: $310
• Metal Frame Pools: $428
• Metal Wall Pools: $1,608

Inflatable Above-Ground Swimming Pools

Inflatables are 100% air-inflated plastic pools, no rigid structural support included. The top ring provides much of the structural stability. Inflatables are much improved over the “kiddie” inflatable pools of the past. Still, inflatables max out at 48 inches deep and 18 feet in diameter. Because they have thick walls, they also have lower water volume capacity.

Favorite Inflatable:  Intex 15′ x 48″ Easy Set Pool (w/ Filter Pump, Ladder, Ground Cloth, Cover, DVD)

This 15-foot diameter size is, cost-wise, the best inflatable you can buy for the money. It delivers water volume at rock-bottom cost of about $0.05 to $0.06 per gallon. Eventual cost for this type of pool hovers in the $200 to $300 range.

Metal Framed (or Frame + Liner) Pools

Metal frame is an odd industry term and is deceptive. What this means is that the pool has an overall steel exoskeleton of posts but largely the water is held in with a strong PVC liner. Metal framed pools range from 14 feet to 18 feet in diameter.

Favorite Brands:  Intex 18 ft. x 48 in. Above Ground Round Metal Frame Pool Set and Bestway 18′ x 52″ Power Steel Pro Frame Above Ground Swimming Pool

Within the metal frame category, Intex and Bestway proved to be the cheapest brands, giving you water between $0.07 to $0.11 per gallon. But the differences are negligible. We also liked the Summer Waves 15-ft Round 48″ Deep Metal Frame Swimming Pool Package.

Metal Walled Pool

Metal wall pools are the sturdiest and most expensive of the bunch. They have the greatest water volume capacity and longest lifespan.

Favorite Brand:  Blue Wave Rugged Steel 15 ft. Round 52 in. Deep Metal Wall Swimming Pool Package

Blue Waves has the bargain steel walled above ground pool market locked down in the study. Per-gallon costs range from $0.12 to $0.23, with total costs hovering in the $800 to $1,200 range.

It’s All About Pool Capacity

One disadvantage that is rarely noted about inflatables is that their size designations are deceptive due to their thick walls. So, a 48 inch deep x 18 foot diameter wide inflatable swimming pool will have a different water volume capacity (5,455 gallons) than a metal framed or metal walled pool of the same outer dimensions (6,423 gallons).

In short, the metal framed and metal walled pools can carry about 18% more water volume than the inflatable of the same outer dimensions.

Above-Ground Pool Brands

The field of above-ground pool brands is relatively small. These are the major players:

• Intex: Intex is probably the best known above-ground pool maker, with its products widely distributed among many retailers. It is the only pool maker that sells directly to consumers from its online site. Its inflatables brand is called EasySet; its metal frame brands are PrismFrame and UltraFrame. Intex does not sell metal wall pools.
• Bestway: Bestway sells both Bestway brand and Power Steel brand pools. Its inflatables brand is Fast Set Pools.
• Polygroup: Polygroup is a large corporation that produces the Summer Escapes and Summer Waves inflatable and metal frame pools. Polygroup does not sell metal wall pools.
• Blue Wave: Blue Wave sells steel and resin wall pools but no inflatables.
• Heritage: Heritage is an upper end above-ground pool manufacturer, selling only steel walled pools.

Methodology

We researched above-ground round 48-inch and 52-inch deep swimming pools, in diameters between 14 feet and 27 feet, across a variety of online and brick-and-mortar retailers to find the cheapest, most easily obtainable and easiest pool to install yourself. All pools come with a filter/skimmer and a ladder. Round pools were selected because they provided the easiest way to calculate price per gallon.

Looking at cost-per-gallon is a good apples and oranges way to determine if you are getting a good value in your above-ground pool. For example, the Intex 15-foot x 48-inch Easy Set Pool (Sears) and Summer Waves 18-foot x 48-inch Round Metal Frame Pool (Walmart) both cost $0.04 per gallon, though both have a different total cost.

Sears, Walmart, and Home Depot had the cheapest above-ground pools.

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