How to Install an Above Ground Pool

To install an above ground pool, choose a flat spot with room for the pump and a safe power source, clear and level the ground, lay down a ground cloth, spread out the liner, assemble the frame, then fill slowly while you check that the pool stays level and the floor stays smooth. Finish by setting up the filter pump on a properly grounded, GFCI-protected outlet and securing the ladder. This is how to install an above ground pool of the frame type sold by Intex and Bestway. Steel-wall and resin kits follow the same order but involve more parts, and the maker’s manual for your exact model always comes first.

Safety note: an above ground pool combines a large volume of water, a plug-in pump, and a drowning risk for young children. This guide is general setup information, not electrical, legal, or engineering advice. Follow the owner’s manuals for your pool and pump, use a licensed electrician for any new outlet or wiring, and check your local rules on permits and fencing before you start.

Before you start: rules, utilities, and power

Three things are easier to sort out before the box is open than after the pool is full.

• Local rules. Permit, setback, and fence rules for above ground pools vary by city and county. Call your local building department and, if you have one, your homeowners association. The answer depends on where you live, so ask before you buy a size you cannot use.
• Buried utilities. If leveling the site means digging into the soil, contact 811 first. The 811 before-you-dig service describes itself as the free national before-you-dig service and asks you to reach out a few business days before you begin any digging, so buried lines can be marked.
• A safe power source for the pump. The US owner’s manual for Bestway’s Flowclear filter pump says to connect only to a grounding-type receptacle protected by a Class A ground fault circuit interrupter, and not to use an extension cord. It also says the pool must be installed no closer than 6 feet from any electrical outlet. Your pool and pump manuals may give different distances, so read both. If there is no suitable outlet in the right spot, have a licensed electrician add one.

How to choose the spot

Intex’s setup steps for its Prism Frame 18 ft x 48 in pool set start with laying out the liner on flat, level ground. Level is the requirement you cannot skip. Water is heavy, and a frame pool on a slope pushes more weight onto the low side, which shows up as a leaning frame or a bulging wall.

• Pick the flattest area you have, even if it is not the prettiest view from the patio. Moving earth to fix a slope is much more work than choosing a better spot.
• Avoid low spots where rain collects. The Bestway pump manual says never to place the pump in an area that may accumulate water, and to leave room for ventilation, drainage, and access for cleaning.
• Stay out from under trees if you can. Overhanging branches drop leaves into the water and roots can push up under the liner.
• Leave room around the pool for the pump, hoses, the ladder, and a path to walk all the way around for cleaning and inspection.
• Look up. Keep the pool clear of overhead power lines.

How to install an above ground pool, step by step

These steps follow the usual order for frame pools. Check every step against the manual that came in your box, since frame designs, connectors, and fill heights vary between models and sizes.

1. Clear the site

Mark a circle or rectangle a little larger than the pool’s footprint. Remove rocks, sticks, roots, and anything sharp. Small stones that seem harmless now will press through the liner once the full weight of the water sits on them.

2. Level the ground

Use a long straight board with a carpenter’s level on top, or a string line, to find the high and low spots. The usual approach is to level the ground by removing soil from the high side rather than building up the low side, because packed fill can settle under the weight of the water. Take your time here. Most problems that show up after filling trace back to this step.

3. Put down a ground cloth or base layer

Some Intex sets, including the Prism Frame 18 ft x 48 in, include a ground cloth. It protects the liner floor from abrasion and makes cleanup easier when you take the pool down. Spread it flat and smooth out the wrinkles. Owners who want more padding often look at what to put under an above ground pool before setup day, since adding a layer after filling is not possible.

4. Unfold the liner

Lay the liner out on the ground cloth and turn it so the inlet and outlet fittings face the spot where the pump will sit. On a warm, sunny afternoon the vinyl is softer and easier to smooth than on a cool morning. Do not drag the liner across the ground.

5. Assemble the frame

Slide the horizontal beams through the sleeves at the top of the liner, then connect the legs and joints in the order the manual shows. Intex describes its Prism Frame assembly as needing no tools. Work with a helper, because the liner is heavy and awkward for one person. Bestway’s pump manual says assembly and disassembly should only be done by adults, which is a sensible rule for the pool itself too.

6. Fill a little, then check level and wrinkles

Start the hose and stop when there is a shallow layer of water on the floor. Climb in barefoot and push floor wrinkles out toward the wall. Check that the legs stand straight and the frame looks even all the way around. If one side is clearly lower than the other, drain the pool and fix the ground now. It will not correct itself when the pool is full.

7. Fill to the manual’s fill line

Keep filling while you check the frame from time to time. Stop at the fill level shown in your manual, not at the top rim. Filling a large frame pool from a garden hose usually takes many hours, so plan to stay nearby and do not leave young children alone with a partly filled pool.

8. Set up the filter pump

Mount the pump according to its manual, connect the hoses to the liner fittings, and tighten the hose clamps. The Bestway Flowclear manual says to place the pump on solid, level ground, away from foot traffic around the pool, and to locate the cord where lawn mowers and hedge trimmers will not damage it. It also says not to bury the cord. Before the first start, open the air purge valve on top of the pump and close it when water comes out, as that manual describes.

9. Add the ladder and secure access

Set the ladder on firm, level ground and make sure it is stable before anyone uses it. Then plan how you will keep children out when the pool is not in use, which is covered in the next section.

Child safety and the 48-inch strap recall

Pool Safely publishes a barrier checklist for pool owners. For above ground pools, it says to secure, lock, or remove the ladder when the pool is not in use, or surround it with a barrier. It also calls for a fence at least 4 feet high around the pool with self-closing and self-latching gates, and covers in good working order when the pool is not in use.

Removing the ladder is not always enough on frame pools. The CPSC announced a recall of certain Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup above-ground pools 48 inches and taller with compression straps that run on the outside of the vertical support legs. According to the recall notice, the strap can create a foothold that lets a child climb into the pool. The remedy is a free repair kit, a rope that attaches to each of the vertical support poles at the ground level and wraps around the pool; CPSC says owners should “first secure the repair and then cut and remove the compression strap from the pool.” If you are setting up a used pool, or one you already own, read the recall notice and contact the manufacturer listed there before you fill it.

Steel-wall and resin above ground pools

Hard-sided pools with a steel or resin wall are a bigger project than a frame pool. They use a bottom track, a rolled wall panel, uprights, top rails, and a separate vinyl liner, and some kits call for a specific base material and a cove around the inside edge. The manuals for these kits are long, and the order of steps matters. Plenty of owners hire an installer for this type, especially for larger sizes. If you do it yourself, read the whole manual before you start, follow its ground prep instructions exactly, and plan for more than one day with helpers.

Common setup mistakes

• Skipping the level check. A pool that looked fine empty can lean once it is full. Check with a long level before filling, not after.
• Filling all at once. A short pause after the first few inches of water is the only easy chance to fix wrinkles and level.
• Running the pump on an extension cord. The Bestway manual says not to. Have a licensed electrician add a properly located outlet instead.
• Leaving the ladder in place. Pool Safely says to secure, lock, or remove it whenever the pool is not in use.
• Ignoring the recall notice on a 48-inch or taller frame pool with an outside compression strap.

When to call a pro

• Any electrical work. A new outlet, a circuit, or a GFCI that keeps tripping needs a licensed electrician. The Bestway manual says to consult a qualified electrician with any questions about whether your plug’s grounding is valid.
• A steep or soft yard. If leveling means cutting deep into a slope or building a retaining wall, a landscape contractor can tell you whether the site is workable.
• Hard-sided kits. Steel-wall and resin pools with separate liners are often installed by pool dealers or independent installers.

If you are still choosing a pool, compare frame, steel-wall, and resin designs with your yard, your budget for site work, and how long you want to leave the pool up each year. Browse more setup guides in our above ground pools section.

FAQ

How long does it take to put up an above ground pool?

The assembly is often the quick part. Intex lists its Prism Frame 18 ft x 48 in set as ready for water in approximately 60 minutes. Site prep and leveling usually take longer than that, and filling from a garden hose can take most of a day or more, depending on the pool size and your water pressure.

Can I install an above ground pool on grass?

Frame pools are commonly set up on lawns, but the ground still has to be flat, level, and free of sharp objects. Grass under the pool will die, and thick turf can leave the floor lumpy. Many owners remove the sod in the pool’s footprint before laying the ground cloth.

How do I put up an above ground pool by myself?

Plan on at least one helper. Spreading the liner and holding the frame while you connect joints is hard for one person, and the Bestway pump manual says assembly should be done by adults. Do the site prep alone if you like, then bring in help for the liner and frame.

How far should an above ground pool be from an electrical outlet?

Follow your pool and pump manuals and your local electrical code. As one example, Bestway’s Flowclear filter pump manual says the pool must be installed no closer than 6 feet from any electrical outlet and that the pump should not run on an extension cord. A licensed electrician can tell you what your local code requires.

Do I need a permit to install an above ground pool?

It depends on where you live and the size and depth of the pool. Some areas require a permit or a fence for deeper above ground pools, and some do not. Ask your local building department before you buy, and check your homeowners association rules if you have one.

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