Skydiving – 10 Best Inflatable Pools and Blow-up Pool Brands (2023)

The bigger the inflatable pool, the more it matters how level your backyard outdoor space is. With a small pool, it’s not the end of the world if the ground is off by an inch or two from one end to the other. But with a giant blow-up pool, even a difference of a few inches can have an impact on how much water the pool will hold and how well the plastic walls will hold up to water pressure. 

You can check to see how level your yard is by planting metal stakes on the perimeter of the pool area and then tying a rope between the stakes. Use a carpenter’s level to check the grade of your yard and make adjustments to the surface of your outdoor space as necessary, either by adding soil to make the area level or choosing a different area to place the inflatable swimming pool.

Now that you know what to look for when choosing an inflatable pool, it’s time to decide which one is right for your backyard space. Here are my picks for the best blow-up pools to buy this summer.

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1. Intex Easy Set Inflatable Swimming Pool 

Best overall inflatable backyard swimming pool

Intex makes a variety of giant inflatable swimming pools under the Intex Easy Set label. If you have the outdoor space for it, go for the biggest and best of them, which is 18 feet wide and four feet tall. Big enough for an eight-person pool party, this giant inflatable pool is basically the equivalent of a full-size above-ground pool, except you can easily set it up by yourself. And if you take good care of it, you can get multiple summers out of it.

The 18-foot Intex Easy Set inflatable swimming pool comes with a ground cloth, debris cover, air pump, electrical filter pump, and a pool ladder (yes, it’s big enough that you need a ladder) and is made of super-strong PVC plastic. The top ring is inflatable and the rest of the pool is self-rising as you add water (its water capacity is 5,455 gallons). 

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The pool does not come with a floating chlorine dispenser or chlorine tablets, both of which I highly recommend as an easy way to keep your water clean and clear all summer long. You’ll also want to order some replacement filters and maybe even a pool net skimmer with a pole. Despite being inflatable, this is a real swimming pool and needs to be maintained if you want to use it for multiple years. Give yourself a day or two to fill it up at the start of the summer. At the end of the season, empty and clean it out, let it fully dry, then roll it up and store the pool for next summer.

The entire line of Intex Easy Set pools is worth your attention. If the 18-foot swimming pool is too big or too expensive (or sold out), there are also 15-foot, 12-foot, 10-foot, eight-foot, and six-foot options available.

2. Intex Swim Center Family Lounge Inflatable Pool

Best inflatable swimming pool for relaxing with the family

Also from Intex, this inflatable lounge pool swim center is perfect for little kids who want to splash and play, or for anyone who wants to relax and keep cool with minimal effort. The four seats with built-in backrests are terrific for lounging or supervising little ones, and the two drink holders are a nice touch. This inflatable pool holds 262 gallons of water (about 14 inches deep) and is a 90-inch by 90-inch square design, with 26-inch-tall chair backs at each corner. 

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The kids have plenty of room to play around in the water, and you could even pull up something like a Little Tikes slide for even more fun. Adult users can just sit back, stretch out, and cool off (or at least sit comfortably while keeping an eye on little ones). A drain plug makes it easy to get the water out when you want to refresh or empty it, and an included repair patch comes in handy should the water play get a little too vigorous. 

3. AIRSO Family Inflatable Swimming Pool

Best rectangular inflatable swimming pool

This rectangular inflatable swimming pool from AIRSO measures 118 inches long, 72 inches wide, and 22 inches deep. Big enough for the entire family to lounge in with a 162-gallon water capacity, this blow-up pool can hold up to two adults and four children. The material is much thicker than many other inflatable pools on the market, which makes it a smart choice for water-loving families that plan on spending lots of time splashing around. 

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The soft floor is inflatable, too, offering more protection for younger kids. The blow-up pool inflates in about four minutes with an air pump (not included) and has three individual air chambers with double intake and free-flow exhaust valves, so there’s no air or water leaking out. There are two built-in curved water valves that help the pool drain quickly when it’s time to take it down. Bonus: An inflatable white top ring reflects the sun’s heat, so you won’t burn yourself getting in or resting against it.

4. Intex Inflatable Ocean Children’s Play Center Outdoor 

Best inflatable swimming pool for keeping little kids entertained

Children ages two and up will love the Intex Ocean Inflatable Play Center, which feels more like a mini backyard water park than a swimming pool. This brightly colored inflatable play center has two pool areas: one small area and one larger wading pool area. There’s also a waterslide, an inflatable palm tree, and inflatable turtle, whale, and ring toss games. 

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An adjustable built-in spraying rim will keep little ones cool on scorching hot days, and the water heights of about four inches for the main pool and nine inches for the smaller pool are shallow enough for toddlers to safely play in while you keep a close watch. It’s easy to set up, made from durable vinyl with heat-sealed seams, and a cinch to disassemble when it’s time to store it away. 

5. Intex Ice Cream Stand Inflatable Playhouse and Pool

Best multipurpose inflatable kiddie pool

Is it a pool or an ice cream stand? Actually, the Ice Cream Stand Inflatable Playhouse and Pool from Intex is both! Designed for children ages two to six and made of durable vinyl, this kiddie pool can also be transformed into an imaginary ice cream parlor, and it comes with three oversized inflatable ice cream treats and built-in holders so your budding entrepreneurs can set up a pretend side hustle. 

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This small inflatable pool can be easily and quickly filled with about five inches of water, allowing your little one to cool down on hot days. And when summer’s over, set up the super-cute inflatable pool in the playroom for year-round creative play, no water needed. 

6. FUNFEED Inflatable Unicorn Swimming Pool 

Best easily transportable inflatable pool

Let the kids’ imaginations run wild with this Inflatable Unicorn Swimming Pool from FUNFEED. The glittery unicorn with a rainbow-hued mane and tail will delight small kids ages three and up. Portable enough to bring to the grandparents’ house or to set up on your lawn, this blow-up kiddie pool has enough room for two young kids to comfortably splash around. 

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Each air chamber has its own safety non-returning valve, making it a breeze to inflate with an air pump in minutes (pump not included) and the built-in drain plug at the bottom works quickly. Made of durable, kid-friendly PVC, the well-rated inflatable pool can double as a ball pit or sand box and could even serve as a drinks cooler at family barbecues. 

7. XFlated Inflatable Watermelon Pool

Best basic inflatable pool

Beat the heat with the Instagram-ready Inflatable Watermelon Kiddie Pool from XFlated, which makes swimming even more fun. Designed to look just like the sweet summer treat, this 45-inch by 10.5-inch inflatable pool has room for several kids to splash around. It’s made from PVC and comes with a repair patch in case someone punctures it. The three individual watermelon rings are easy to inflate, making the pool simple to set up. 

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With a capacity of 70 gallons, this durable kiddie pool is low enough in height for younger kids to easily climb in and out of, but deep enough for them to sit inside and lean against the comfy walls. Plus, you won’t have to tip it over to empty the water because there’s a drain plug at the bottom that makes this task easy. This inflatable kiddie pool (which can also double as a ball pit or sand play area) also comes in hamburger and ice cream designs.

8. Intex Sun Shade Inflatable Pool for Toddlers

Best kiddie pool with built-in shade

The extra-large built-in sun shade on this kiddie pool from Intex makes it safer for younger kids to play in an inflatable pool for hours on end without being directly exposed to the sun, and the sun shade is also removable for those times when you want the sun to heat up the water. There’s also a convenient drain plug and an included repair patch if play gets a little too rough.

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The maximum water depth in this blow-up pool is a little over eight inches. Wide side walls provide some extra comfort. There’s also an option to order the inflatable pool with a set of colorful plastic balls for use as a ball pit indoors.

9. JOYIN Whale Baby Pool/Shade Beach Tent 

Best shaded pool for kids under two years old

Adventurous little kids will enjoy swimming in the “mouth” of this inflatable Whale Baby Pool and Shade Beach Tent from JOYIN. Made of heavy-duty materials, this whale-shaped kiddie pool provides built-in shade for your little one on hot and sunny days. It holds 14 gallons of water and features a padded bottom for extra comfort.

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The pool’s compact size makes it easy to inflate, fill up with water, and empty out at the end of the day. Set it up on the grass or use it as a float inside another pool so your toddler can glide around in it.

10. Costzon Inflatable Waterslide Pool and Giant Bouncy Water Park with Blower

Best inflatable pool that doubles as a water playground

You’ll need a big backyard for this one, but if you have the space then you won’t find a more popular blow-up pool for kids ages three to 10 than this giant inflatable waterslide pool from Costzon. Made of heavy-duty puncture-proof materials, this water play area features a good-sized wading pool, a climbing wall, and a gently curving waterslide all in one.

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Ground stakes, mesh netting, and heightened side rails help keep kids safe while they’re splashing around. The pool comes with an included air blower for quick inflation, a carrying bag for easy storage, and a water hose for the slide area. The whole setup can also be used without water for backyard bounce house-style fun. You might just become the most popular spot in the neighborhood once you set this up in your yard.

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