With the short duration of Canada’s summers, investing in a permanent pool is worth debating. While a decent-quality above-ground pool will cost you a minimum of $2,000, an in-ground pool can cost you as much as $30,000. Not to mention the yearly cost of maintaining and heating it, which is generally between $1,000 and $3,000.
If your primary purpose for getting a pool is to cool off during a heatwave or a summer activity for your kids, a blow-up pool is a convenient alternative. It’s much more affordable and requires much less maintenance.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Intex Inflatable Lounge Pool
Jump to Review - Best For Families: Semai Inflatable Swimming Pool
Jump to Review - Best For Adults: Blue Wave NT6126
Jump to Review - Best With Filter: Summer Waves Inflatable Pool
Jump to Review - Best Budget: Intex Mini Pool For Kids
Jump to Review
This guide will cover the most important criteria to look for when shopping for an inflatable pool. We’ll also give you some tips on keeping your inflatable pool’s water clean throughout summer. To make the task of shopping a bit easier on you, we’ll go over the best inflatable pools in Canada this year.
The 5 Best Inflatable Swimming Pools in Canada
To help you find the best inflatable pool for your backyard, we’ve analyzed the most popular options in Canada. Here are our reviews of the best inflatable pools you can buy this year.
Intex Inflatable Lounge Pool
Intex’s Inflatable pool is smaller than the pool above, but can still fit two adults or a few kids. With transparent walls and a built-in backrest for lounging, its design is unique. The pool measures 88 x 85 x 30 inches, so it’s even better for fitting into small spaces. With almost 10,000 reviews, it’s also one of the most popular choices on Amazon.
The pool can hold up to 590 liters of water. It has two air chambers that allow for quick installation. The product is sold with a repair patch.
In addition to a built-in bench and backrest, the pool also has 2 convenient cup holders.
Semai Inflatable Swimming Pool for Families
Semai’s pool is the perfect pool for families or groups of friends. It’s made from thick PVC plastic, making it sturdy and durable. The material is 50% thicker than other inflatable pools on the market, making it very resistant to punctures. In case of a puncture, the pool comes with 2 extra repair patches.
The Semai pool can hold up to 1180 litres of water and measures 118 x 72 x 20 inches. It can accommodate up to 7 people, including 2 adults and 3 to 5 children over the age of 3. It’s big enough that a single adult can float around without feeling cramped.
The pool has a soft, inflatable floor to prevent injuries. Its side walls are sturdy enough that you can lean comfortably on them. It comes with an electric air pump and takes about 3 to 4 minutes to install.
Blue Wave NT6126 Inflatable Pool With Cover
Blue Wave’s inflatable pool is highly durable and can comfortably fit 4 adults or several kids. The pool has 4 built-in backrests, creating a look and experience that is comparable to an inflatable hot tub. The pool also has 2 built-in cup holders.
The pool takes about 10 minutes to set up, with 10 air chambers and its 2 levels. It’s made from high-quality triple-layer PVC plastic and measures 88 x 88 x 26 inches.
Unlike most inflatable pools on the market, the Blue Wave pool conveniently comes with a cover. This is perfect for protecting your pool from leaves, debris, and rainwater.
Summer Waves Inflatable Pool
With a diameter of 12 feet, the Summer Waves Inflatable Pool is comparable to a standard above-ground pool. In fact, it even has a filter to keep the water clean. With its large size, the pool is perfect for large families or big groups. It’s also perfect if you’re looking for an inflatable pool that you can actually swim around in.
The pool can be filled with 6,870 liters of water, which is significantly more than most inflatable pools. Unlike most inflatable pools, it comes with a pool filter pump. This means you can keep the pool water clean and chlorinated. However, it also means that the pool must be installed near an electricity source.
Bottom line, if you are looking for an inflatable pool that is similar to a classic swimming pool but more budget-friendly, the Blue Waves pool is a great option.
Intex Mini Pool For Kids
While the Intex Mini Pool is not inflatable, it offers the same benefits and is even easier to set up. It’s also the most budget-friendly pool on this list, costing just over $50. It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a small pool that is extremely easy to set up.
Instead of being held by inflated sides, the pool’s PVC lining is held up by cushioned plastic tubes. Measuring 48 x 48 x 12 inches, this pool is significantly smaller than others on this list. It’s also much less deep, making it more suitable for small children or toddlers. It fits about 337 litres of water. Likewise, it can also be used as a large aquarium or small pond.
In case of punctures, the pool comes with a repair kit. Since it doesn’t have to be deflated, this pool is very easy to uninstall and store.
Bottom line, if you’re looking for a simple and affordable paddling pool for kids, Intex’s Mini Frame Pool is a great choice.
Why Buy an Inflatable Pool?
There are many benefits of opting for an inflatable pool over a permanent pool. They’re cheaper to buy and operate, easy to install and uninstall, and convenient for small spaces. Here is an overview of the main benefits of inflatable pools:
Cheaper Than a Real Pool
Unlike above-ground or in-ground swimming pools, an inflatable pool is much more affordable. While permanent pools will set you back anywhere from $1,500 to $30,000, an inflatable pool is rarely more than $250 to buy. An inflatable pool has no yearly maintenance expense and can be installed in half an hour without requiring the help of a professional. You also won’t have to buy cleaning costly equipment, pH test kits, and chlorine.
No Maintenance Required
In order to have a clean pool, daily to weekly maintenance is required. Leaves must be removed in a timeline fashion, and the pool must be vacuumed to remove debris and prevent algae from forming. Chlorine is also required on a daily basis to keep the water clean and clear. For this reason, many people will hire professionals to maintain their pool’s hygiene. While it’s important to keep an inflatable pool clean, it certainly does not require this degree of maintenance.
Easy to Install or Uninstall
Once the summer is over, an inflatable pool can simply be emptied, dried out, folded up, and stored away for the winter. Since it’s not a permanent fixture, you can set up the pool wherever you please. You can also easily move it around based on the time of day. That said, an inflatable pool is an ideal choice if you plan on moving in the coming years.
Convenient For Home Renters
Thirty percent of Canadians rent their home. If you’re a renter with the perfect backyard for a pool, an inflatable pool is probably your best bet. A pool is generally not something your landlord will agree to pay for or allow you to install. Plus, since renting is not permanent, you likely won’t want to invest thousands of dollars on a property you don’t own anyway.
Perfect for Small Spaces
Small backyards are fairly common in the city. Having enough space for a permanent above-ground pool is unlikely, so an inflatable pool is a great option. It’s also a great option if you don’t want to overcrowd your backyard with a pool. The fact that you can easily uninstall it when not in use is also a huge bonus.
How to Choose The Best Inflatable Pool?
There are many factors to consider when shopping around for an inflatable pool. Here is an overview of what to look out for:
The Pool’s Size
If you plan on fitting more than 1 person in the pool at a time, dimensions are an important detail to look into. When it comes to inflatable pools, product images can be deceiving. A pool that is advertised as suitable for 7 people, might only fit 4 adults or 7 kids, for example.
Similarly, a pool might be the perfect length and width, but not deep enough (or too deep) for your needs. For that reason, it’s important to make a decision based on the pool’s full dimensions (length, width, and height). The last thing you want is to have to take turns cooling off.
The Pool’s Features & Accessories
Inflatable pools sometimes come with useful perks. Some of these include pool covers, repair kits, cup holders, built-in benches and backrests, air pumps, and even filters for larger pools. More expensive kids pools can even come with built-in slides.
Inflatable pool covers are useful to keep the pool clean and to prevent its water from evaporating in the sun. They generally cost around $35 to buy, so having one included is convenient.
The Pool’s Durability
Inflatable swimming pools are normally made of a thick PVC lining that is quite resistant to punctures. The thicker the lining, the more durable the pool will be. Despite the pool’s thick lining, punctures can happen over continued use or due to improper storage. For that reason, pools will normally come with a repair patch or two. If not, PVC patch kits are easy to buy.
How to Keep an Inflatable Pool Clean
Inflatable pools still require basic maintenance in order to be hygienic. This is especially important if the pool is medium to large, and you will not be changing its water very often. Bacteria multiply the most rapidly in temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F and a small pool’s water temperature falls right within that range. Here are some tips for a clean blow-up pool:
Keep Water Clean & Water pH
In addition to removing visible debris from the pool, ensuring water quality is important. If your inflatable pool does not have a filter, remember to change its water periodically and to clean its floor and sides with a brush to guarantee optimal hygiene. A small amount of chlorine or bromine can also be added to an inflatable pool, although not required.
When adding chlorine, it’s important to test the pool water’s pH level. Swimming Pool pH Test Kits can easily be purchased. A pH level between 7.2 and 7.8 is recommended for pools. If the pool’s water is too acidic (below 7.2), it can damage your pool’s lining. On the other hand, A pH level that is too high can cause scale or cloudy water.
When properly maintained, the water in a large inflatable pool can be changed once a month. Once a week is enough for medium-sized pools. The water in tiny kiddie pools should be changed daily. Chlorine is not recommended.
Keep the Pool Covered When Not in Use
Keeping the pool covered is a great way to prevent debris and leaves from dirtying the water. Some inflatable pools will come with a cover. Otherwise, covers for inflatable pools are very easy to buy.
Skim the Pool Daily to Remove Debris
If your pool is not covered when not in use, it’s bound to end up loaded with leaves, insects, and dirt. This is especially true if it rains and there are trees nearby. We recommend buying a Small Pool Skimmer Net for extra convenience. And who knows, maybe your kids will help out!
Bathe or Shower Before Swimming
As gross as it sounds, bathing before swimming is essential to prevent fecal matter and bacteria from contaminating the pool’s water. This is especially important if kids or toddlers will be swimming in the pool or if the pool isn’t adequately chlorinated.
Please read our article on how to maintain pool water if you have a traditional pool.
