The Best Kiddie Pools for a Whole Lot of Fun in the Sun

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When we were kids (I’m assuming we’re all around the same age here), playing pool games in DIY backyard pools filled with frigid hose water was pretty much the norm. While the hose water probably hasn’t changed, the pools nowadays are better. Way better. Whether you're planning your next big pool party or need something fun outside to keep your kids off their screens, finding the best kiddie pool for your space can make a big difference during the summertime.

A temporary backyard kiddie pool gives your kids a place to cool down in the heat of the day and have some fun splashing around. It also gives you a break from hearing them ask for 600 snacks while demanding more screen time, so it's a win-win. So, we used our parenting expertise and consulted with experts in the industry to round up the 10 best kiddie pools around today.

Best Kiddie Pools 2024

• Best Overall: FUNBOY Malibu Barbie Dream Kiddie Pool

• Best Budget: Uarzt Airplane Sprinkler Pool for Toddlers

• Best for Toddlers: Step2 Play & Shade Pool for Kids

• Best with Shade: Bestway Splash-In-Shade Play Pool

• Best for the Whole Family: Members Mark Elegant Family Pool

What to Consider

Safety

Even though kiddie pools aren’t very deep, young children can drown in as little as 1 to 2 inches of water, so safety is of the utmost importance.

“It is imperative that parents review all safety warnings on inflatable pools and read the entire instruction manual before they use the pool with children,” Blake Barrett, co-founder of FUNBOY, says. “Children, especially children under 5, are at a high risk of drowning. Parents must closely watch children who are in or near pools at all times. Lastly, when not in use, drain all the water out of inflatable pools to ensure no child gets in the water when a parent isn't present.”

Type

There are two main types of kiddie pools: inflatable and plastic. Hard-shell plastic pools are great for toddlers when filled with just a few inches of water. Inflatable kiddie pools might seem like a lot of work to set up, but they’re actually impressively quick and easy. Many of them feature large air valves that make it easy to inflate and deflate in minutes.

Plastic pools are more durable, and with the right maintenance, they can last a few summers or more before they need to be replaced. Plastic pools can be harder to store since they aren’t foldable.

Inflatable pools come in more style options and have more fun features for kids, but you might only get one or two seasons out of them. Inflatable pools usually come folded in a box, making them portable — whether it’s to a friend’s house, the beach, or on vacation.

A fun bonus with both types of kiddie pools is adding plastic balls instead of water in the cooler months. That way you can get the most out of the pool and you're kids can have fun year-round.

Size

Kiddie pools come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny pools with enough room for a couple of toddlers to medium pools for a splashy good time to gigantic family-sized pools. The dimensions of the pool are important if you’re dealing with a tight space in your yard or if you need to know if it’ll be too big or too small for your kids. While many kiddie pools are designed for toddlers and little kids, some pools like this Member’s Mark Inflatable Pool are big enough for the whole family or a boatload of kids to splash around in.

Of course, the bigger the pool, the more gallons it'll hold. This can be a positive or a negative, depending on how often you fill it and drain it and the age of your kids. More gallons means a deeper pool and likely more fun, but that does require using more water which could heighten your monthly bills a bit.

How We Chose

As a mom of two, I have purchased my fair share of kiddie pools. On this list, I included the pools that my kids thoroughly enjoyed and weren’t a pain to set up, as well as pools that I tested specifically for this roundup. To make sure I experienced the whole shebang, I built the pools, filled 'em up, played in them, and splashed everywhere possible with my kiddies. I also spoke to friends with young kids who weighed in on their favorites.

Why Trust Us?

At Best Products, we are committed to researching and bringing you the best products (get it?) that we, as parents, either used with our own kids or wish we would have.

Below, you'll find all the best kiddie pools your kids will beg for if they're looking over your shoulder. Fair warning.

Malibu Barbie Dream Kiddie Pool

Whether your kids are obsessed with Barbie or you just think the design of this pool is rad, FUNBOY's Barbie Dream Kiddie Pool is what dreams are made of. All of FUNBOY's pools, rafts, and toys are super unique, and this one is no exception.

At 66 inches in diameter, the pool is large enough for multiple kids to wiggle around in or two adults to lounge. I was able to test this pool and we fit four kids and two grown-ups inside comfortably. It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be, which was a nice surprise. An old-school Barbie logo adorns the bottom of the pool, which my daughter loved.

My favorite part? The colors. Vibrant pink, blue, and orange along with gold accents in a fun geometric design made this pool stand out as the winner in our book.

The inflate and deflate valves are fast, so you can have it ready to go in minutes. It's recommended to drain the water after each use, and before it's stored, be sure to let the pool completely dry to avoid mold.

Airplane Sprinkler Pool for Toddlers

The perfect mix between a kiddie pool, a splash pad, and a sprinkler, you'll probably need to drag your kids out of this affordable airplane-shaped splash zone to do other things. You know, like eat and sleep.

It's an easy one to set up — in fact, your kids might be able to do it mostly by themselves. Three to four little kids can play in this pool comfortably along with any dogs who just can't help themselves. However, you should make sure their nails aren't too long, otherwise they could rip the bottom of the pool.

Since it's partly a splash pad, the pool is pretty shallow. It also has only one layer of material, so you might want to add something soft underneath.

Play & Shade Pool for Kids

When I think of a toddler pool, this quintessential blue plastic pool is what comes to mind. It's small, adorable, and it features an umbrella for partial shade. It also comes with a seven-piece accessory set for fun water play, including a funnel, cups, and a water wheel.

The pool has two molded-in seats under the umbrella and a cute sea creature textured bottom that helps prevent falls.

Since the pool is small and only holds up to 12 gallons of water, the water level doesn't get much higher than a few inches. But it's still so important to designate one adult to be watching the kids at all times.

The pool is pretty easy to fill up, empty, clean, and store for more play next time. If you want to switch over and use the pool as a sandbox, it can hold up to 165 pounds of sand.

Splash-In-Shade Play Pool

The Splash-In-Shade Play Pool is neither an inflatable nor a hard-shell plastic kiddie pool. It's constructed from ultra-durable, puncture-resistant, three-layer material and a corrosion-resistant steel frame. So, no pump is needed.

The sunshade provides full coverage as well as a water mister! Yes, a water mister sprays water over kids as they splash around in the pool if they want it. You just need to connect a hose to the canopy for a steady stream of cooling mist to rain down. Prepare your ears for all the squeals of delight.

Since the pool takes so much water, if you plan on leaving the water in for a bit, the pool is equipped with connection valves for Flowclear filter pumps to keep the water clean.

Elegant Family Pool

If you're looking for a large kiddie pool that'll fit the whole family, this is your guy. The large inflatable pool is wide and shallow, so it's safe for ages 3 and up with supervision.

It features two seats with backrests, and while the seats are somewhat small, shoppers note that they're surprisingly comfortable. They also note that the backrests aren't entirely supportive for adults, but they're inflatable, so that's to be expected.

At around $50, the pool is a great way to stay cool in the summer and float around. In fact, it's large enough for a grown-up to lounge on a raft. Doesn't that sound pretty incredible when it's ridiculously hot outside? Don't forget the beverage.

H2OGO! Beach Bounce Kids Inflatable Water Park

To say my kids love this inflatable water park is an absolute understatement. I couldn't get them out of this thing, but can you blame them? It has a splash pool, bounce house, little slide, and a sprinkler wall.

It comes with a blower, stakes, and a storage bag if you can get it back in there (not the job for me, but it was shockingly easy for my wife). The blower has to remain plugged in and blowing for the inflatable to stay inflated — just like a bounce house. I was a little worried about having it plugged in near water, but the cord is long, as is the air tunnel that connects to the jumper, so it didn't come in contact with any water.

The only downside for me is the weight. It weighs 43 pounds, so it was pretty impossible to maneuver on my own, but with two of us, it was a cinch and took no time at all set set up and break down.

Inflatable Watermelon Sunning Pool

My kids have played in their fair share of small inflatable pools, but this was their first time soaking in a watermelon pool, and it did not disappoint.

In addition to the pool being super cute, I very much appreciated how well it stayed inflated, even as two kids jumped in and out of it with no regard. There was plenty of room for me and my two small kids to hang out without anyone fighting about someone being too close. The splashing from all the jumping I could have done without, but that's not the pool's fault.

A quick-release floor drain is nice, although it did take some finagling to get all the water to drain.

Did my kids assertively request freshly chopped watermelon as they played? Yes, yes they did.

Elite Pop-Up Above Ground Pool

Designed for little ones ages 9 months to 2 years, this is the sweetest little pop-up kiddie pool for babies and toddlers. It weighs next to nothing and it comes in a carrying bag, so it's easy to bring along to your local beach, on a trip, or from the garage to the backyard. It can be a little tricky figuring out how to fold the pool so it fits in the case, but once you have it, you have it.

The pool features a canopy that can be adjusted to provide shade from the sun, although it doesn't seem to have additional UV protection. It also features a valve for easy and quick draining.

My kids are too big to play in this pool for real, and we don't have any toddlers around, but my 4-year-old did manage to have a great time sitting in the pool pretending like he was a baby.

Ocean Play Center

Your toddlers will be pumped to see this adorable inflatable play center set up and ready for playtime. It features a small slide with a cushioned landing pad, a ring toss game, inflatable ocean animals, and a built-in sprayer. Additional games that come with a pool are always a bonus.

Recommended for kids ages 2 and up, the wading pool allows for 4.5 inches of water, but it's still imperative to always supervise water play.

The pool is easy to inflate and deflate with two drain plugs. It might not last more than one summer of fun, according to shoppers, but the hours of play will be worth every penny.

Round Pool Cover

This pool cover has multiple purposes. Most importantly, if you plan on leaving water in the pool after playtime is over, the cover will keep your kids and pets away from the water. It'll also keep the pool free from debris. And since standing water attracts mosquitoes, the cover will help with that, too.

It has a drawstring design to keep it in place, and it's UV-protected and waterproof.

The cover fits on 5-foot pools, like FUNBOY'S Malibu Barbie Kiddie Dream Pool and Poolcandy's Inflatable Watermelon Sunning Pool. Other sizes are available, so be sure to measure the pool first.

More to Consider

Cleaning

Since most inflatable pools are made of polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, it’s important to clean them really well if you want to avoid mold and bacteria build-up to have the greatest chance of them lasting beyond one summer. Barrett, the co-founder of FUNBOY says, “The number one thing to do to keep a kiddie pool clean is to remove the water after each use, rinse the pool, and let it fully dry. Kiddie pools are not meant for repeated use with the same water (similar to using a bathtub). If you need additional cleaning, gentle dish soap, and a clean towel can be used.”

Repair kit

Most inflatable pools come with a repair kit, which typically consists of a PVC patch. You’ll also need vinyl repair glue to apply to the torn area and the back of the PVC patch. If the company doesn’t offer a repair kit, you can buy one on Amazon or at most sporting goods stores.

Cover

Not many kiddie pools come with covers, but covers are a great way to keep the water in the pool for extended play while keeping it free of debris. A cover is also important in the fight against mosquitos since those pesky little blood suckers are attracted to standing water. If the pool you want to purchase doesn’t come with a cover, you can purchase one like this on the interwebs.

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