Keep Your Pool Clean This Summer With the Best Pool Vacuums

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Whether you have an in-ground or above-ground pool, a powerful pool vacuum is an essential tool to keep your swimming hole clean throughout the summer. By vacuuming your pool on a regular basis, you can often prevent problems like dirty floors and walls, liner tears, or even algae blooms. You also may even be able to use fewer chemicals in the water, as vacuuming helps to circulate chlorine and other additives, increasing their efficiency.

There are several styles of pool vacuums, from manual models that you push around on a telescoping pole to high-tech Wi-Fi robots that clean without you lifting a finger. The size of your pool, your cleaning requirements, and your budget all play a role in selecting the best option for your home. We’ve determined the best vacuums for every type of pool so you can spend your summer swimming, not skimming.

Get your pool ready for summer with the best pool covers, best pool filters, and best pool lights.

The Best Pool Vacuums

What to Consider

The best pool vacuum for your needs depends on the type of pool and filtration system you have, how much manual labor you can put into maintenance, and how much you’re willing to spend.

Power

Many pool vacuums rely on your pool’s pump or filter for suction, but some models—usually on the pricier end—are battery-powered or have built-in filter systems that make vacuuming a less cumbersome process. Before deciding on a pool vacuum, make sure it works with your setup.

Manual Versus Automatic

If you have a small pool, you might not mind pushing a manual vacuum around a few times a week, but those who want hands-off cleaning might prefer an automatic or robotic vacuum. While manual models rely on you to push them around the pool with a pole, automatic models require some power source—either a power cord or a battery, depending on the model you choose.

When deciding between a manual and automatic vacuum, price is the main consideration. Manual pool vacuums are generally less than $50, while automatic ones start at around $100. Robotic vacuums are even more expensive—often exceeding $500.

Also, keep in mind that the more moving parts a pool vacuum has, the more maintenance it will need, and the greater the chances of it breaking down.

Pressure Versus Suction

You may see pool vacuums categorized as “pressure-side” and “suction-side.” Pressure cleaners are designed to attach to the pressure side of the swimming pool pump, and they typically catch debris in a removable bag that floats above the vacuum. Some pressure-side vacuums require a booster pump to increase the suction for more effective cleaning, which can be an expensive addition to the cost.

Suction cleaners connect to your pool’s skimmer or a designated cleaner line, acting more like a traditional vacuum. Make sure the vacuum you choose is compatible with the type of pool pump or filter you have. This is clearly listed on product descriptions, and we’ve included it in our recommendations, too.

Type of Debris

Other important factors to weigh when buying a pool vacuum include the type of debris you’re cleaning. Some vacuums perform better with large debris like leaves, while others capture fine particles of dirt—we made sure to let you know which vacuums are best for which purposes down below.

If your vacuum isn’t performing well with larger debris, you may want to invest in a pool cover to keep leaves and sticks out of the water.

How We Selected

While vetting products, we considered the reputation of the manufacturer, as well as feedback from reviewers. In particular, we aimed to select vacuums that perform well and prove reliable after multiple seasons of use.

When choosing pool vacuums for this list, we wanted to provide options that work well for all types of pools, including in-ground, above-ground, and hot tubs made from various materials. Since pool vacuums can range dramatically in price, we selected products at several key price points, including options under $50 and $100 for those who are shopping on a budget.

G3 Automatic Pool Vacuum

Zodiac is a well-known and respected brand in the pool world, and this automatic pool vacuum is ideal for in-ground pools, as it can clean the floor, walls, and steps of concrete, tile, and vinyl pools without any assistance.

It’s compatible with any single, two-speed, or variable-speed pump, and does a solid job picking up small- and medium-sized debris.

This pool vacuum has a large disc with 36 small “fins” that help it adhere to any surface in your pool, but it won’t get stuck on lights, drain covers, and other obstacles. It comes with scuff-resistant hoses that won’t mar the walls of your pool.

Our favorite part of this pool vac is that the design only has one moving part, reducing the chances of costly maintenance.

Pool and Spa Vacuum Head

If you don’t mind pushing it around by hand, this vacuum head is an affordable option for both in-ground and above-ground pools. The product is weighted, so it sinks right to the floor of your pool, and a standard extension pole works perfectly to push it around—and you probably already have one for your skimmer or brush.

The head has stiff polypropylene bristles around its edges to sweep debris and scrub off algae, and its vacuum port fits standard 1.25- and 1.5-inch vacuum hoses, but the hoses aren’t included.

There are even two relief valves on the top of the vacuum head to release suction if it gets clogged or seals too tightly against the pool floor—this prevents it from accidentally pulling up your pool’s lining or straining the pump.

Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum

Similar to a robot vacuum that you might use in your home, this automatic pool vacuum operates on its own, cleaning the floors and walls of any in-ground pool up to 50 feet long.

It has dual scrubbing brushes and two built-in filters to catch every size of debris, and it doesn’t need to be hooked up to a vacuum hose—simply plug it into the power supply via its tangle-free cable, and let it get to work.

This robotic pool vacuum can typically clean your pool in less than two hours, and it even offers an automatic scheduling feature so you can have it clean every day, every other day, or every third day. Just keep in mind that its filters do need to be emptied regularly, since it’s not hooked up to your pool’s filtration system.

Cordless Battery-Powered Pool Vacuum

Many pool vacuums require suction from a pump for operation, but this handheld model saves you the hassle of dragging a hose around, thanks to its battery-powered design. It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that delivers up to one hour of vacuuming per charge, allowing you to easily clean your whole pool or just quickly tidy up a few spots.

This pool vacuum sucks up both large and small debris, and they get trapped in its “capture chamber” and filter bag, which you simply empty when you’re finished cleaning.

The vacuum head is equipped with several brushes to help stir up sand, dirt, and other fine particles, and the unit is compatible with any standard pool pole. For an above-ground pool that needs spot cleans and a full vac every few days, this is the ideal choice.

Automatic Suction Pool Vacuum

This automatic suction vacuum is recommended for in-ground pools up to 30 feet long, and it will clean both the walls and floor of the pool without any effort on your part. It’s designed to hook up to your existing filtration system, and it requires at least a three-quarter HP pool pump for optimal performance.

The XtremepowerUS pool vacuum has a silicone ripple cleaner that can be used on any type of finish, and it comes with several detachable sections of hose, allowing you to adjust the overall length to best suit your pool. However, it’s designed primarily to remove small debris, dirt, and algae from your pool—not large objects like leaves or sticks, which can cause clogs.

Zodiac Ranger Pool Cleaner

Many automatic pool cleaners are only recommended for in-ground pools, but this one is designed specifically for above-ground models up to 72 inches, including those with dished-out bottoms. It hooks up to your pool’s skimmer, and it includes 32 feet of feed hose, making it easy to set up.

This vacuum is designed to clean the floor and walls of your above-ground pool, and its extra-large wheel deflector helps it to navigate the area, preventing it from getting stuck on ladders or steps. Plus, the design features just one moving part—no gears or wheels—making maintenance easy and reducing the risk of it breaking down.

9650iQ Sport Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner

For more convenient and thorough cleaning, this Polaris robotic pool vacuum is a worthwhile investment for your pool. This cleaner can handle in-ground pools up to 60 feet long, and it’s equipped with four-wheel drive that allows it to power up walls and clean along your pool’s waterline—an area many other vacuums can’t reach.

This handy vacuum also boasts built-in Wi-Fi, which lets you operate it from your smartphone. Through the app, you can create a schedule for the vacuum, monitor its cleaning progress, and even direct it to a spot it may have missed. It can even be synced with Amazon Alexa if you want to control the robot using voice commands.

Vac-Sweep 360 Pressure Inground Pool Vacuum

Many automatic pool vacuums have a suction-side design, meaning they use your pool’s skimmer to filter out debris, but if you tend to have a lot of large debris, a pressure-side vacuum like the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 might be a better option. This automatic vacuum is designed to trap debris in a bag, keeping the dirt and leaves out of your pool’s filter to reduce maintenance frequency.

This vacuum can be used with any in-ground pool shape and surface, including vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, pebble, or tile. It comes with 31 feet of hose, and it doesn’t require a booster pump for operation. Plus, the vacuum has a handy sweep hose that cleans tight corners and other areas that many automatic vacuums might miss.

Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum

This pool vacuum is designed to remove large leaves from pools, and that’s about it. It hooks up to a standard garden hose, which powers eight water jets on the bottom of the vacuum head, pushing large pieces of debris into the all-purpose leaf bag. The head sits on four multidirectional wheels, and it can be pushed using any standard extending pole.

Its makes quick work of even the biggest areas, but you’ll probably need a different vacuum to capture dirt and small particles, which will simply pass through this unit’s bag.

2025ADC XL Pool Cleaner

Many pool cleaners can only be used on vinyl liners, so if you have a concrete or gunite pool, you’ll need a model like the Hayward 2025ADC PoolVac XL Cleaner. This automatic suction-side cleaner is specifically designed for in-ground concrete pools, and it will navigate around the floor of your pool, picking up debris of all sizes.

This vacuum doesn’t require a booster pump for operation, and it has handy side wings that allow it to capture more debris on every pass. It’s quiet during operation, so it won’t disturb you as you relax poolside, but keep in mind that it isn’t able to climb up walls like other vacuums.

Read More About Pools and Pool Accessories

Best Pools

Best Above-Ground Pools | Best Kiddie Pools

How-To Pool Guides

Things to Know Before Installing Pool | Get Your Pool Ready For Summer | How to Winterize Your Pool | How to Build a Stock Tank Pool | How to Build a Pool Deck

Pool Accessories

Best Pool Lights | Best Pool Thermometers | Best Pool Covers | Best Pool Floats | Best Inflatable Water Slides | Best Poolside Lounge Chairs | Best Pool Toys | Best Pool Ladders | Best Pool Heaters | Best Pool Filters

You Might Also Like

• The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Painter’s Tape

• The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere

• Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?