You’re staring at that patch of grass in the backyard and thinking about a swim. Most people immediately picture a giant circle. It’s the default. But honestly, if you have a narrow lot or you actually want to swim laps without hitting a wall every three seconds, the standard round pool is kind of a nightmare. That’s where the above ground oval pool comes in. It’s the middle ground between a cramped circular tub and a $60,000 inground installation that requires tearing up your entire life for six months.
Choosing a pool shape isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about physics. And math.
Most backyards in suburban areas are rectangular. It's just how property lines work. When you shove a 24-foot round pool into a long, skinny yard, you end up with these weird, unusable triangular dead zones of grass in the corners. You can’t fit a deck there. You can’t really mow it easily. It’s just wasted space. An oval pool follows the natural lines of a fence or a patio way better than a circle ever could. It feels intentional.
The Engineering Headache Nobody Mentions
Here’s the thing about an above ground oval pool: they are significantly harder to build than round ones. You need to know this before you buy a DIY kit off the internet.
A round pool is structurally perfect. The water pressure pushes out equally in every direction, so the tension is uniform. The pool stays up basically because it’s a circle. But an oval? An oval has long, straight sides that want to bow outward under the weight of thousands of gallons of water. Water is heavy. Really heavy. A gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds. If you have a 15x30 pool, you’re looking at roughly 13,000 gallons. That’s over 100,000 pounds of pressure trying to turn your backyard into a swamp.
To stop the walls from collapsing, manufacturers use two main types of support systems. You’ve got your traditional "A-Frame" or "Buttress" pools. These have big metal legs that stick out from the sides. They work great, but they take up an extra 3 to 4 feet of space on either side. If you’re tight on room, those buttresses are a literal tripping hazard.
Then you have "Buttress-Free" or "Slimline" systems. These use heavy-duty steel channels buried under the pool liner to hold the walls in place. It looks way cleaner. It’s also a massive pain in the neck to install because you have to trench out the ground perfectly level to seat those channels. If you’re off by an inch, your pool is going to look crooked, or worse, the structural integrity gets wonky.
Why the Shape Changes How You Swim
Let’s talk about lap swimming. You can’t really do it in a round pool. You just end up swimming in a tight circle like a goldfish in a bowl, which gets dizzying fast.
In a 33-foot above ground oval pool, you can actually get a few solid strokes in before you have to turn around. It feels like a "real" pool. It’s also better for games. Think about water volleyball. A round pool makes the court dimensions weird. In an oval, you have a natural "long" axis that fits a net perfectly. Kids love it because they can actually race from one end to the other.
The Cost Gap: Round vs. Oval
It’s going to cost you more. Period.
Expect to pay anywhere from 10% to 30% more for an oval pool than a round one of similar volume. Why? More parts. More steel. More complex liners. A round liner is easy to manufacture because it’s symmetrical. An oval liner has to be cut precisely to fit those curves and straightaways.
Installation labor is also higher. If you hire a professional crew—which, honestly, you probably should for an oval—they’re going to charge a premium. They have to spend more time on the site prep and the structural supports.
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I’ve seen plenty of people try to save money by doing it themselves. They get the kit, they level the sand, and then they realize they didn't account for the side pressure. Three years later, the wall starts to crimp. Repairing a buckled wall on an above ground oval pool is almost as expensive as buying a new one.
Real Talk on Maintenance and Liners
Liners don't last forever. Sunlight and chlorine are a brutal combination. In a typical above ground setup, you’re looking at 5 to 9 years before that vinyl starts to get brittle at the waterline.
When it comes time to replace it, finding a replacement for an oval pool is slightly more annoying. You have to be dead-on with your measurements. Is it a 15x30? Or a 16x32? Does it have a "beaded" edge or an "overlap" style?
And don't get me started on the vacuuming.
In a round pool, the water circulation is usually pretty good because the return jet creates a natural whirlpool effect. Debris tends to migrate toward the center, making it easy to clean. In an oval pool, you often get "dead spots" in the corners where the curves meet the straight sides. Leaves and silt love to settle there. You’ll probably want to invest in a decent robotic cleaner—something like a Dolphin or a Hayward—because manually vacuuming those corners every Saturday morning will make you regret your life choices.
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The Aesthetics of Your Yard
Most people choose the oval because of how it looks with a deck.
A round pool with a deck usually looks like a "hat" sitting on the water. But you can wrap a deck around an above ground oval pool in a way that mimics a high-end inground look. If you build the deck flush with the top rail and use some nice stone or lattice to hide the exterior walls, it completely transforms the vibe.
Myths About Above Ground Pools
Some people think they’re dangerous or "cheap" looking. That’s usually because they’ve seen poorly maintained ones with rusted-out top rails and green water.
Modern resin pools—which use high-grade plastics instead of just painted steel—are incredibly durable. They don't rust. They don't get hot to the touch in the July sun. Brands like Wilbar or Doughboy have been doing this for decades, and their oval models are built like tanks.
Another myth: "They don't add value to your home."
While it's true that a pool isn't always a 1:1 investment return, in the current real estate market, a well-integrated above ground oval pool with a professional deck is a huge selling point for families. It’s an "instant lifestyle" upgrade. People want a place to cool off without spending $100k on a hole in the ground that they can't remove if they change their minds later.
Making the Final Call
If you have a massive, wide-open square lot and you’re on a tight budget, buy a round pool. It’s cheaper, easier to put up, and holds more water for the price.
But if you have a narrow yard, or you want the pool to look like a part of your landscaping rather than an afterthought, the above ground oval pool is the winner. Just make sure you’re ready for the extra work during the installation phase.
Steps to take before you buy:
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- Check your local setbacks. Most towns require the pool to be a certain distance from the property line (often 5 to 10 feet). An oval pool helps you stay within these lines while maximizing swim space.
- Call your electric company. You’ll need a dedicated 20-amp circuit for the pump. Don't run this on an extension cord from the garage. It’s a fire hazard and it’ll burn out your motor.
- Soil Test. If you have "expansive clay" soil, an oval pool needs even more structural support. The ground shifting can wreck those side buttresses.
- Permits. Don't skip them. If you build an oval pool without a permit and a neighbor complains, the city can literally force you to drain it and tear it down.
An oval pool isn't just a place to get wet. It's a design choice that respects the shape of your home. It’s for the person who wants the functionality of a lap pool but doesn't have the space or the budget for a concrete beast. It’s a smart move, provided you don't cut corners on the foundation. Get the ground level. Get the supports right. Then grab a drink and get in the water.