One of the best ways to ensure a healthy and clean pool is by correctly sizing its pump and filter system. You can make many combinations when you consider the various options you can choose for either component.

Pump Options

Horsepower
Single Speed or Dual Speed
Plug Type: 3-Prong or Twist-Lock

Horsepower

A pool pump’s horsepower tells you how much water the pump can push. The higher the horsepower, the higher the flow rate. The horsepower is the primary consideration when determining which pump suits your pool size. Unlike inground pool pumps, the make and model of an above ground pool pump matters less because most pump models will have similar flow rates when comparing the same HP.

Suggested Pump HP for Round Pools:

¾ Horsepower: 8’ to 15’ Round
1 Horsepower: 15’ to 24’ Round
1-1/2 Horsepower: 24’ to 36’ Round

Suggested Pump HP for Oval Pools:

¾ Horsepower: 12’ X 17’ to 12’ X 24’
1 Horsepower: 12’ X 24’ to 15’ X 27’
1-1/2 Horsepower: 15’ X 27’ to 18’ X 33’

Single Speed Vs. Dual Speed

Most above ground pool pumps are single-speed, but if you’re interested in long-term cost savings, a dual-speed motor is the better choice. Some states may have energy conservation laws that require you to install a dual (or multi-speed) pump.

Plug Type

Three-prong plugs are the standard for American households; most above ground pool pumps use them. Twist-lock plugs have prongs that must be inserted into the matching slots, and then the plug is twisted to lock it into place. This twist-lock mechanism ensures a secure and stable connection, which is useful in applications where vibration or movement is a concern.

Filter Options

Filter Type: Sand, Cartridge, or Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Size - Square Footage

Sand, Cartridge, or DE

One of the toughest equipment decisions a pool owner will make when building their pool is the type of filter to install. The sand, cartridge, or DE filter options can be a little tricky to discern, so let’s simplify it.

Sand

The least expensive upfront cost
Easy Installation and Operation
It takes up the most space on the equipment pad
Worst Filtering Quality - 20-40 micron dirt particles.

Cartridge

Mid-range for the upfront cost
The most straightforward maintenance of the three
Most Compact option
Filtering Quality - 10-micron dirt particles

Best Filtering Quality - 1-3 micron dirt particles
Most expensive filter
Requires most maintenance effort of the three
Relatively complicated, it leads to higher costs late in the filter’s life

Filter Size

When selecting the filter size for your pool, the best route is to oversize the filter; the larger you go, the longer you can go between cleanings. An undersized filter leads to more maintenance, like cleanings and inspections, as well as possible water pressure issues caused by a bottleneck in the filter.

The size range depends on the filter media; sand filters usually use tank size, while cartridge and DE filters use square footage.

Recommended Filter Size for Round Pools

Sand Filter

8’ to 15’ Round: 14-Inch Tank & Up
15’ to 24’ Round: 16-Inch Tank & Up
24’ to 36’ Round: 18-Inch Tank & Up

Cartridge

8’ to 15’ Round:- 50 sq. ft & Up
15’ to 24’ Round - 75 sq. ft & Up
24’ to 36’ Round - 90 sq. ft & up

8’ to 24’ Round - 15 sq ft & Up
24’ to 36’ Round - 20 sq ft & Up

Recommended Filter Size for Oval Pools

Sand

12’ X 17’ to 12’ X 24’ - 14-Inch Tank & Up
12’ X 24’ to 15’ X 27’ - 16-Inch Tank & Up
15’ X 27’ to 18’ X 33’ - 18-Inch Tank & Up

Cartridge

12’ X 17’ to 12’ X 24’ - 50 sq. ft & Up
12’ X 24’ to 15’ X 27’ - 75 sq. ft & Up
15’ X 27’ to 18’ X 33’ - 90 sq. ft & Up

12’ X 17’ to 15’ X 27’ - 15 sq ft & Up
15’ X 27’ to 18’ X 33’ - 20 sq ft & Up