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A ground cloth under an above-ground pool isn’t optional padding — it’s what keeps sharp stones, roots, and grass from working through the pool’s liner from underneath, which is a much harder leak to find than one caused by something in the water. Match the size to your pool’s actual footprint (extend 2-3 feet past the edge) and shape (round vs. square) before anything else. Here are five real ground-cloth products currently sold for this exact use.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INTEX 28048E Pool Ground Cloth (8ft-15ft Round) | $20-$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | INTEX 15.5′ Square Pool Ground Cloth | $25-$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Bestway Flowclear Ground Cloth (13′ x 13′) | $20-$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Aulock Heavy-Duty Pool Ground Cloth (16.4′ x 16.4′) | $25-$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | CIEOVO 12Ft Square Swimming Pool Ground Cloth | $15-$25 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
INTEX 28048E Pool Ground Cloth (8ft-15ft Round)
Intex’s own-brand ground cloth sized for their common round frame and Easy Set pool range — the straightforward match if you already own an Intex pool.
- Sized for 8ft-15ft round above-ground pools
- Intex-branded, matched to Intex pool footprints
- Easy same-brand match if you own an Intex pool
- Widely available
- Round only — square/rectangular pools need a different cut
INTEX 15.5′ Square Pool Ground Cloth
The square-cut counterpart to Intex’s round ground cloth, sized to lay flat under 8ft-15ft round pools while still fully covering a square footprint underneath.
- 15.5′ x 15.5′ square coverage
- Rated for 8ft-15ft round pools set on top
- More overlap/protection margin than a pool-shaped cut
- Best-seller status at multiple retailers
- Extra material at the corners needs folding/trimming for a tidy setup
Bestway Flowclear Ground Cloth (13′ x 13′)
Bestway’s own ground cloth for their Flowclear pool line, protecting the lawn underneath as much as the pool itself — spilled water pools on top of the cloth instead of turning the ground beneath into mud.
- 13′ x 13′ coverage
- Also sold in an 11′ x 11′ size
- Protects your lawn from spill/overflow water, not just the liner
- Same-brand match for Bestway pool owners
- Sized for Bestway’s own pool range — check coverage against a different brand’s pool
Aulock Heavy-Duty Pool Ground Cloth (16.4′ x 16.4′)
A third-party heavy-duty option sized larger than most brand-own ground cloths, giving extra overlap margin for 8ft-15ft frame and inflatable-top-ring pools.
- 16.4′ x 16.4′ waterproof PE liner pad
- Rated for 8ft-15ft frame and inflatable-ring pools
- Larger coverage than most same-price competitors
- Works across multiple pool brands, not just one
- Bigger sheet means more excess material to fold/tuck at the edges on smaller pools
CIEOVO 12Ft Square Swimming Pool Ground Cloth
A budget square ground cloth/liner pad sized for smaller above-ground setups, positioned as a protector pad rather than a premium heavy-duty tarp.
- 12ft x 12ft square coverage
- Waterproof liner-pad material
- Lower price point for smaller pools
- Simple square cut, easy to lay flat
- Smaller coverage than Aulock or Intex’s 15.5′ option — check it actually exceeds your pool’s footprint
Buying tips
- Size up, not down: buy a ground cloth that extends 2-3 feet past your pool’s actual edge, not one that matches it exactly — the overhang is what keeps water and debris from creeping in at the seam.
- Match the shape to your pool footprint (round vs. square) — a square cloth under a round pool works and gives extra corner coverage, but a round cloth under a square/rectangular pool will leave the corners exposed.
- Same-brand ground cloths (Intex-for-Intex, Bestway-for-Bestway) are sized to that brand’s own pool range — a third-party option like Aulock or CIEOVO is the move if you want one cloth to work across pool brands or need a size the pool maker doesn’t offer.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.