4 Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum 2023 Picks

Aiper pool vacuum in an above ground pool surrounded by clear blue water

Initially, when you first buy your above ground pool and have it installed, you probably thought, hey what’s the big deal, I can clean this thing by hand.  At first it’s fun to use the tools attached to the aluminum pole, the leaf skimmer, the brush, etcetera.  But after a while, you will find yourself looking into alternatives to cleaning your pool by hand.  You may ask yourself what is the best above ground pool vacuum?  In this article we will review the best above ground pool cleaning methods, and our recommended products within each category.

Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Manual

First, there is the the good old manual vacuum head.  These are an essential component to just about every pool tool set.  You plug a hose into the skimmer, and the other end onto the vacuum head. Connect the vacuum head to your aluminum pole, and you’re in business.  This does require you to manually move the vacuum around the pool, and clean it, but it’s certainly better than trying to sweep everything into a pile and scoop it out.  We recommend the Milliard swimming pool vacuum.  These are shaped in such a way to be safe for vinyl liners, so you won’t risk a tear by moving it improperly.

Deal
Milliard Pool and Spa Vacuum Head / 13” Wide/Safe for Inground, Above Ground and Vinyl Pools
  • Easy Cleaning – Milliard’s pool vacuum head is weighted so it sinks right to the bottom of your pool and stays there. The air-relief valve…
  • Soft Brushes – the brushes that run along the entire edge of this 13” wide pool brush are made from polypropylene bristles that are firmer than…
  • Universal Fit – the vacuum port fits standard 1.25” and 1.5” vacuum hoses and the handle has spring loaded locking clips making it easy to…

Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Rechargeable & Manual

Next, there’s the rechargeable manual vacuum.  These are a great invention.  A relatively new product, these allow you to vacuum your pool manually without fiddling around with the hose and skimmer.  Our favorite is the Pool Blaster Max

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POOL BLASTER Max Cordless Pool Vacuum for Deep Cleaning & Strong Suction, Handheld Rechargeable Swimming Pool Cleaner…
  • INCREASED POWER: The Max offers increased vacuum suction with the Water Tech P30 Motor design engineered for quick & efficient debris pick-up.
  • WHOLE POOL CLEANER: Clean entire pool or Spot-Clean in seconds. Includes a removeable 10.5” vacuum head for general cleaning or simple remove to…
  • CAPTURE MORE DIRT: The Max features a large debris capture chamber and strong suction for a variety of cleaning; acorns, twigs, leaves dirt and sand.

One of the major benefits here, is you don’t have to clean your pool filter when you’re done vacuuming, as all the debris is collected in the vacuum itself.  You still need to manually push the vacuum head around the pool to clean, but there is not a hose or a cord to worry about as you vacuum the pool, so the process is much smoother and less cumbersome.

Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Cordless & Automated

When searching for the best above ground pool vacuum, you may be wondering, is there an alternative to pushing the vacuum around the pool.  Isn’t there something you can just drop into the pool, forget about for a couple hours and then pull out of the pool when it’s done vacuuming?  Yes, there is and it’s called the cordless vacuum.  These operate on a battery charge, and automatically cover the entire floor surface while they vacuum your above ground pool. We recommend the Aiper Seagull SE for above ground pools.

(2023 Upgrade) AIPER Seagull SE Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner, Pool Vacuum Lasts 90 Mins, LED Indicator, Self-Parking,…
  • CORDLESS & EASY TO USE: No more messy hoses and no more tangled cords. The Seagull SE is completely cordless and hassle-free! Simply power your…
  • INCREASED BATTERY LIFE: The newly designed battery only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge and provides over 90 minutes of cleaning capabilities. Ideal…
  • POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with powerful dual-drive motors, the Seagull SE tracks down and collects the most types of dirt and debris with ease….

The Aiper SE will automatically park near the wall of the pool when its batter charge is low, or the cleaning cycle is done.  They include a hook which makes retrieval easy. There is no need to jump in the pool to collect it.

Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Corded & Automated

What if you are looking for the best above ground pool vacuum but you don’t trust the idea of a battery powered cleaner?  Maybe you want a plug in vacuum with a high powered head.  If so, you may be a candidate for a plug in pool vacuum.  These have been around for far longer than their cordless cousins, and are known to the industry as reliable workhorses. We recommend the Dolphin E10.

Dolphin E10 Robotic Pool [Vacuum] Cleaner – Ideal for Above Ground Swimming Pools up to 30 Feet – Powerful Suction to…
  • The easy way to a clean pool. The Dolphin E10 robotic pool vacuum cleaner was designed specifically for above-ground swimming pools, making it the…
  • Take back your free time. The Dolphin E10 will have your pool cleaned in a quick 1.5 hours. Just imagine how much you can get done with one less chore…
  • Dolphin does all the hard work for you. The E10 was designed to clean your pool, effortlessly. With superior filtering and floor scrubbing…

The Dolphin E10 is one of the best value pool cleaners you can buy for above ground pools.  Dolphin has been in the pool cleaning business for 35 years and is known to be one of the most hassle free providers of pool cleaners in the business.  

close up image of the best above ground pool vacuum the dolphin E10 model sitting on a shed

Pro Tip: Invest In A Pool Vacuum Caddy

Once you’ve figured out what the best above ground pool vacuum is for you, you can move on to accessories.  If you have a robotic pool cleaner you may want to consider a pool cleaner caddy.  These make it easy to move your cleaner from the garage or shed to the side of the pool where you drop it in.  They also make wrapping up the cord a cinch.

Dolphin Genuine Accessory – Universal Caddy for Any Robotic Pool [Vacuum] Cleaner – Ideal for Transporting and Storing -…
  • Universal Caddy is compatible with all residential Dolphin cleaners. This durable, light-weight Dolphin Caddy makes transporting your cleaner a…
  • Stress-free storage. The caddy provides a proper storage solution and keeps pressure off the scrubbing brushes, allowing them to maintain their form.
  • Protect your power supply. The caddy conveniently provides a secure place to hold your power supply.

Above Ground Pool Vacuum Summary

As you can see, there are many types of pool vacuums for you to consider. Some of these options are more expensive but reduce your effort. Other pool vacuums are quite affordable but require you to manually assist. Either way, we hope you feel confident in finding a good above ground pool vacuum regardless of type.