Backyard pool with a raised spa, covered patio and a robotic pool cleaner resting on the deck in late-afternoon light

Your Landing Spot for All Things Swimming Pool Related

Pool equipment reviews, 200+ care guides, backyard design ideas, free calculators, and local pool pros in all 50 states.

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Tested in real backyard pools since 2022

Reviews, Care, Design & Local Help

Start With What You Need

Shopping for a cleaner, planning a build, or sorting out cloudy water? Choose a section below.

Dolphin Premier robotic pool cleaner sitting on the pool deck after a test run

Reviews Hands-on, scored reviews of robotic cleaners, pumps & water monitors. Browse reviews →

Robotic pool cleaner perched on the edge of a backyard pool

Buying Guides Rankings and head-to-head comparisons organized by budget and pool type. Browse buying guides →

Infinity-edge pool with poolside cabanas in late-afternoon light

Design Ideas Pool shapes, water features, decking, lighting & build planning. Browse design guides →

Pool builder reviewing plans with homeowners beside their new backyard pool

Find a Pool Builder Builder profiles by city, with photos, reviews & contact details. Search builder profiles →

Pool water test kit sitting on the coping beside clear blue water

Pool School 200+ how-to guides on chemistry, maintenance & common problems. Browse care guides →

Adding reagent drops to a pool water test kit poolside

Free Tools Chemical, volume, salt, shock & pump run-time calculators. Open the tools →

Pool service technician testing the water at a residential pool

Find Pool Service Cleaning, maintenance & repair listings organized by location and reviews. Search service listings →

Aiper Scuba S1 cordless robotic pool cleaner on a sunny pool deck

Deals & Compare Current gear discounts and side-by-side cleaner comparisons. Check current deals →

Shop by Equipment Type

Pool Equipment Reviews by Category

Cleaner types, brands, pumps, and water monitors scored with the same testing criteria.

Robot Cleaner Test Results

5 Robotic Pool Cleaners That Scored Highest in 2026

We ran models side by side for months, then ranked them by cleaning coverage, filtration, features, and value, from corded Dolphins to lower-cost cordless cleaners.

See the test results

Plan the Layout

Pool Design Ideas by Shape and Feature

Compare pool shapes, water features, decks, lighting, landscaping, and outdoor kitchens before you sketch the build.

View the gallery

Shapes & Types Compare Pool Shapes See infinity, plunge, lap, and freeform layouts with the tradeoffs of each.

Features Water Features

Freeform backyard pool with natural stone waterfall and landscaping

Outdoor Living Landscaping & Decking

Backyard pool at dusk with warm underwater and landscape lighting

After Dark Pool Lighting

Small backyard plunge pool with string lights

Small Spaces Small Pool Ideas

What a Pool Costs Modern & Luxury Fiberglass Gunite Decking & Patios Pergolas Find a Builder

How We Test

What Goes Into Each Product Score

We buy products at retail, run them in backyard pools, and score coverage, filtration, features, and value so you can compare models for your pool.

Run in Backyard Pools

Cleaners take on leaves, sand, floors, walls, and waterlines over repeated cycles, not just a quick demonstration.

Purchased at Retail

We purchase test units and do not accept free units, sponsorships, or payment for rankings.

One Scoring Rubric

Coverage, filtration, features, and value are rated the same way in each review, with notes explaining the score.

See the Robot Rankings Read our testing process

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Pool Chemical, Volume & Planning Calculators

Enter your pool details to estimate chemical doses, water volume, salt, shock, pump run time, or financing.

Chemical Calculator Estimate chlorine, pH & alkalinity doses Volume Calculator Estimate pool volume in gallons Salt Calculator Estimate how much salt to add Shock Calculator Estimate a pool shock dose Pump Run-Time Estimate daily filtration hours Loan Calculator Estimate pool financing payments

Browse all calculators

Who Writes PoolPad

Pool Owners With Operator Training

PoolPad started with a backyard pool and a lot of questions. Our founders completed professional pool operator training, and the team maintains, tests, and troubleshoots pools through each season. Those poolside notes shape our guides, scores, and how-tos.

Water-care guidance is checked against published industry standards. Equipment reviews pair the same scoring rubric with long-term use in our pools.

Certified pool operators — trained in water chemistry & equipment standards

30+ products and 500+ test hours across cleaners, pumps & pool-care products

Read About Our Process