You’re standing in your backyard, measuring tape in hand, trying to visualize a summer that doesn't involve driving to the overcrowded municipal park. You want deep. You want a pool where a grown adult can actually tread water without scraping their knees on a liner. Naturally, you start looking for 5 foot above ground swimming pools. It sounds like the perfect middle ground, right? But here’s the thing—if you go into a local pool store and ask for a "five-foot pool," the guy behind the counter is probably going to give you a look.
Standard above-ground pools usually come in two heights: 48 inches and 52 inches. Lately, 54-inch walls have become the high-end standard. A true 60-inch wall (that’s your 5 feet) exists, but it’s a rare beast in the world of retail kits. Most people who say they want a 5-foot pool are actually looking for that 54-inch wall and a bit of a trick with the sand floor.
It’s about the "water line," not just the steel.
The Wall Height Myth vs. Actual Depth
When you buy a pool advertised with a 52-inch or 54-inch wall, you aren't getting 54 inches of water. Physics won't allow it. You need about 4 to 6 inches of "freeboard" at the top so the skimmer can actually do its job and suck in the floating debris. If you fill it to the brim, you’re just making a mess.
So, how do you get a true 5 foot above ground swimming pool experience? You dig.
Experienced installers often use a "dish out" method. They’ll build the frame on level ground but excavate the center of the pool floor into a gentle hopper shape. By scooping out an extra 6 to 12 inches of dirt from the middle and covering it with a flexible vinyl liner, you suddenly have a "deep end" in an above-ground pool. It’s a game-changer. You go from a pool that feels like a bathtub to one where you can actually submerge your shoulders.
I’ve seen plenty of DIYers try to just buy a taller wall, thinking it’s the easy way out. Brands like Doughboy are famous for their "expandable" liners that allow for this extra depth. If you try to stretch a standard liner into a 5-foot deep hole, it’s going to thin out, get brittle, and pop like a balloon within two seasons. Don't do that.
Why 60-Inch Walls are Hard to Find
Most manufacturers stick to the 52/54-inch range because of structural integrity. Water is heavy. Really heavy. A gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds. When you start pushing into 5-foot wall heights, the outward pressure on those steel or resin vertical supports becomes massive.
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- Safety concerns: Taller walls mean higher decks and more stringent fencing requirements in many counties.
- Shipping costs: Standardized 52-inch panels fit on standard pallets. Once you go to 60 inches, shipping logistics get weird and expensive.
- The Liner Factor: Standard lap-seam liners are cut for 48 or 52 inches. Finding a stock 60-inch liner usually requires a custom order, which can double the price of the vinyl.
If you’re dead set on a 60-inch side wall without digging, you’re looking at brands like Aquasport or certain semi-inground models from Radiant Pools. These use "slat-wall" construction—thick extruded aluminum slats that slide together like a puzzle—rather than a single long sheet of corrugated steel. It’s basically a tank. It’s also going to cost you roughly three times what a "standard" above-ground pool costs at a big-box retailer.
The Cost of those Extra Inches
Let's talk money. A basic 24-foot round pool with a 52-inch wall might set you back $3,000 to $5,000 for the kit. Moving up to a 54-inch wall adds a few hundred bucks. But trying to reach that 5-foot depth through a "deep-end" excavation? That’s where the labor costs spike.
You aren't just moving more dirt. You need more masonry sand. You need an installer who knows how to taper the edges so the pool doesn't collapse inward. You need a specialized expandable liner.
Total cost for a professionally installed 5 foot above ground swimming pool (via the dish-out method) often lands between $8,000 and $12,000. Is it worth it? If you have teenagers or you’re a tall adult, absolutely. If you just want to sit in a floaty with a beer, a 48-inch wall is honestly fine.
Maintenance is a Different Ballgame
Deep water means more volume. More volume means more chemicals.
A 24-foot round pool with a flat bottom at 4 feet holds about 13,500 gallons. If you dish that out to a 5-foot center, you’re looking at closer to 15,000 or 16,000 gallons. That might not seem like a huge jump, but it changes your pump run-time requirements. You need a pump and filter system that can turn over that extra water every 8 to 10 hours.
Most "packaged" pool deals come with a 1-horsepower pump. For a deeper pool, you really want a 1.5-horsepower variable speed pump. It’ll save you money on electricity in the long run, and it’ll actually have the muscle to push water through a salt-chlorine generator if you decide to go that route.
And cleaning? Forget about those cheap suction-side vacuums that bounce around the floor. If you have a sloped floor to get that 5-foot depth, those little vacuums will just get stuck in the "deep" part and stay there. You’ll need a robotic cleaner—something like a Dolphin Nautilus—that can climb slopes and handle the geometry of a dished-out floor.
The Safety Reality Nobody Mentions
Here is the "honest talk" part. Above-ground pools are generally safer than inground pools because they have a built-in "fence"—the wall itself. But when you have a 5 foot above ground swimming pool, the deck is higher. The ladder is steeper.
Insurance companies are also getting pickier. Some providers view a 5-foot depth as a "diving risk," even though you should never dive into an above-ground pool. Ever. I don't care how deep you dug it. The transition from the 5-foot center to the 4-foot edge happens fast, and hitting that slope is a recipe for a spinal injury.
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Before you commit, check your local building codes. Many towns require a permit for anything deeper than 24 inches. Some specifically mandate that if your pool is over 48 inches high, you must have a self-closing, self-latching gate on your deck.
Buying Guide: What to Look For
If you’re shopping for a pool that can handle a 5-foot depth, ignore the shiny photos of happy families. Look at the specs.
- Top Rails: You want 8-inch rails or wider. This adds lateral stability.
- Wall Coating: Look for "Galvanized" and "Plastisol" or "Resin" coatings. If the wall is just painted steel, it will rust within 5 years due to the extra pressure and moisture of a deep-bottom setup.
- Liner Gauge: For a 5-foot depth, do not settle for a 20-gauge liner. You want a 25-gauge or a "heavy-duty" perma-bead liner. It needs the elasticity to handle the slope without tearing at the seams.
- Saltwater Compatibility: If you want a salt pool, the walls must be resin or specially treated aluminum. Traditional steel walls and salt water are enemies.
Installation Realities
You can't just hire any neighborhood kid to install a deep-bottom above-ground pool. It requires a specific "sand-to-cement" ratio on the slopes (often called a pool mix or "vermiculite" in higher-end setups) to ensure the floor stays put.
If you use plain masonry sand for a 5-foot deep center, the first time someone jumps in, their feet will slide the sand down into the middle. Within a month, your floor will look like the surface of the moon—full of craters and lumps. A professional installer will use a damp-tamp method to lock that sand in place before the liner goes over it.
Actionable Next Steps for Homeowners
- Measure your yard's slope: If your yard already drops 5 feet over 20 feet, you might be better off with a semi-inground pool that sits halfway in the dirt.
- Call your insurance agent: Ask specifically if a "54-inch pool with a dished-out bottom" affects your premium. Better to know now than after the water bill arrives.
- Check the "True" Wall Height: Verify if the "5 foot" claim refers to the steel wall or the intended water depth. Most often, it's a marketing exaggeration for a 52-inch wall.
- Source an Expandable Liner: If you plan on digging deep, search specifically for "expandable vinyl liners" from brands like Swimline or Gladon. A standard "overlap" liner isn't designed for the stretch.
- Upgrade the Ladder: Most "A-frame" ladders that come in pool kits are flimsy. For a deeper pool, invest in a "drop-in" staircase with double handrails. It makes the 5-foot climb much safer for kids and seniors.
Finding a 5 foot above ground swimming pool is less about finding a specific box at a store and more about how you choose to install it. If you prioritize a heavy-duty 54-inch resin frame and a professional "deep-end" excavation, you’ll end up with a backyard oasis that feels significantly more premium than the shallow tubs your neighbors are using. Just remember to account for the extra chemical demand and the need for a beefier filtration system to keep that deep water clear.
Expert Insight: If a dealer tells you that you can dive into a 5-foot above-ground pool because it’s "deep enough," walk away. No above-ground pool, regardless of the "dish out," is designed for diving. The risk of hitting the side-slope is too high. Stick to treading water and floating.