Quick verdict
The best big frame pool for the money. Budget real effort for ground prep and treat the included ladder and cover as starting points.
Ideal for
- Families who want real swimming space without excavation
- Multi-season use with proper care
- Buyers who want a sand filter included
Not ideal for
- Small yards
- Solo setup
- Set-and-forget buyers unwilling to level ground
The full picture
The Ultra XTR line is Intex's top frame-pool tier, and the 24-foot round is the one that genuinely replaces a 'real pool' experience for many families. The powder-coated steel frame resists rust better than painted budget frames, and the included sand filter pump is a meaningful upgrade over the cartridge pumps bundled with cheaper kits. The honest caveats: setup requires genuinely level ground and several helpers, the ladder is functional but basic, and like all frame pools it should be taken down or carefully winterized in hard-freeze climates. Owner feedback over multiple seasons is strong when the base prep was done right.
Intex Ultra XTR Frame Pool (24 ft x 52 in) at a glance
- Shape
- Round
- Size
- 24 ft x 52 in
- Frame
- Powder-coated galvanized steel
- Wall / liner
- Triple-layer PVC liner
- Capacity (gallons)
- 12,963
- Setup time
- Manufacturer claims ~90 min frame assembly; realistic total with ground prep is a weekend
- Included pump
- Krystal Clear sand filter pump
- Filter type
- Sand
- Ladder included
- Yes
- Cover included
- Yes
- Ground cloth included
- Yes
- People for setup
- 3
- Winterization
- Intex recommends disassembly below freezing; many owners in mild climates winterize in place at their own risk. Follow the manual for your climate.
Source: Compiled from Intex product documentation, published manual, and aggregated multi-season owner feedback. Capacity figure is the manufacturer's published spec.
This is a research-based review — our analysis draws on manufacturer specifications, manuals, warranty terms, and verified owner feedback rather than our own hands-on testing, and we note where a detail couldn't be confirmed. How we review
Performance breakdown
Research-based editorial judgments from specs, warranty terms, and verified owner feedback — not lab measurements. How we score
Pros and cons
What works
- Genuine swimming-size footprint
- Sand filter pump included — better than bundled cartridge pumps
- Powder-coated frame resists rust better than painted budget frames
- Strong multi-season owner feedback when ground prep is done right
What doesn't
- Ground prep is a real project
- Included ladder is basic
- Should be taken down or carefully winterized in freeze climates
- Needs 3+ people for setup
Best alternatives to Intex Ultra XTR Frame Pool (24 ft x 52 in)
Intex
Intex Prism Frame Pool (18 ft x 48 in)
Best mid-size family pool
The mid-size sweet spot: real family swimming room at a price and setup effort most households can handle.
Bestway
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Bestway
Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool (16 ft x 10 ft x 42 in)
Best for narrow yards
An oval footprint that fits narrow yards where round pools won't — with Bestway's step-up frame line.
Bestway
Steel Pro MAX 14' x 48"
Bestway
Bestway Steel Pro MAX Pool (14 ft x 48 in)
Best budget starter pool
The budget gateway: a genuinely usable family pool at an impulse-purchase price, with the compromises that implies.
Frequently asked questions
How level does the ground need to be?
Intex's manual requires level ground; experienced owners aim for within 1 inch across the footprint. More slope than that stresses the frame and liner and can void warranty coverage.