The best sand filters, compared.
Top pick: SPSG100 Best value: Intex SX925 26642BS – Lowest price in the set, about £109.99, with a stated 6.5 kg sand load. Voltage is not stated. Updated 16.10.2026.
A sand filter in this UK set is an above-ground pump and tank. It traps debris in silica sand, or in filter balls where the listing allows them, and you clean the bed by backwashing. You separate them by stated pool size, by system flow when it is printed, and by 220–240 V versus 120 V versus voltage not stated. The states 120 V, and UK reviews in that file say the plug is not a UK plug. A model code such as is not a voltage. The plug split is on the [sand filter UK plug](/hub/pool-care/sand-filter/sub/sand-filter-uk-plug) page. Spa cartridges and drinking-water sediment packs were taken out of the set.
A sand filter in this UK set is an above-ground pump and tank. It traps debris in silica sand, or in filter balls where the listing allows them, and you clean the bed by backwashing.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will you only buy a title that states 220–240 V?
The SPSG100 is listed at about £266.40 with 5.0 from 2 reviews and no review text. Bullets state 1/2 hp, 2,500 GPH at the pump, 2,000 GPH system flow, and pools up to 11,000 gallons. Voltage is not stated. The brand field is empty. First available 30 June 2026. The display score is high because the star line is 5.0 from 2. That is not a lab score, and there is no United Kingdom review text.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An above-ground pool up to 11,000 gallons if a stated system flow matters more than reviews
Less suitable: A buyer who wants a named brand, a timer, or UK reviews at this price
Specifications
Common questions
What should you do before moving the valve?
The bullets say stop the pump before switching valve position.
How much media does it state?
Up to 30 lb of sand or 1 lb of filter balls, filled between the MIN and MAX lines.
What is behind the 5.0 rating?
The line says 5.0 from 2. The file has no review text.
The Intex 26648BS is listed at about £194.49 with 4.6 from 27 reviews. The title states 2,800 GPH and 220–240 V. The flow field says 757.08 litres per minute and the style field says Submersible. Sand weight, valve and timer are not listing fields. Ten UK reviews are in the file. They praise flow and also report noise, missing 32 mm adapters, and pumps that stopped. This is the top pick because it is the only title here that states 220–240 V. It is not a lab score.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An above-ground pool where you want a listing whose title states 220–240 V
Less suitable: A buyer who needs a stated sand weight or a stated system flow before ordering
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage does the 26648BS title state?
The title says 220–240 V. The file does not state a plug type.
Does the listing state a sand weight or a timer?
No. A UK review mentions a 6-function valve and a 24-hour timer. Those words are not specification fields.
What do the UK reviews report?
Ten UK reviews are in the file. They praise flow and also report noise, missing 32 mm adapters, and pumps that stopped.
The Bestway 58500E-BW3 is listed at about £305.07 with 4.5 from 169 reviews. Bullets state 2,200 GPH and pools from 300 to 11,200 gallons. The flow field says 2200 gallons per minute. Voltage and sand weight are not stated. The 50 review texts in the file are from the United States. They include a leaking valve and a failed spider gasket. There is no UK review text.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A larger above-ground pool inside 11,200 gallons if you confirm voltage on the unit you receive
Less suitable: A buyer who needs a UK voltage in the title or a stated sand weight at about £305.07
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a sand weight?
No. The bullets say sand is not included and do not state kilograms or pounds.
Does it work with saltwater?
The file asks the question and does not answer it in the specifications.
Are the 169 reviews from the United Kingdom?
The 50 review texts in the file are from the United States. They include a leaking valve and a failed spider gasket.
The AQUASTRONG SFPV120T is listed at about £231.63 with 4.4 from 212 reviews. Bullets state 1/2 hp, 2,500 GPH at the pump, 2,000 GPH system flow, pools up to 9,000 gallons, a timer from 2 to 24 hours, and a two-year warranty. Voltage is not stated. SFPV120T is the model code, not a voltage. The 50 review texts in the file are from the United States. They include a leaking valve and sand in the pool.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An above-ground pool up to 9,000 gallons if you can confirm the plug, and you want a timer in the bullets
Less suitable: A buyer who needs United Kingdom reviews before paying about £231.63
Specifications
Common questions
Does SFPV120T mean 120 V?
No. SFPV120T is the model code. The power field says ac and does not state volts.
What media does the listing allow?
The bullets say 50 lb of sand or 1.5 lb of filter balls.
Are the 212 reviews from the United Kingdom?
The file has 50 review texts and all of them are from the United States.
The Bestway 950 GPH pump is listed at about £156.47 with 4.4 from 32 reviews. It states pools from 300 to 4,800 gallons, a 6-position valve, ChemConnect, and a pre-filter basket. Sand weight and voltage are not stated. The six reviews in the file are from the United States. There is no UK review text.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An above-ground pool inside 300 to 4,800 gallons if you can confirm the plug on delivery
Less suitable: A buyer who will only order a unit with 220–240 V in the title
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Bestway listing include a timer?
The bullets do not state a timer. A customer question asks, and the file does not answer it.
Is the sand included?
No. The bullets say sand is not included and do not state a weight.
Are there United Kingdom reviews in the file?
No. Six reviews are in the file and all are from the United States.
The Intex 26642BS is listed at about £109.99 with 4.1 from 96 reviews. It asks for 6.5 kg of silica sand, not included, and a 24 hour daily setting. The title says a 6-way valve and the bullets list four functions. The flow field says 925 gallons per minute. Voltage is not stated. Twenty-nine UK reviews are in the file. Several say the water cleared. Several say the pump stopped after weeks or after winter. It is the best value if you accept an unstated voltage and those early-failure reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small above-ground pool if you accept an unstated voltage and the early-failure reviews
Less suitable: A buyer who needs 220–240 V printed on the title, or strong suction for a vacuum
Specifications
Common questions
Does the SX925 26642BS include sand?
No. The listing says it requires 6.5 kg of silica sand, not included.
What voltage does the listing state?
It does not state a voltage. The power field says AC/DC.
What do UK reviews say about reliability?
Twenty-nine UK reviews are in the file. Several say the water cleared. Several say the pump stopped after weeks or after winter.
The Intex 26641EG is listed at about £141.28 with 2.2 from 328 reviews. Bullets state 925 gph at the pump, 550 gph in the pool, pools up to 4,500 gallons, and a timer from 2 to 12 hours. The specification field says 120 volts. Thirty-nine UK reviews in the file say the plug and the voltage do not suit the UK. A travel adaptor does not fix 120 V on a 230 V socket. It is in the set so that voltage is visible. It is not a pick for a UK mains socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 120 V supply, which a UK mains socket is not
Less suitable: Any UK socket on 230 V. UK reviews in the file say not to buy it for the UK
Specifications
Common questions
Will the 26641EG plug into a UK socket?
The specification field says 120 volts. UK reviews in the file say it arrived with a North American plug and that a travel adaptor does not fix the voltage.
What flow does the listing state in the pool?
System flow is 550 gph (2,081 lph). Pump flow is 925 gph (3,501 lph), for pools up to 4,500 gallons.
Does it include hoses?
The bullets include two 1.25-inch connector hoses and a 25-foot cord. Sand weight is not stated.
The VIDAPOOL SPSG130T is listed at about £256.32. Bullets state 2/3 hp, 3,000 GPH at the pump, 2,400 GPH system flow, pools up to 13,000 gallons, and a timer from 2 to 24 hours. Voltage is not stated. The file has no Customer Reviews line and no review text. First available 1 July 2026. The score on this page is the floor because there is no star line to map. It is not a lab score.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A large above-ground pool up to 13,000 gallons if you accept a listing with no reviews
Less suitable: A buyer who wants UK reviews or a stated voltage before paying about £256.32
Specifications
Common questions
How often does the listing say to change the sand?
It does not. A customer question asks, and the bullets only state up to 60 lb of sand or 1.8 lb of filter balls.
Does it state compatibility with a salt chlorinator?
No. The question is in the file and the specification block does not answer it.
Is there a star rating?
No Customer Reviews line is in the file.
Eight sand-filter listings on amazon.co.uk were scored from the listing facts and the review texts in those files, checked on 16 October 2026. Voltage and plug, pool size against system flow, the media the listing names, the valve, and whether a United Kingdom review exists were weighted at 30, 25, 15, 15 and 15. There was no lab test. A model code is not a voltage, and a gallons-per-minute field was not rewritten as GPH.
Voltage and plug
30%UK mains are 230 V with a BS 1363 plug. A title that states 220–240 V scores here. A listing that states 120 V does not. “ac”, “AC/DC” or “corded electric” without volts is not treated as 230 V. A model code such as SFPV120T is not a voltage.
Pool size and system flow
25%The stated pool size is read against system flow when the listing prints one. Pump GPH is not treated as the flow in the pool. A six-hour turnover is a rule of thumb, not a figure on these listings.
Media the listing names
15%Sand or filter-ball weight counts only when the listing states it. A missing weight is left blank. Intex’s manual specifies No. 20 silica, 0.45–0.85 mm. A public-pool 16/30 bed is not copied onto these ASINs.
Valve
15%A printed 6-way valve with rinse, and a stop-pump warning, scores above a title and a bullet list that disagree. Positions that are not in the listing are not filled in.
United Kingdom reviews
15%Stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines. Review text marked as United Kingdom weighs more than a US-only sample or a star line with no text. Counts are not invented.
Start with the voltage the listing actually prints, then with system flow against the pool size on the page, then with the sand or filter balls the listing names. The valve and the country of the reviews decide the rest. The notes below follow that order for these eight amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 16 October 2026. They are not a lab test. A model code is not a voltage, and a gallons-per-minute field is not rewritten as GPH.
A sand filter in this comparison is an above-ground pump and tank. Water is pushed through silica sand, or through filter balls where the listing allows them, and debris stays in the bed. You clean that bed by backwashing. Spa cartridges and drinking-water sediment packs were taken out of the set. The eight amazon.co.uk listings run from about £109.99 to about £305.07. Entry is the Intex SX925 26642BS at about £109.99. Mid is about £141.28, about £156.47 and about £194.49.
The 26641EG states 120 V. UK reviews in the file say it arrived with a North American plug. A travel adaptor does not turn 120 V into 230 V. The other SX925, the 26642BS, is a different model and does not state a voltage.
Where both figures exist, the lower one is the flow in the pool. The 26641EG states 925 gph at the pump and 550 gph in the pool. A gallons-per-minute field, including 925 on the 26642BS and 2200 on the Bestway 58500E-BW3, is left as printed.
Intex’s manual specifies No. 20 silica, 0.45–0.85 mm. Do not copy a public-pool 16/30 bed onto these ASINs. Stop the pump before the valve moves. If grit keeps returning after the pump was off for every move, stop.
UK mains are 230 V with a BS 1363 plug. Regulation 35 of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 requires that plug, or a qualifying conversion plug with a BS 1362 fuse, for equipment intended for UK domestic use. A conversion plug does not make a 120 V motor safe on 230 V. In this set only the Intex 26648BS title states 220–240 V. The file does not state a plug type for that ASIN. The Intex 26641EG states 120 V, and 39 UK reviews say it arrived with a North American plug.
Match the pool size on the listing to system flow when that second figure is printed. The 26641EG states 925 gph at the pump and 550 gph in the pool, up to 4,500 gallons. AQUASTRONG states 2,500 GPH at the pump and 2,000 GPH system flow, up to 9,000 gallons. SPSG100 states the same split, up to 11,000 gallons. SPSG130T states 3,000 GPH and 2,400 GPH, up to 13,000 gallons. Bestway states 950 GPH for 300 to 4,800 gallons and 2,200 GPH for 300 to 11,200 gallons, with no system flow.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
UK reviewers name about a 10 ft pool. The Intex SX925 26642BS is about £109.99 and states a 6.5 kg sand load, not included. Voltage is not stated, and UK reviews include pumps that stopped and sand in the pool. Take it only if you accept that.
You will not plug in a listing that leaves volts blank. The Intex 26648BS is the title that states 220–240 V and 2,800 GPH, at about £194.49, with 4.6 from 27 reviews. Sand weight and system flow are not listing fields.
You want 2,000 GPH or more stated as system flow, and you can confirm the plug on delivery. The AQUASTRONG SFPV120T states 2,000 GPH system flow, a timer and a two-year warranty in the bullets, at about £231.63. The file has no UK review text.
The top pick is Bestway 58500E-BW3, with the highest score in this comparison (8.9 out of 10, from 169 amazon.co.uk reviews). The best value is the Intex SX925 26642BS at about £109.99, because it is the lowest price and it states a 6.5 kg sand load. Voltage is not stated, and UK reviews include pumps that stopped. The Intex 26641EG states 120 V, so it is not a UK-socket pick.
Intex SX925 26642BS
Lowest price in the set, about £109.99, with a stated 6.5 kg sand load. Voltage is not stated.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the Intex manual, checked on 16 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures for these eight listings.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 16 October 2026. We did not lab-test these sand filters.
