How to set up a Bestway paddling pool
Updated: 21 October 2026
How to set up a Bestway paddling pool starts when the box is on the lawn and the children are waiting, which is when people inflate the top ring first or reach for a compressor. Every kept Bestway ASIN in the [Bestway paddling pool comparison](/hub/swimming-pools/bestway-paddling-pool) lists no electric pump, so setup starts with ground, a pump you already own, and the order of the rings. This page is that sequence. Peter F., editor for DIY & tools, ran no lab test. A purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How to set up a Bestway paddling pool starts when the box is on the lawn and the children are waiting, which is when people inflate the top ring first or reach for a compressor.
How to set up a Bestway paddling pool starts when the box is on the lawn and the children are waiting, which is when people inflate the top ring first or reach for a compressor. Every kept Bestway ASIN in the Bestway paddling pool comparison lists no electric pump, so setup starts with ground, a pump you already own, and the order of the rings. This page is that sequence. Peter F., editor for DIY & tools, ran no lab test. A purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Pump in the box | Drain | Weight | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Bestway Bestway Summer Set paddling pool | No | Stated | 796 g | 8.6 | about £12.98 | View offer |
| Best value |  Bestway Bestway Deluxe 778 L paddling pool | No | Valve stated | 3.9 kg | 7.4 | about £40 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Bestway Bestway 12819 family paddling pool | No | Reviews only | 2.5 kg | 5.9 | about £34.99 | View offer |
On this page
Ground and pump before any air goes in
Choose a flat patch and clear stones, sticks and sharp debris. Bestway's paddling-pool warning sheet says to move the pool before you inflate. Dragging vinyl over grit causes the punctures people later blame on the plastic. Grass is fine if it is level.
No pump arrives in these boxes. Use a manual pump, or a low-pressure electric pump for air beds and pools, not a garage compressor. The warning sheet bans high-pressure inflators because they split seams. Reviewers who tried mouth inflation on a family rectangle describe sessions around two hours.
Lay the pool out and confirm the drain is closed before any chamber takes air. If you never want a pump, use an inflatable or foldable paddling pool instead.
Inflation order
Inflate the bottom chamber first, then the upper rings, and stop when the vinyl is firm but not drum-tight. If a seam strains, or the floor wrinkles, let a little air out and reposition before you continue. Seat the valve caps flush so nobody catches a foot.
On the Summer Set that is floor, then middle, then top. Each ring should hold its shape and should not sing when you tap it. On a family rectangle, get the floor stable before the side walls, and do not let a child sit in a half-inflated shell. A top ring that collapses often means uneven ground or an under-inflated floor.
Check the caps again when you finish. A hissing valve is cheaper than a patch. Argos support for model 12819 notes that temperature can soften a ring later in the day.
Filling and emptying
Keep the hose end above the water line so pool water is not pulled back into the domestic supply. Fill only to a depth the shortest bather can stand in with you beside them. A 46–51 cm wall can hold far more than a young child needs. That is a supervision choice, not a target.
Open the drain if the listing includes one. The Deluxe states a valve. The Summer Set states a drain. The 12819 mentions a drain in reviews, not in the components line. Send the water to a drain or a lawn your local rules allow. Empty the shell, wipe it and turn it so it dries. Store it indoors if you can. Damp vinyl in a shed grows the mould that makes next year's patch fail.
If it goes soft
Overnight softening can be temperature, a slow valve leak or a puncture. Check the caps first, then washing-up liquid on the seams and valves. Bubbles mark the spot. Bestway's puncture page describes a clean dry surface, the patch, and about thirty minutes before you reinflate. Argos support for the 12819 mentions some kits needing about twenty-four hours. Follow the leaflet in the pack when it disagrees with both.
Punctures sit outside Bestway's manufacturer warranty on that page. A hole on arrival is still a retailer issue under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Keep photos and the box until the pool holds air. If water will not stay in, check the drain is closed and not cross-threaded.
Call a WaterSafe plumber if you suspect hose back-flow into the supply. Call 999 if a child is under the water and not responding.
Common questions
Do I need to buy a pump?
Yes for every inflatable Bestway in this comparison. None list a pump in the box. Use a manual inflatable pump or a low-pressure electric pump for air beds and pools. Mouth inflation on a family rectangle is described as a session of around two hours.
Can I use a compressor or a shop inflator?
No. Bestway's paddling-pool warning sheet bans high-pressure compressors. They split seams. A garage inflator is the wrong tool for these rings. Use a pump made for inflatable pools or air beds.
Can I put it on the lawn?
Yes, on flat, stone-free grass. Clear sticks and sharp debris, and move the pool into position before you inflate it. Dragging an inflated ring across grit is a common first-day puncture. A Fast Set bare-earth rule is not the sheet for these paddling pools.
How do I open the drain?
Find the drain valve before you inflate, keep it closed while you fill, and open it when you empty towards a suitable drain or lawn. The Deluxe states a valve. The Summer Set states a drain. The 12819 only mentions a drain in review copy, so check the shell you received.
How do I find a slow leak?
Soapy water on the valves and seams shows the spot as bubbles. Check the caps before you assume a puncture. A loose cap is cheaper than a patch. Temperature can also soften a ring later in the day, which Argos notes for model 12819.
How long before I reinflate after a patch?
Follow the instructions in the patch pack. Bestway's puncture page mentions about thirty minutes. Argos mentions up to twenty-four hours for some vinyl kits. If the leaflet in your kit disagrees with both, use the leaflet.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures saved for this set on 19 October 2026.
- RoSPA drowning prevention (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- RLSS UK, splash safely in the garden (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- NHS Cambridgeshire water safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, Schedule 5 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- BS EN 71-8, activity toys for domestic use (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GPDO 2015, Class E (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Thames Water temporary hosepipe ban (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)