Buying guide

Above-ground inflatable pool depth: 90 cm, 1.2 m or 1.5 m?

GIGI FRANCE8 June 20268 min read

Depth is the single specification that determines whether an above-ground pool is a paddling pool or one where you can genuinely swim. It is also the specification most buyers discover too late — after filling their pool.

This guide covers the three market depth standards (90 cm, 1.2 m, 1.5 m), what each one actually allows, and how to choose based on the swimmers in your household.

Why depth matters more than diameter

Most buyers focus on the diameter — "I want a 4 m pool" — because that is the figure that translates directly into ground footprint. Diameter tells you how many square metres the pool will occupy in the garden. It does not tell you whether you can swim in it.

Depth determines:

Whether adults can submerge. At 90 cm of water, an adult of 1.75 m has water at mid-thigh. At 1.35 m of water, the same adult has water at shoulder height.
Whether genuine swimming is possible. Freestyle requires approximately 1.2 to 1.35 m of depth for an adult to complete a full stroke without dragging their hands along the floor. Below that, you are wading.
Volume — and therefore water treatment quality. A 4 m pool at 90 cm holds approximately 8,000 litres. The same pool at 1.5 m holds approximately 14,000 litres. Greater volume makes water chemistry more stable and more tolerant of dosing variations.
Child safety. Deeper water with constant adult supervision is safer than shallow water assumed to be "safe without supervision". The relevant safety protocol is active supervision, not low depth.

The 90 cm standard: what the vast majority of above-ground pools offer

Walk into any DIY store or garden centre in spring: the pools at €200–500 are almost all built to 75–90 cm wall height.

This standard does not come from an analysis of swimmers' needs. It comes from manufacturing constraints. A soft inflatable pool at 0.07–0.15 bar structurally cannot exceed 90 cm of wall height without the base beginning to splay outward under water pressure.

What 90 cm allows:

Young children (under 5–6) can stand and play
Adults can sit and cool off
No genuine swimming for anyone above approximately 1.2 m tall

What 90 cm does not allow:

Adult submersion (water reaches mid-thigh to hip for an adult of 1.75 m)
Swimming movements
Any real aquatic exercise

The honest description of a 90 cm pool is: a large cooling-off area. This is a legitimate use. Many families with young children are happy with it. But you need to go in with clear expectations.

The 1.2 m standard: the mid-range step

A depth of 1.2 m represents the top of the standard steel-framed pool market and the lower tier of rigid inflatable pools such as the GIGI range.

At 1.2 m wall height, with a recommended 90% fill (approximately 1.05 m of water):

What 1.2 m allows:

Full submersion for most adults (water reaches the chest or shoulders for people under 1.7 m)
Partial swimming — short freestyle movements are possible for adults of moderate height
Children aged 10–14 can swim with their head above water
Basic aquatic exercises

The limitations at 1.2 m:

Taller adults (1.8 m and above) find the water stopping at mid-chest — comfortable for cooling off, but not ideal for swimming
The full freestyle pull with arm extension is restricted — the arm pulls but comes up before completing the movement
This is "deep wading" rather than genuine swimming for taller adults

A depth of 1.2 m is a clear improvement over 90 cm. For many families — particularly those with 10–14-year-old children as the primary users — it offers a genuine pool experience.

The 1.5 m standard: genuine pool depth

1.5 m is the wall height of GIGI pools and the maximum depth available in the portable above-ground category.

For context: the shallow end of a standard residential in-ground pool is typically 1.2 to 1.4 m. The transition zone before the deep end is generally around 1.4 to 1.6 m. At 1.5 m wall height and approximately 1.35 m of effective water (90% fill), a GIGI pool offers the equivalent of the shallow end of a residential pool — which is functionally the main swimming zone for the majority of pool users.

What 1.5 m allows:

Full submersion for all adults — water reaches the shoulders of an adult of 1.9 m at 1.35 m water depth
Full freestyle swimming — complete arm pull with full extension, hip rotation, and leg kick without restriction
Breaststroke and backstroke for adult swimmers
Aquatic exercise at meaningful intensity
Deep-water play for children under active adult supervision
Jumping for children under adult supervision (GIGI pools are not designed for diving — no above-ground pool is)

At 1.35 m of effective water (GIGI round 4 m at 1.5 m):

An adult of 1.75 m has water at shoulder height
An adult of 1.9 m has water at chest / lower shoulder height
A child of 1.35 m (approximately 10–11 years old) is fully submerged — constant adult supervision is mandatory

This is the threshold that separates an "above-ground bath" from a genuine family swimming pool.

Choosing based on your swimmers

Families with young children (under 8) as the primary users. At this age, the main activity is splashing and supervised play. A pool of 75–90 cm is often sufficient, particularly if budget is the main constraint. Deeper water requires more active adult supervision.

Families with children aged 8–14 as the primary users. This is where 1.2 m becomes the relevant minimum. Children of this age want to swim, not just paddle. The 90 cm limit is frustrating for them. 1.2 m allows them to submerge and do their first genuine lengths. If the budget allows, 1.5 m gives them a pool they will not outgrow.

Adults as primary or co-primary users. This is where depth becomes the decisive criterion. If you — not just your children — plan to get into the pool regularly, 90 cm will be a persistent disappointment. 1.2 m is acceptable for cooling off. 1.5 m is the threshold for genuinely swimming as exercise. If you want a real swimming session, 1.5 m is the target.

Short-term rentals (Airbnb, holiday lets). Depth is a differentiating selling point in a listing. A listing stating "private pool, 1.5 m depth" outperforms "inflatable pool" in searches and justifies a higher nightly rate. A photo of an adult submerged to shoulder height is far more compelling than a photo of an adult standing knee-deep.

Safety by depth

Deeper water requires more rigorous safety practices, not fewer.

At 1.35–1.5 m of effective water (GIGI 1.5 m pools):

Children under approximately 1.35 m cannot stand on the floor — they must swim or float to stay above water. This pool requires active adult supervision for any child under 10 years old.
Non-swimmers of any age must not enter a 1.5 m pool without flotation equipment.
The pool is not designed for diving. The diameter-to-depth ratio and surface area do not permit a safe entry.

Safety fence. In many European countries, a protective barrier is mandatory for any pool where the water depth exceeds a certain threshold (often 1 m). At 1.35 m of effective water, GIGI 1.5 m pools trigger these requirements in most national regulations. Check the rules in your country and local area before installation. GIGI FRANCE recommends a safety fence whenever children are present, regardless of local requirements.

The ladder. A standard pool ladder is designed for a 90 cm wall height. On a 1.5 m pool, a standard ladder is too short — the top step sits below the pool rim. Use a ladder specifically designed for 1.5 m wall height.

Summary: depth decision guide

Use case	Minimum recommended depth	Best choice
Young children (under 8), play and splashing	75–90 cm	Standard inflatable
Children aged 8–14, beginner swimming	1.0–1.2 m	Premium steel-framed or rigid inflatable
Adults — cooling off, no swimming	1.0–1.2 m	Steel-framed or rigid inflatable 1.2 m
Adults — genuine swimming	1.5 m	GIGI rigid inflatable 1.5 m
Short-term rental / holiday let	1.5 m	GIGI rigid inflatable 1.5 m
Mixed use: children + adult swimmers	1.5 m	GIGI rigid inflatable 1.5 m

Frequently asked questions

At what depth can adults swim in an above-ground pool? For genuine swimming (freestyle, breaststroke, underwater movements), you need at least 1.2 to 1.35 m of effective water. This requires a wall height of at least 1.35 to 1.5 m. GIGI pools at 1.5 m wall height offer approximately 1.35 m of water at the recommended 90% fill.

Is 1.2 m enough to swim in? Partially. At 1.05 m of water (90% fill of a 1.2 m model), adults under 1.7 m can perform short swimming movements. For taller adults or those who want a genuine swimming session, 1.2 m is limiting. The 1.5 m depth resolves this constraint for adults of all heights.

How does depth affect water chemistry? More depth means more volume. A 4 m pool at 1.5 m holds approximately 14,000 litres versus approximately 8,000 litres for the same pool at 90 cm. Greater volume dilutes chemical additions, buffers temperature variations, and is more tolerant of dosing errors.

GIGI pools are available in 1.2 m and 1.5 m depths. Same depth, multiple sizes. View all GIGI pools.