Above Ground Container Pool: Fast Installation, Stunning Results
An above ground container pool from Modpools is the fastest path from order to swimming. No extensive excavation required, no specialist pool builder needed, and no months of site disruption. The pool arrives complete, your contractor sets it on a prepared base, and you are in the water in days. Delivered fully assembled across the USA and Canada.
What Is an Above Ground Container Pool?
An above ground container pool is a Modpool that sits on top of a prepared surface rather than being set into the ground. The pool is placed on a concrete pad, compacted gravel base, or engineered footings, and the surrounding area is finished with decking, cladding, landscaping, or a combination of all three to create the finished outdoor space.
Because the steel shell is fully self-supporting, no extensive excavation is required for an above ground installation. That is a significant advantage on properties where digging is impractical, expensive, or simply not worth the disruption: flat yards where you want the pool done quickly, sloped lots where the terrain works in your favour, rooftops and elevated decks, and properties where the soil or site conditions make excavation complicated.
Above ground is also the most popular choice for homeowners and Airbnb investors who want the pool done as fast as possible. Without the excavation and backfill stages, the installation timeline is shorter than both semi-inground and fully inground options. Your contractor prepares the base, the crane sets the Modpool, utilities are connected, and the pool is ready to fill.
Back to Shipping Container Pools overview →
Why Homeowners Choose an Above Ground Container Pool
The single biggest advantage of an above ground installation is what does not happen. There is no extensive excavation digging up your yard, no weeks of a gaping hole in your backyard, and no backfill or compaction work after the pool goes in. Your contractor prepares the base, the pool is craned into position, and that is largely it. The disruption is measured in days.
Sloped properties that would require expensive cut-and-fill earthworks for a traditional inground pool become much simpler with an above ground container pool. The pool sits on a level engineered base, and the slope works with the installation rather than against it. A pool on a hillside with a view is one of the most striking results you can achieve with a Modpool, and it is far more accessible than it sounds.
Above ground is the only option for rooftop and elevated deck installations, where excavation is obviously off the table. A structural engineer assesses the load capacity of the surface, a crane lifts the pool into position, and the utilities are connected. Modpools has customers with rooftop installations across North America.
An above ground container pool does not have to look like a container sitting in your backyard. When a skilled contractor wraps the pool in timber, composite, or concrete decking and builds a platform around it, the result looks completely intentional and high-end. Many of the most photographed Modpool installs are above ground builds where the decking design is the feature.
Because the pool is not buried, an above ground Modpool is the easiest configuration to relocate. If you sell the property and want to take the pool with you, or if your circumstances change, craning it back out and moving it is a straightforward operation compared to extracting a concrete inground pool, which is essentially impossible.
Learn more about Modpool installation →How Above Ground Container Pool Installation Works
Modpools does not do installation. Every Modpool ships with a complete Contractor's Package that any qualified general contractor or landscaper can follow. 95% of Modpools are installed by a contractor completing their very first Modpool. Modpools is available to support your installer remotely by phone, text, or email throughout the process.
If you need help finding a contractor in your area, email our team before you order and we can let you know if there is a recommended installer near you.
The Best Uses for an Above Ground Container Pool
Above ground is the most versatile installation type Modpools offers. It works on almost any property, and it is often the best choice even when inground is technically feasible.
Above Ground vs Inground: Which Is Right for You?
The main trade-off between above ground and inground is finished appearance versus installation speed and cost. A fully inground Modpool looks like a traditional luxury pool once the coping and landscaping are done. An above ground Modpool looks its best when quality decking is built around it, which adds cost and time to the contractor scope but not to the pool itself.
For most homeowners the practical differences come down to site conditions and budget. If your yard is flat, you have no obstructions, and you want the most traditional pool look possible, inground is worth exploring. If you are on a slope, working with an existing yard you don't want to tear up, on a tight timeline, or installing on a rooftop or deck, above ground is the clear choice.
Many customers also choose above ground specifically because they may move in the next few years. A Modpool above ground can be craned out and relocated. A concrete inground pool cannot.
Learn more about inground container pools →Some customers choose a semi-inground installation as a middle ground, burying the pool partway to reduce its visible height while avoiding the full excavation required for a completely buried pool. All three options are available on every Modpool size.
If you are still deciding between installation types, the best starting point is to describe your property to our team. The site conditions, lot slope, soil type, existing landscaping, and how long you plan to stay all factor into which option will give you the best result. Email our team with your property details and we can help you figure out the right approach.
You can also visit our shipping container pool cost guide for a breakdown of how installation type affects overall project cost, and our installation page for more detail on what the process looks like from order to swim-ready.
Above Ground Container Pool Sizes
All six Modpool sizes are available as an above ground installation. From the compact 12x8 plunge pool to the 40x12 estate, every model works above ground and ships with Pentair filtration, LED lighting, and app control factory installed.
Above ground container pool questions answered.
Design your above ground Modpool today.
Pick your size, configure your add-ons, and get an instant quote. No sales call required to get started.