Last updated: July 2026 • Reviewed by the YardFit Pools team
| ⭐ Quick Verdict: Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool YardFit Setup-Difficulty Score: 4/5 — Two adults, full day. Buttress supports add significant complexity vs. round pools. YardFit Liner-Durability Score: 3/5 — TriTech three-layer liner, same as the round Power Steel. Solid for 2–3 seasons. Yard-Fit Tag: Long narrow yards and fence-line installs. Available in 12x20ft and 12x24ft. Real footprint: 12x20ft needs ~16x26ft of flat ground; 12x24ft needs ~16x30ft (buttresses add ~2ft each long side). Who it’s for: Buyers with a yard that’s too narrow for an 18ft round pool but long enough for a 20–24ft oval. Who should skip it: Anyone with a yard wide enough for a round pool — round is cheaper, easier, and structurally simpler. Overall rating: ★★★★☆ 3.9/5 ➜ Check current price at Amazon |
What Is the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool?
The Bestway Power Steel Oval is the oval version of Bestway’s mid-range Power Steel frame pool line. Available in 12x20ft and 12x24ft, it’s one of the few mid-range oval pools available at physical retail — making it the default recommendation for buyers who need an oval pool at Walmart or Target pricing.
It uses the same TriTech liner and powder-coated steel frame system as the round Power Steel, earning the same 3/5 Liner-Durability Score. What changes is the shape — and with it, the setup complexity, the space requirements, and the swimming experience. The oval’s defining advantage is that it fits long, narrow yards where a round pool of equivalent volume simply won’t fit widthwise.
| ⚠️ The buttress footprint: measure before you buy The most common mistake with oval pool purchases is measuring the nominal pool dimensions without accounting for buttress supports. 12x20ft oval: pool is 12ft wide, 20ft long. Buttresses extend ~2ft beyond the pool wall on each long side. Real space needed for 12x20ft: approximately 16 x 26 ft of flat ground. 12x24ft oval: real space needed approximately 16 x 30 ft of flat ground. If your available flat space is less than these dimensions, the oval won’t fit. Measure your actual space against these real footprints, not the nominal pool size. |
Full Specifications by Size
| Spec | 12x20ft Oval | 12x24ft Oval |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal dimensions | 12 ft wide x 20 ft long | 12 ft wide x 24 ft long |
| Real footprint (with buttresses) | ~16 x 26 ft flat ground | ~16 x 30 ft flat ground |
| Depth | 48 inches | 48 inches |
| Water capacity | ~7,282 gal | ~8,602 gal |
| Liner construction | TriTech three-layer PVC | TriTech three-layer PVC |
| Frame material | Powder-coated steel | Powder-coated steel |
| Buttress supports | Required — ~2 ft extension each long side | Required — ~2 ft extension each long side |
| Included pump (GPH) | 1,000–1,500 GPH | 1,500 GPH |
| Ladder included | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Typical price (2026) | $380–550 | $450–650 |
How the Oval Shape Changes the Swimming Experience
The core reason to choose an oval pool is the longer uninterrupted swim dimension. At 12x20ft, you have approximately 17–18ft of clear swim length (accounting for the curved ends). At 12x24ft, approximately 21–22ft. Compare this to an 18ft round pool where the effective swim path in a circle is always shorter than the diameter.
In practical terms: the oval is meaningfully better for exercise swimming and for households where one or more adults want to do actual swim strokes rather than tread water and turn. For pure family splash use, a round pool of similar volume is equally effective and significantly easier to install.
Setup: The Buttress Challenge
The Power Steel Oval earns a 4/5 Setup-Difficulty Score — one step harder than the round Power Steel’s 3/5. The additional complexity comes entirely from the buttress support system required on the long sides.
Oval pools cannot distribute water pressure evenly around the perimeter the way round pools do — the straight long sides experience concentrated outward pressure that the frame alone can’t handle without buckling. Buttress supports — diagonal braces that extend from the midpoint of the long walls outward to anchor points in the ground — carry this lateral load.
| Buttress setup: what most buyers don’t expect Buttress supports must be anchored to the ground, not just placed. The anchor stakes must be driven into firm ground — loose or sandy soil requires longer stakes or concrete anchors. Buttresses extend ~2ft beyond the pool wall. Any fence, shed, or structure within 2ft of the pool’s long side will block buttress installation. Measure clearance before buying. The buttresses must be installed before filling. Attempting to add them after filling is extremely difficult and dangerous. Each buttress must be set at the same angle and length. Uneven buttress tension causes the pool wall to bow on one long side — check for symmetry before adding water. The full buttress installation adds 45–60 minutes to setup time vs. a round pool of the same nominal size. |
Liner Durability: TriTech Performs the Same as Round
The Power Steel Oval uses the same TriTech three-layer liner as the round Power Steel, earning the same 3/5 Liner-Durability Score. The oval format does add one additional liner stress point vs. round pools: the transition from the straight long wall to the curved end is a higher-flex area that’s more susceptible to crease cracking over time than the continuous curve of a round pool liner.
This is a minor practical difference — the ends are reinforced in the TriTech liner design — but worth knowing for buyers planning multi-season use. Inspect the curved-end transition areas at the start of each season and apply patch repairs promptly if any micro-cracks appear at these transition points.
Oval vs. Round Power Steel: Which to Buy?
| Factor | Power Steel Oval 12x24ft | Power Steel Round 18ft |
|---|---|---|
| Setup-Difficulty Score | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Liner-Durability Score | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Water capacity | ~8,602 gal | ~7,646 gal |
| Real footprint | 16 x 30 ft | 22 x 22 ft |
| Swimming length | ~21–22 ft clear | ~18 ft diameter (circular path) |
| Fits narrow yards? | Yes — 12ft width | No — needs 22ft in all directions |
| Setup complexity | Significantly harder (buttresses) | Standard frame pool |
| Price | ~$450–650 | ~$380–550 |
| Best for | Narrow/fence-line yards; exercise swimming | Wide yards; general family use |
Choose the oval if: your yard is narrower than 22ft but longer than 26–30ft, or you specifically want longer swim dimension. Choose the round if: your yard is wide enough (22x22ft) — the round pool is cheaper, easier to install, and structurally simpler.
Pump Assessment
| Pool Size | Included Pump | Adequate? | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x20ft (~7,282 gal) | 1,000–1,500 GPH | Marginal at 1,000 GPH | Upgrade to 1,500–2,000 GPH recommended |
| 12x24ft (~8,602 gal) | 1,500 GPH | Marginal | Upgrade to 2,000 GPH recommended |
Is the Oval Worth the Extra Setup Effort?
The honest answer depends entirely on your yard. If your flat space is genuinely narrow — say, 14ft wide and 28ft long — the oval is the only pool that works, and the setup complexity is the price you pay for fitting a real swimming pool into that space. There’s no alternative.
If your yard could fit an 18ft round pool, the oval is almost never worth the extra setup effort. The round pool is cheaper, easier to assemble, structurally simpler, and gives similar water volume. The only additional argument for oval in a yard that could fit round is the longer swim dimension — and for most families, the 18ft circle is more than adequate.
What’s in the Box
- Oval frame pool with TriTech three-layer liner
- Powder-coated steel frame (uprights, top rails, oval T-joints, bolt connectors)
- Buttress support assemblies (2 per long side)
- Buttress ground anchor stakes
- Cartridge filter pump (GPH varies by size)
- Type III filter cartridge
- A-frame ladder
- Ground cloth
- Drain connector
- Repair patch
- Wrench for bolt assembly
What to Buy Separately
- Pump upgrade ($80–150): recommended at both sizes. See pump sizing guide.
- Oval solar cover ($50–100): harder to source than round covers; order at the same time as the pool.
- Additional ground stakes ($10–25): if your soil is loose or sandy, longer/additional buttress stakes provide better anchorage.
- Pool pad ($30–50): supplements ground cloth for better liner protection.
- Chemicals ($40–70): for startup.
Who the Bestway Power Steel Oval Is Right For
Narrow yard buyers: The primary use case. A yard that’s 13–15ft wide and 28–32ft long is exactly what the 12x20ft or 12x24ft oval is designed for.
Fence-line or side-yard installs: The 12ft width fits along most standard fence lines; the 20–24ft length uses the full depth of a side yard.
Exercise swimmers: The longer swim path is meaningfully better for stroke swimming vs. a round pool of equivalent volume.
Buyers who specifically need an oval at mid-range pricing: The Power Steel Oval is one of the few oval pools available at Walmart-range pricing and widely stocked at physical retail.
Who Should Skip It
Buyers whose yard is wide enough for a round pool: An 18ft round Power Steel is cheaper, easier to set up, and equivalent in liner quality. Only choose oval if the yard geometry demands it.
Sloped yard buyers: The buttress supports make leveling on a sloped yard significantly harder. See our sloped yard guide for round pool alternatives.
First-time pool installers: The 4/5 setup difficulty and buttress system make this a poor first-pool experience. Install a round pool first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much space does the Bestway Power Steel Oval actually need?
The 12x20ft oval needs approximately 16 x 26 ft of flat ground once the buttress supports are accounted for. The 12x24ft needs approximately 16 x 30 ft. These are the real footprints — the nominal 12x20ft pool dimensions printed on the box do not include the 2ft buttress extension on each long side. Always measure your available space against the real footprint before purchasing.
Is the Bestway Power Steel Oval hard to set up?
Harder than the round equivalent — it earns a 4/5 Setup-Difficulty Score vs. the round Power Steel’s 3/5. The buttress installation adds 45–60 minutes and requires firm ground for anchor stake installation. Budget a full day with two adults. The frame bolt system is the same as the round Power Steel; the buttresses are the additional challenge.
How much water does the Bestway Power Steel 12x24ft hold?
Approximately 8,602 gallons at 48 inches depth. This is more water than an 18ft round pool (~7,646 gallons) at the same depth — the oval’s longer dimension adds volume despite the same 12ft width.
Can I put the Bestway Power Steel Oval on a slope?
Not recommended. Oval pools require buttress supports that extend beyond the pool wall, creating a larger area that must be leveled. On a sloped yard, leveling the real oval footprint (16 x 26 ft minimum) is significantly harder than leveling a round pool base. If your yard slopes, a round pool is the more practical choice. See our sloped yard guide.
What’s the difference between the Bestway Power Steel 12×20 and 12×24 oval?
The 12×24 is 4 feet longer, holds approximately 1,320 more gallons, provides about 4 more feet of swim length, requires 4 more feet of flat ground (16 x 30 ft vs. 16 x 26 ft), and costs $70–100 more. If you have the flat ground space for the 12×24, it’s worth the upgrade for the longer swim dimension.