Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Umar Farooq
Pavers for above ground pool builds do two jobs: they sit under the legs, and they can surround the pool as a deck. Under the legs, use one solid concrete paver per upright (Royal Swimming Pools specifies 12 x 12 x 1 inch patio blocks). Sink each one into level, undisturbed soil so its top is flush with the ground, and level every pad with the others in all directions. The pool floor itself goes on sand or the manufacturer's base, never on pavers. Around the outside, a paver surround works well, as long as it drains away from the wall and nothing leans on it.
Your pool's manual outranks everything below; your warranty depends on following it.
Pavers for above ground pool legs spread a heavy load
Water is heavy. A 24-foot round pool filled to 4 feet holds about 1,800 cubic feet of water. At 62.4 pounds per cubic foot, that's roughly 113,000 pounds, or about 56 tons. Pool Pros, a Wisconsin installer, puts a filled above ground pool at 45 to 72 tons in its argument against loose sand under the track.
The uprights carry much of that on a small footprint. On bare soil they push in unevenly, the rail twists and the wall leans. A solid paver spreads each load over a larger area.
Setting concrete pavers for pool legs
I read Royal Swimming Pools' patio block instructions, which are refreshingly blunt. Their sequence, with the reasons:
- Level the ground first, by digging down. Take the high side down to the level of the low side. Don't fill the low side with loose soil or sand, because fill compresses under load and undisturbed soil doesn't.
- Lay out the bottom rail in a true circle or oval, then mark where each upright lands.
- Dig a pocket for each paver, as deep as the paver is thick (1 inch for a 1-inch block), so the top sits flush with the ground.
- Level each paver in both directions, then check it against its neighbors with a long level or a laser. Royal puts it plainly: "All patio blocks must be flush with the ground, solid and level with each other in all directions."
- Seat the rail so there's no gap between the rail and the ground.
They also say: "Do not install blocks or rails on loose sifted soil or sand." That is this article's opinion in one sentence. Pads go on firm, undisturbed ground, not on fill made level for the afternoon.
Where people go wrong:
- Stacking pavers to make up height. Two thin pieces rock; dig the ground down instead.
- Hollow cinder blocks. The cores crush and tip under a point load.
- Pads sitting proud of the ground. The rail bridges between pads, and the wall sags in between.
- Leveling each pad alone. Every pad can be level and still sit at a different height.
The pool floor goes on sand, not pavers
Inside the ring, most manufacturers call for a sand base or a pad product, with a sand cove where the floor meets the wall. Paver joints and edges under a vinyl liner become pressure points under tons of water.
Pool Pros adds two warnings: blocks set in sand can heave in frost and lift the track, and sand washes out from under the rail when water gets under it. Follow your manual for sand depth and cove size. If you're leveling a sloped yard for the pool, the ground-prep methods in our guide to leveling ground for pavers carry over, especially digging to grade instead of filling.
A paver surround outside the wall
A paver ring keeps grass and mud out of the water and gives the ladder a solid landing. Treat it as a small patio:
- Build it on its own base, at least 4 inches of compacted gravel for foot traffic on well-drained soil (ICPI Tech Spec 2), with 1 inch of screeded sand.
- Slope it away from the pool, so splash-out and rain don't soak the ground under the rail.
- Leave a small gap at the wall. Don't wedge pavers against the pool wall or pile gravel against it. The wall needs to move slightly and stay dry.
For material and traction choices, our guide to pool deck pavers covers what works on wet, bare feet. If you later swap to an in-ground pool with a concrete deck, see our sibling guide on how to resurface a pool deck with pavers.
Dig down, then set one solid paver per leg
The right pavers for above ground pool legs are simple: one solid concrete paver or patio block under each upright, sunk flush into level, undisturbed soil, and leveled against every other pad. Keep the floor on sand, and build any surround as its own sloped patio with a gap at the wall. The pool will hold its shape for years. The kids, however, will still find a way to track in half the lawn.
FAQ
Can you put an above ground pool on pavers?
Put pavers under the legs, not under the pool floor. Each upright sits on a solid paver set flush into level ground, and the floor sits on the sand or pad base the manufacturer specifies.
What size pavers go under above ground pool legs?
Follow your manual. Royal Swimming Pools specifies 12 x 12 x 1 inch patio blocks, set flush with the ground under each bottom plate. Use solid units, one per upright, never stacked.
How level do the pavers need to be?
Level in both directions and level with each other all the way around the ring. Check pad to pad with a long level or a laser.
Can I use cinder blocks under pool legs?
Avoid hollow cinder blocks; the cores can crush or tip under a point load. Use solid pavers or patio blocks.
Should pavers around an above ground pool touch the wall?
No. Leave a small gap and slope the pavers away from the pool.
