Ponds (reviews)

To create the perfect outdoor pond, it is essential to use the best pond liner. The pond liner serves as the basis for your pond; the better it is, the more likely it is to thrive.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Top Rated pond liner selection and some of the best products out there to get your pond going.

Comparison Table

Custom	SiteStripe Image	Title	Review	Buy
TopBest Pick		TotalPond Pond Skins Pond Liner	4.6/5.0	Check Price
Top Performance		Firestone W56PL451015 Pond Liner	4.7/5.0	Check Price
cheapest		Firestone PondGard Pond Liner	4.4/5.0	Check Price

An essential part of your pond setup, a liner does much more than prevent water from flowing into the ground beneath your pond; it is also responsible for providing a base for plants to take root and fish to explore.

There are many things to consider when choosing the Bestest pond liner, especially if you are starting a pond from scratch.

Today we’ll take a look at everything you need to consider when choosing the best pond liner for your outdoor water landscape and review our top 10 list of the best pond liners for every type of fish, climate, and pond size.

What is a Pond Liner?

A pond liner in a waterproof, impenetrable membrane that used for covers the bottom of a pond. Pond liner also prevents pond water from being absorbed into the ground and keeps unwanted contaminants from seeping in.

Top 10 Best Quality Pond Liners to Use For Your Ponds

Best Pond Liner Reviews

1. TotalPond pond skins Pond Liner

This TotalPon liner measures approximately 13 x 20 feet, although smaller sizes are also available. It is a good size for a large pond measuring approximately 9 x 16 x 1.5 feet or approximately 1200 gallons of water and the black color will naturally blend into your pond environment.

Something really cool about this liner is the textured surface. It is an easy way to promote beneficial bacterial growth and thus help maintain a healthy pond environment.

PVC material is lightweight, flexible and easy to handle, making installation simple. It is also very durable. It’s puncture resistant and won’t break down under the sun’s UV rays, so it should last for years without any problems.

What makes it so strong? Between the PVC layers it is reinforced with tightly woven polyester that provides more durability without adding extra weight. It is specially designed to weigh less than comparable coatings.

2. Firestone W56PL451015 EPDM Rubber Pond Liner

This Firestone liner is also made from EPDM rubber that is resistant to UV, light and heat, and has a reputation for long-lasting durability. Measuring 10 x 4.5 meters, this pre-cut liner is flexible and easy to install in the contours of your pond.

One of the best things about this coating is that the material remains flexible even in cold weather, making it less likely to crack and wear during the winter. It is puncture resistant and safe for all plants and fish in your pond.

Because this pond liner is resistant to the overgrowth of harmful microbes and algae, it helps protect water chemistry and provides a healthy environment for your fish and plants. The black color blends into the background and gives the illusion that your pond is deeper than it is.

3. Firestone PondGard PL45-1010 Rubber Pond Liner

If the name “Firestone” sounds familiar to you, you should. It is one of the world’s leading tire manufacturers. But did you also know that they make pond liners? Well they do. And they are just as strong and reliable as your tires.

This liner measures 10 x 3 meters and is made of thin, flexible EPDM rubber. It is ideal for ponds and for creating waterfalls and other water sources.

Installation is simple and reliably adapts to the shape and curves of your pond, without the need for special tools. EPDM is UV resistant and can withstand extreme weather conditions, making it perfect for a pond environment.

Homeowners and professionals rely on this liner to create beautiful ponds that require minimal maintenance and remain beautiful. It comes with a 20-year warranty, provided you install it with a suitable underlay.

4. USA Pond Products Pond Liner

If you have a smaller pond, this 4×6 foot liner is a great option. It is safe for fish and plants and made of PVC, making installation easy no matter how many intricate contours, steps and curves you have.

Black is great for adding depth to your pond, but also for blending in with the environment so that it does not differ from the rest of the landscape. The company suggests keeping the material out of direct sunlight so that it lasts as long as possible.

Keep in mind that this liner is quite small, so provide enough overlap and depth to determine if it is right for your pond. This product is made in the USA and is recyclable, so if you ever replace it, please dispose of it responsibly.

5. Beckett Corporation Preformed Pond

Many people like flexible liners because you can shape them any way they want, but for many people a preformed liner is a good choice. This Beckett Corporation product is made of high quality flexible plastic. The round shape creates a 35 gallon pond.

One of the great things about this liner is the flat bottom that makes it easy to place plants and pumps without worrying about anything falling or adding extra supports. The black color serves as an excellent base and background for the plants and fish you add to your pond.

This pond is perfect for installation on the ground, but can also be used above ground. The material is UV resistant and therefore lasts a long time in the sun. It’s made in the USA and backed by a 10-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

6. Algreen 91901 Avonlea Rigid Preformed Pond Liner

Another great option if you want contoured eyeliner is this one from Algreen. What we really like about it is that it is made from recycled plastic. The rigid construction holds 33 liters of water and is safe for plants and fish.

The flat bottom gives you a good foundation for planting and pump placement and has built-in planting shelves for easy installation.

In terms of material, it is durable and will not chip, crack or fade. It’s UV stable, so exposure to the sun won’t harm plastic either. This is also a good option for people who live in areas with cold winters. It is weather resistant and backed by a five-year limited warranty.

7. Greenseal Pond Liner

This EPDM pond liner is an ideal choice for a wide variety of ponds. It is elastic enough to fit custom designs and is relatively inexpensive if you want to create a larger pond.

However, keep in mind that you’ll want to wear a base layer with this liner to avoid stretching and punctures.

The coating can withstand almost all weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, and lasts up to 30 years.

In support of this, the manufacturer offers a 15-year warranty against leaks due to manufacturing defects.

The siding comes in a unique, slightly odd size: 13 feet, 1 inch by 9 feet, 9 inches. However, it is easy to make the liner smaller or to tape several sheets together with liner tape.

Note that this plate, like all EPDM liners, is almost 2 millimeters thick.

8. Algreen 91914 Avonlea Pond Kit

This complete pond set from Algreen contains a preformed plastic pond liner, a pond pump of 200 liters per hour with supplied flow control, two fountain heads and a lamp with exchangeable color filters.

The liner itself is large enough to hold 33 liters of water, enough for small fish and turtles, but too small to use as a koi pond.

While plastic is strong enough to be used as an above-ground pond with no supportive backfill, plastic will crack in extreme cold or long exposure to UV light.

Keep in mind that Algreen makes no warranty on the pond liner or pump, which is also prone to clogging.

9. HDPE Pond Liner

Due to its durability and light weight, this HDPE pond liner is designed for use in almost any pond. Like EPDM liners, this liner can withstand extreme cold and direct UV light.

Plus, it’s more puncture resistant than EPDM liners, so there’s no need to use a base coat with this liner. However, keep in mind that this liner has no manufacturer’s warranty.

Siding is available in a variety of sizes, including 13 x 11 feet, 16 x 11 feet, 16 x 15 feet, and 36 x 30 feet.

If you have a very unique custom pond design, you can weld multiple plates together. All sizes are 0.12mm thick, making this liner significantly thinner than any EPDM or PVC liner.

Due to its durability and light weight, this HDPE pond liner is designed for use in almost any pond. Like EPDM liners, this liner can withstand extreme cold and direct UV light.

Plus, it’s more puncture resistant than EPDM liners, so there’s no need to use a base coat with this liner. However, keep in mind that this liner has no manufacturer’s warranty.

Siding is available in a variety of sizes, including 13 x 11 feet, 16 x 11 feet, 16 x 15 feet, and 36 x 30 feet.

If you have a very unique custom pond design, you can weld multiple plates together. All sizes are 0.12mm thick, making this liner significantly thinner than any EPDM or PVC liner.

10. Aquascape EPDM 45 Mil Rubber Liner

Aquascape Designs is a supplier of pond supplies including pond water pumps, fountains, treatments and liners.

They offer EPDM liners in a variety of pre-cut sizes from 8 ‘x 10’ to 20 ‘x 25’.

The rubber is 45 mils thick and very puncture resistant.

The coating can also be used to coat streams and waterfalls. The material is easy to cut and seal if you want to add a slot box or bottom drain.

Aquascape Designs offers a 20 year warranty on its EPDM liners.

Benefits of Using Liner For Your Pond

The main function of a pond liner is to prevent water from seeping out of your pond. The dripping water removes important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and selenium from the pond.

To maintain a pond with a natural soil, you must constantly add water to it. While this may not be a major problem with a small pond, the water loss can be quite significant with large ponds, and topping up the water several times a week can be a burden.

A liner not only protects against water leaving the pond, it also acts as a barrier to prevent contaminants from entering. Because the water does not mix with the surrounding soil, you have more control over the water values ​​and you keep your pond clean.

Another bonus is that you don’t have to worry about fertilizers, bug sprays, or other chemicals seeping through the soil and into your pond. Having this control over the purity of your water can help maintain a healthier environment for your plants and fish.

Pond liners also prevent erosion around your pond. If you use natural soil, rain and varying temperatures can wear down the pond’s edges, which over time can significantly change the shape and size of the pond.

How to Determine the Size of Your Pond Liner

There are many calculators available online to help you determine how much plant cover you need. That said, it helps to know how to figure it out for yourself to better understand the size and shape of your pond.

This calculation is not as easy as you may think. You must consider the depth of all bends at the bottom of the pond, as well as along the banks, and you must leave enough overlap to install the liner correctly.

When calculating the dimensions of your pond, it is very important where you get your measurements from. Make sure you get the width at the widest point, the length at the longest point, and the depth at the deepest point.

This will likely give you a measurement that is slightly larger than the actual dimensions of your pond, unless you have one that is perfectly square, rectangular, or perfectly round, which is a good thing. If your sizes were smaller, the liner wouldn’t fit.

Once you have the dimensions of your pond, you will need to perform two simple calculations to determine the size of the liner you need:

To know the length:

Pond length at the longest point + double depth + 2 for overlap

To calculate the width:

Pond width at widest point + double depth + 2 for overlap

Here are some examples.

If your pond is 11 feet long x 8 feet wide x 2.5 feet deep, this is what you would do to determine the size of the liner:

Width: 8 (width) + 5 (double depth) + 2 = 15

Length: 11 (length) + 5 (twice the depth) + 2 = 18

So, in this example, you’ll need 15 x 18-foot siding. For ponds that are not a standard size, order one that is larger but closer to the actual size. For example, a 10×20 liner would be too small, but a 15×20 liner would be perfect.

Here’s another example. Let’s say your pond is 2 meters long, 1 meter wide and 2 meters deep. In this case, your calculations are as follows:

Width: 4 (width) + 4 (double depth) + 2 = 10

Length: 7 (length) + 4 (twice the depth) + 2 = 13

For this pond you need a liner of at least 10 x 4 meters. A 10×12 eyeliner would be a bit too small so you should use a 12×15.

How to Install a Pond Liner in a Large Pond?

The first thing to do before you can install a pond liner is dig the hole for your pond. Some people prefer to lay a garden hose to plan the shape so that you have a better idea of ​​where to dig.

When digging the hole, keep the bottom as flat as possible. If you want one end to be deeper than the other, it is better to create a gradual slope than a big step down.

After digging the hole, measure it according to the instructions above to make sure you get the correct size liner.

It is a good idea to install an underlayment under the cladding. This is a thicker layer of material that insulates the bottom of the pond from rocks or sharp roots trying to pierce the surface. Once this is done you are ready to install the siding.

1. Spread the liner over the top of the hole. Then push it into the hole by walking to the center. Cover the bottom of the pond first, working your way to the edges, making sure to leave an even overhang around the edge of the pond.

2. Once the bottom is covered, move around the edges, fold the siding if necessary and use large stones, bricks or stones to hold it in place.

3. When you are satisfied with the appearance of the liner, add about two inches of water to cover the bottom of the pond. The liner will likely move if the weight of the water pushes it down. If necessary, remove anchors from the sides to allow the siding to cure naturally.

4. Trim a liner that extends more than a foot or more from the stone ring that holds it in place. This will remove the mass to keep the pond looking tidier. Depending on the size of your pond, it may require quite a bit of pruning. (Save the pieces you cut to use as patches later if needed.)

5. Complete the landscape around the pond by adding more rocks and stones to the edge to add more security to the liner.

6. Add plants and the pump to the pond and then fill it.

Obviously, the installation process for a preformed siding is a bit different. The main difference is that you should not start digging your pond hole until you have the liner.

1. Place the preformed liner where you want the pond. Spray around the perimeter with line marker spray. You can also use sand to create an outline.

2. Dig a hole 4 to 5 inches larger than the pond’s perimeter. Start by digging only to the depth of the plant shelf.

Once you’ve dug about a foot, place the pond in the hole and press the center. This marks in the dirt where you need to keep digging to reach the correct depth.

4. Continue digging until the pond fits in the hole. Make sure the bottom is level as much as possible. Once the pond is in place, fill it halfway with water.

5. Now is not the time to fill in the area around the pond. Fill this in with topsoil, rocks, stones or sand. You can also pour cement around the edge so that you can seal the pond after the concrete has dried.

Put plants in your pond. Ideally, about one to two thirds of the area should be covered with plants.

7. Connect and prime the pump.

Which Pond Liner is Best?

Ultimately, the best pond liners for your pond depends on the aesthetics you want to achieve, your pond design, and the weather conditions around your home.

Greenseal and Firestone EPDM liners, as well as HDPE pond liner, are versatile solutions for almost any pond, although you should use an underlay if you choose EPDM liners.

For pond builders with a limited budget, Beckett PVC liner is an economical option; Keep in mind that this is the least durable of the coatings we reviewed.

Finally, the Algreen Pond Kit is a good solution for people who just want a small preformed pond without the hassle of designing and building a pond from scratch.

Conclusion

Using high-quality best pond liners is the best way to lay a solid foundation for your pond. There are many options to choose from.

Whether you have a large or small pond or prefer a flexible or preformed liner, we offer many options to find the right one for you.