Would you like to create an aquatic paradise in your garden? Maybe you are dreaming of a pond full of colorful Koi fish or a cascading waterfall or fountain?
Whatever type of water feature you are planning on building, one of the first steps you need to take, besides getting a pond pump and a pond filter, is to invest in a high-quality pond liner. A pond liner is an impenetrable geomembrane that is used to retain water in a variety of water features like fish ponds, lakes, dams, and fountains. A high-quality liner will stop any water from leaking into the ground and will provide the shape and support for your plants and fish.
Our Pick for The Best Pond Filter
Our top pick for the best pond liner is the Firestone 45 mil PondGard Pond Liner. Once more Firestone has delivered a high-quality pond liner that can be used for a wide range of outdoor water feature applications.
If you want to create a medium to large colorful Koi fish pond with a stunning waterfall that cascades down gently over a rock formation, or you just want a simple reflection pond to relax by after a hard day’s work at the office, the PondGard liner provides just the right foundation for your new water feature.
As well as being strong and flexible, and allowing you to shape it according to your design requirements, the Firestone liner is fish and plant friendly and can withstand the harshest temperatures, which make it excellent value for money.
How To Choose the Best Pond Liner
Pond liners fall into two categories: flat liners and preformed liners.
Flat Pond Liners
Whether you want to start building a small, medium, or large pond, a flat pond liner is very flexible and you can bend and adjust the liner to any shape you desire.
Flat pond liners can be made from different materials like Reinforced Polyethylene, Polypropylene, EPDM Rubber, or PVC. These types of pond liners can vary in strength, flexibility, and some materials are better suited for particular pond types and sizes, but the most common type of materials that are used in flat pond liners is EPDM Rubber or PVC.
PVC
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pond liners are the least expensive and they are usually quite lightweight and they may include plasticizers, which makes the material very stretchy and flexible. The downside of the PVC liner is that it may not be tear-proof, so the material can be easily punctured, which can cause the pond to leak. This tendency to leak means that the PVC liner may not be the best choice for ponds that hold a higher water capacity, but some manufacturer’s include a polyester weave in the fabric which helps to reinforce the liner and make it stronger, or you could use an extra Geotextile underlayment for extra protection.
There are two important things to keep in mind in relation to PVC liners:
1. PVC liners have small traces of arsenic or other toxins that could be lethal to wildlife and harmful to humans if ingested.
2. The added plasticizers in PVC may also pose a threat to wildlife as these molecules may cause splits and cracks in the material.
PVC liners as not recommended for very cold climates as the material can cause some discomfort to the fish. But if you are planning on creating a small lily pond or reflection pool a PVC Pond liner is a very good choice.
EPDM
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene-ethylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber) is a synthetic rubber and pond liners that are made from this highly versatile material are considered to be the best types of liners for medium and larger ponds. EPDM liners feature a thick rubber construction but they are also soft and supple, which makes them very flexible and can be folded into almost any shape and the liner can be joined together with another liner by using a silicone sealant or pond seam tape.
EPDM pond liners are more resistant to punctures and tears, so they are a great choice for ponds that contain a lot of plants and have decorative rocks that are placed around the edge of the pond.
The only downside of an EPDM pond liner is that it is heavier than other pond liner materials, so you may find it hard to move around especially if you have a large liner, and as the material is soft, an underlayment is required.
UV and Ozone Resistance
If you want to feature some beautiful brightly colored Koi fish in your new pond or your garden gets a lot of sun exposure, EPDM liners are the best choice as the material is highly UV and ozone resistant. Liners that are UV and ozone resistant, help to guard your fish against excessive heat and also stops the liner from deteriorating quickly and losing its flexibility.
Do You Need an Extra Pond Underlayment?
One of the questions that many gardeners ask in their quest to build a new water feature is ‘do I need an extra pond underlayment or can I put a pond liner directly on the ground?’ Yes, you can put the liner on the ground by itself, but if the liner does not come with an underlayment, there is the possibility that there might be sharp stones in the ground where you want to build your pond which can cause a puncture in the liner and it will start leaking water. An extra pond underlayment will protect your liner from getting damaged and can also smooth over any uneven ground and sharp rocks or stones, and will help to maintain the durability of your liner over the long term.
Preformed Pond Liners
If you prefer a no-mess-no-fuss approach to pond building and do not want to wrestle with a heavy flat liner, or you just want a small pond that you can set-up anywhere, either outdoors or indoors, then a preformed pond liner is the pond liner for you. A preformed pond liner takes all the hard work out of installing a pond, or you could invest in an all-in-one DIY pond building kit.
Preformed liners are already designed in a particular shape and they can be made out of hardened plastic or fiberglass. The downside of the preformed liner is that their predetermined shape does not allow you to change its shape unless you dig the whole liner out and use a flat pond liner.
Warranty
The length of the pond liner’s warranty is also important. Some manufacturers offer you more durability and product value for money, but having a warranty that covers your liner for a considerable amount of time like 10, 25 years or more, gives you extra peace of mind. An extended warranty covers the liner in case it does not meet up with your expectations or it gets ripped or starts to leak.
Another important thing to consider is that some warranties have limitations so it is a good idea to read the fine print to find out what the warranty covers and what it does not cover. Some manufacturer’s do not readily display their warranty information next to the product so you will have to request the details. Before you purchase a pond liner, visit the company’s website.
Best Pond Liner Reviews
1. Total Pond 13 ft. x 20 ft. 14.5-Mil Pond Skins Pond Liner
If you want to start building a small to medium-sized fish pond or fountain, the Pond Skins Pond Liner from TotalPond is a great choice. This high-quality liner is made from PVC that is reinforced with a strong polyester weave in between the layers of PVC, which makes this UV resistant liner very durable and puncture resistant and it is able to withstand water up to a 1,000-gallon capacity.
The TotalPond liner is also flexible and lightweight and weighs 30% less than ordinary 20-mil PVC liners so it is very to handle during installation. As well as its high-quality construction, the black liner also makes an attractive addition to your pond by merging into the pond’s environment to create a more natural look. The liner’s textured surface is engineered to facilitate good bacteria growth in the water, which is necessary for a healthy, thriving aquatic eco-system.
TotalPond offers a variety of pond liner sizes, but if you order a liner that is slightly larger than the hole you have organised for your new pond, you can cut the liner down to fit the hole, and if you find that the liner is too small, you can seam together multiple pond liners to form a larger pond liner.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Heavy-duty construction
- Strong PVC
- Durable
- Flexible
- Easy to install
- UV-resistant
- Multifunctional: can be used for a small or larger sized pond
Cons
- Liner has no shiny side; hard to see which is the right side up
2. Patriot EPDM 15 ft. x 20 ft. 45-Mil Pond Liner
If your vision for a new aquatic habitat includes beautiful Koi fish, the strong 15 ft. x 20 ft. 45-Mil Pond Liner from Patriot is destined to be your new pond liner. A flexible foundation liner, the Patriot is specially designed for residential and commercial sized Koi ponds and can also be adapted to suit a wide variety of water garden applications. So whatever type of shape or size your pond is, the liner will conform to the unique corners and contours of your pond.
The Patriot liner is made from durable EPDM, which is a thick rubber material that is puncture resistant and can handle a lot of water pressure, and it can be easily attached to skimmers, waterfall filters, pipes and hoses without any leaks.
A bio-friendly liner, the Patriot is UV-resistant, so it will stop any deterioration from the harsh sun and provide a healthy environment where your fish and plants will thrive. Patriot offers a standard 25-year warranty if you use the liner by itself, but if you install Patriot’s Geotextile Underlayment, you are covered by a lifetime warranty. *
Pros
- Thick and durable EPDM rubber
- Flexible
- Bio-friendly
- Easy to use
- Accepts skimmers and other pond attachments
- Comes with a standard 25-year warranty and a lifetime guarantee *
Cons
- Expensive
3. Firestone PondGard PL45-1010, 45 Mil, 10-Feet x 10-Feet EPDM Rubber Pond Liner
Firestone is one of the most highly regarded manufacturer’s of aquatic products and their dedication to designing superior quality liners makes this Firestone Pondgarde EDMP Rubber Pond Liner an excellent choice for a wide range of water features like decorative ponds, fish ponds, swimming ponds, waterfalls, streams, and fountains.
As water features, and especially those that include fish, can deteriorate or suffer from the effects of harsh weather and harmful bacteria, a strong, durable liner is an absolute necessity to maintain the pond’s delicate eco-system. The Firestone PondGard liner is designed to be strong enough to resist the adverse effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and it is ozone resistant, and as it is made from thick EPDM rubber that contains no harmful carcinogens, it is eco-friendly, which makes it the perfect choice for maintaining fish and plants.
The liner is very flexible so it allows you to shape it according to your creativity. Whether you want a round pond, a curved design, or a pond that has very steep sides, or you would like to include a beautiful, natural looking waterfall to enhance the look of your backyard, the Firestone liner can be fitted to accommodate any type of water feature.
As well as displaying an outstanding, consistent resistance to extreme temperatures and being able to protect your pond from harmful bacteria, the high-quality PondGard contains no migrating plasticizers, so there will be no cracking or splitting of the material. The Firestone is both functional and very cost effective.
Pros
- Excellent quality heavy-duty EPDM pond liner
- Great price
- Durable
- Eco-friendly
- UV-resistant
- Easy to cut and fold
- Functional design allows for endless creative possibilities
- Cost effective
Cons
- Can be heavy to move
4. Aquascape 6′ x 8′ (99764) DIY Backyard Pond Kit
An all-in-one kit, the Aquascape DIY Backyard Pond Kit has everything that you need to build and create your own stunning 500-gallon water feature. As well as a durable 6′ x 8′ ft. EPDM rubber liner and a Geotextile underlayment that gives the liner extra protection from sharp objects, the kit contains a New Signature Series 200 Pond Skimmer, a BioFalls 1000-gallon filter with rock tray and bio-balls, AquaSurge 2000 GPH pump, 25 feet of 1 ½ inch kink-free hose, all the plumbing attachments, PVC glue, and a flexible PVC pipe sealer. Forget the hassle of purchasing each item separately, all the components in this kit are well designed and they fit perfectly together.
One you have unpacked all the items from the box, all you need to do is unleash your creativity and design your own Koi fishpond with a gently cascading waterfall.
The skimmer will keep the surface of the pond sparkling clean and the AquaSurge pump provides complete biological filtration so that the plants and fish in your aquatic paradise will thrive and flourish.
Installation is so easy and once it is complete you can be proud of your own creation and just sit back and relax and enjoy your pond.
The Aquascape Pond Kit includes complete industry-leading step-by-step installation instructions and support resources, so if you get stuck, there is always a pond building expert available.
All of the kit’s components are backed by Aquascape Manufacturer Warranties: see the Aquascape website.
Aquascape also provides kits for medium and large size ponds.
Pros
- All-in-one DIY pond kit
- High-quality materials
- Durable EPDM liner and Geotextile underlayment
- Easy to install
- Very good online support
Cons
- Expensive
- Instructions hard to read
5. Algreen Avonlea Rigid Preformed 33-Gallon Pond Liner
If you prefer a no-nonsense approach to pond installation, the 33-gallon, 39 in. x 28 in. x 15 in. Preformed Pond Liner from Algreen Avonlea is a great idea. In just five easy steps you can install the pond and fill it with water and Koi fish, turtles, or plants, and sit back and admire your new aquatic creation.
The Algreen liner is made from UV stable, environmentally-friendly, recycled thick plastic that is safe for fish and plants and it is highly resistant to year-round fading, chipping and cracking. In addition to the stable flat base that allows the liner to be placed securely into the ground and the shallow depth that can accommodate your favorite foliage or a water pump on the floor, the Avonlea liner includes integrated shelves for extra water plants. With the Algreen Avonlea preformed liner, creating a beautiful backyard oasis has never been easier!
One of the highlights of this great little pond is that you can install it in the ground or above ground, so you can place it anywhere in your garden or on your patio as a relaxing conversational starter for family barbecues, or to create an idyllic ambiance for a dinner party.
Pros
- Very good quality preformed pond liner
- Very good value for money
- Easy to install
- No-mess-no-fuss approach to pond installation
- Durable UV-resistant, recycled plastic
- Stable, flat base
- Integrated shelves for plants
- Can be used in-ground or above ground
Cons
- Can leak if you overfill the pond
- Rounded edges make it hard to overlay stones
6. Beckett Corporation 35-Gallon Preformed Pond Liner
Whatever your vision is for your new water feature, the 35-gallon, 39 x 39 x 18 inches Patio Pond from the Beckett Corporation gives you everything you need to create a small fish pond. The preformed pond is proudly made in the USA, and it is constructed from thick high-grade plastic for extra strength and flexibility, and the flat-bottomed design provides a stable platform and plenty of room for plants, and a water pump placement.
The creative possibilities are endless with the Beckett preformed pond: you can fill it with colorful Koi or Goldfish, or incorporate an elegant waterfall or stylish fountain. The pond’s material is UV stable so it is fish and plant friendly, and the contoured sides are less visible underwater, which also allows you to easily disguise the edges with decorative rocks and foliage.
A very versatile pond liner, the Beckett preformed pond can be installed in the ground or above ground, so it is the perfect choice for a garden-based aquatic attraction or a unique indoor garden sanctuary. The pond is covered by a 10-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- The perfect choice for a small pond
- High-quality construction
- Thick, durable UV-resistant plastic
- Great design
- Roomy
- Contoured sides are less visible underwater
- Easy installation
- Can be installed in-ground or above ground
- Can be used outdoors or indoors
Cons
- No integrated shelves for plants
Our Pick for The Best Pond Filter:
Our top pick for the best pond liner is the Firestone 45 mil PondGard Pond Liner. Once more Firestone has delivered a high-quality pond liner that can be used for a wide range of outdoor water feature applications.
If you want to create a medium to large colorful Koi fish pond with a stunning waterfall that cascades down gently over a rock formation, or you just want a simple reflection pond to relax by after a hard day’s work at the office, the PondGard liner provides just the right foundation for your new water feature.
As well as being strong and flexible, and allowing you to shape it according to your design requirements, the Firestone liner is fish and plant friendly and can withstand the harshest temperatures, which make it excellent value for money.
