Swim jets for in-ground pools: clamp-on or drilled in?
Prices and specs read Nov 4, 2026. Sources listed at the bottom.
For an in-ground pool you can pick a clamp-on X Series jet that needs only a charger, or a drilled-in P Series that needs power run to your deck. The edge of your pool, and your electrician, decide which one is realistic.
Start with the edge
Both kinds grab the pool edge, so look at yours before you look at models.
- Drilled-in P Series: the edge (coping) needs to be at least 18.7 inches wide and solid enough to drill. The bracket has to sit within 8.1 inches (20 cm) of the water surface.
- Clamp-on X Series: the edge overhang has to be under 4 inches, and the top of the edge no more than 16 inches above the water.
iGarden's in-ground guide doesn't say whether paver, stone or bullnose edging causes trouble. Its only advice is that the edge be wide and solid enough for the clamp to seat. If you have unusual edging, ask iGarden support with a photo before ordering.
Pool shell material
iGarden says concrete and gunite pools "handle this easily" for a drilled-in jet. For fiberglass and vinyl-liner pools, it says you need models "specifically rated for those shells", with different mounting hardware. It doesn't say which P models carry that rating. That is worth asking about before you buy, because the clamp-on units avoid the issue by gripping the edge and not the shell.
How much pool you need
iGarden's in-ground guide gives a practical minimum of 15 ft of clear length, 8 ft of clear width and 3 ft of depth where you swim. It recommends 20 ft or more in length and 10 to 12 ft in width. Its P Series support article says 16.4 ft by 9.8 ft by 3.5 ft deep, and the P Series product page says above 4 by 8 m (about 13 by 26 ft). Three answers from one company. If your pool is under about 20 ft, assume you're in the gray zone and ask support which number applies to the exact model you want.
Steps, benches, tanning ledges, curves and a shallow end all eat into the usable lane. Measure from where you'd push off to where the wall or a bench starts. On a pool with a sloped floor, check the depth where you'd actually be swimming, not at the deep end.
Which model
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Longest clear swim path | Drilled-in (P Series) | Clamp-on (X Series) |
|---|---|---|
| About 15 to 18 ft | P100 (450 gallons per minute) or P160 (720). Check the pool-size conflict above first. | X Air (790) or X5 (880) |
| 18 to 25 ft | P160 or P200 (900) | X5 or X Pro 10 (1,100) |
| 25 ft and longer | P200 or P230 (1,100) | X Pro 10 |
This pairing is the site's own, built from the flow tiers in iGarden's buying guide. It isn't a rule from iGarden, and no published test of it turned up.
Stock and price
On Nov 4, 2026, iGarden's P Series page showed all four models out of stock. Listed prices were P100 about $2,000, P160 $2,999, P200 $3,599 and P230 $3,999. The page shows two prices for the P100, $1,999 and $2,109. An install service is listed at $0 "during the sale", crossed out from $699. Don't plan around the free install without asking what it costs after the sale.
Power
The P Series plugs into house power, and iGarden's own pages disagree about what that takes. Read the install requirements page before you book an electrician. The X Series runs on a battery and needs no circuit.
A simple way to decide
- Can you drill the edge, and are you okay doing so? If not, X Series.
- Do you want to leave the unit on the pool all season without charging? That points to the P Series.
- Is your edge under 18.7 inches wide? Then the P Series is out.
- Is your overhang more than 4 inches? Then the X Series is out.
Sources
All read Nov 4, 2026. iGarden in-ground guide, P Series store page, X Series store page, support: minimum pool size, buying guide. Almost everything here is iGarden's own word, because no outside source turned up that covers in-ground installs of these models.