POND LINER MATERIAL OPTIONS

When selecting a pond liner material for your new pond construction, there are several options available. Each material possesses its own strengths and weaknesses, depending on the specific application. We consistently emphasize to those who call for advice: it's crucial to choose the appropriate product for the task at hand. A pond liner material that is ideal for one application might be unsuitable for another. Continue reading for additional information. Alternatively, if you wish to discuss your specific product with a pond expert, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Most Common Pond Liner Material: EPDM vs RPE

For most standard pond applications, we typically recommend one of two materials: our Premium RPE liner (a special laminated reinforced polyethylene) or EPDM Rubber. Additionally, we offer custom 3D-shaped rectangular or circular drop-in tank liners for achieving more precise rectangular or circular shapes.

Our Most Popular Pond Liner!


Over the past 10 years, Premium RPE has become the most popular pond liner material option we offer at Everything Ponds. The reasons are clear:

  • Stronger: It has at least three times the puncture resistance of EPDM rubber.
  • Lighter: It's about one-third the weight of EPDM.
  • More cost-effective: Not only is the material itself less expensive than EPDM, but its lighter weight also reduces our shipping costs. This allows us to pass on the savings to you, especially since we offer free shipping on all our liners.
  • Safe and Eco-Friendly: Guaranteed not to leach chemicals into the water, ensuring safety for even drinking water.
  • Versatile Use: Ideal for ponds, fish, plants, and hydroponic systems due to its environmentally friendly properties.

Although RPE is our preferred product for many applications, there is a minor compromise for its higher strength: bendability. Because the product is reinforced, it will be a bit stiffer to work with compared to EPDM. How much stiffer? Our video above offers a demonstration. For medium to large ponds, or other larger applications like golf course water hazards or lakes, this extra stiffness is generally not an issue due to the absence of tight corners and bends that require heavy folding. However, for certain small decorative ponds with many shelves, bends, and corners, EPDM may be easier to install.

Tried and True Classic Pond Liner

Very Bendable (at the expense of being less puncture resistant)

EPDM rubber, traditionally used for small or medium decorative ponds, was first developed over 70 years ago. Its popularity is largely due to its exceptional flexibility and bendability, ideal for fitting into irregularly shaped ponds with numerous bends, corners, and shelves. However, this soft and malleable material is more prone to puncturing compared to RPE. It is also about three times heavier for the same size liner.

When using EPDM, it is essential to use an underlay material to protect against damage from rocks, sticks, and other elements in the soil. In fact, Firestone does not warranty their EPDM liner unless an underlay is used. Unlike EPDM, RPE does not require an underlay when laid on smooth dirt, sand, or clay substrates.

For a demonstration of its puncture resistance, watch the video below. When do we recommend EPDM? It's generally advised if liner flexibility is your top priority. If strength is more important, we recommend a reinforced product, like Reinforced Polyethylene (RPE), as mentioned above.

Rectangular or Circular 3D Drop-In Liners

Custom Liners in 3D Shapes. Simple. Easy. 

Everything Ponds custom drop-in liners are heat welded into rectangular and cylindrical shapes using flexible polypropylene liner material. These liners are custom-made to your exact specifications and are typically used in formal pond applications where clean, fold-free lines are desired. The heat welding process forms them into 3D box shapes, eliminating the need for folding or pleating the liner. This results in a simple, clean appearance post-installation. Additionally, the polypropylene liner material used in these is significantly stronger than our regular RPE liners and offers higher UV resistance.

Although there are other pond liner material options out there on the market, the 3 materials listed above are our top choices for most pond applications. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your project with an expert, please feel free to contact us.

Click here to return from pond liner material to garden pond liners.

Click here to return from pond liner material to our home page