12 Best Pool Fences for Toddler Safety (October 2026)

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between one and four years old in the United States, and most of those drownings happen at home, in water the family owns, during non-swim times when nobody expected a child near the pool. That single fact shapes everything in this guide to the best pool fences for toddler safety, because the only thing that changes those numbers in any meaningful way is a physical barrier that a two-year-old cannot defeat without help from an adult.

A toddler-safe pool fence is a four-sided barrier, at least 48 inches tall, with a self-closing and self-latching gate whose latch sits out of a small child’s reach, and no more than 4 inches of open space beneath it on a solid deck or 2 inches on grass. The surface should offer nothing a child can hook a knee over, and the ground inside the fence line should hold nothing a child can climb.

Here is the honest part: no fence is childproof. A determined three-year-old who finds an unlocked gate will walk through it. Fencing is one layer of protection, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the CPSC and the AAP all pair it with door alarms, a pool alarm, a designated water watcher, swim lessons and adult CPR training. What a good fence does is buy you time, remove the pool from unsupervised reach, and hold even when supervision slips for five minutes.

We compared 12 fences built for this job, scored every one on the same five criteria, and pulled real installation complaints out of buyer reviews rather than manufacturer copy. If you are starting from scratch, start with the toddler trampoline enclosure roundup, which solves the same problem in a different part of the yard.

Why Pool Fencing Matters More Than Anything Else You Can Buy

The Centers for Disease Control credits a four-sided isolation fence with an 83 percent reduction in child-drowning risk compared with no barrier, and the difference between four sides and three sides is large enough that we treat any three-sided pool as a to-do item.

Three-sided fencing keeps the house separated from the water but leaves the patio door as the single point of failure. One unlocked screen door, one delivery left against the latch, one toddler who learned the code, and the barrier is gone. Four sides means the child is separated from the pool itself, not from the house.

The other half of the problem is timing. Most child drownings occur when no one is actively watching, which is exactly when a fence is doing the work for you. Buy the fence first and let the alarms be the backup.

Top 3 Picks for the Best Pool Fences for Toddler Safety in 2026

These three cover the three situations most families actually face: an in-ground pool with a deck, a yard where height matters more than anything else, and a pool where the gate is the weak point.

All 12 Pool Fences Compared in 2026

Height, material and gate hardware differ more across this group than the marketing suggests. Four of these are for above-ground pools, three are gates rather than perimeter fencing, and one is an add-on kit rather than a standalone system.

1. Life Saver DIY 4 x 12-Foot Section Kit – The One to Build Around

This is the section kit we would build a four-sided fence out of. Each 12-foot section arrives fully assembled with five one-inch aluminum poles, stainless deck mounting pins at 36-inch spacing, the required deck sleeves and caps, and a brass safety latch. You are positioning and drilling, not weaving mesh through poles at 11pm on a Sunday.

At 1506 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, it also has the deepest buyer history in this group, which matters because pool fence failures are quiet failures. A fence that sags at month eight or a latch that drifts out of alignment shows up in reviews from people who have lived with it through a few seasons.

The honest weakness is tools. Installation needs a half-inch minimum rotary hammer drill with a 5/8-inch long-shaft masonry bit, and the drill guide is not included. Owners who rent or buy one report saving thousands against a professional quote, but owners who arrive with a cordless driver report plastic sleeves cracking.

Tension is what separates a good install from a bad one. Fence sections installed into deck sleeves under even tension look taut and professional, and the mesh stays climb-resistant. Sections with slack belly out into exactly the bulge that reviewers complain toddlers use as a step.

What makes it worth the trouble

The 4-foot height lands exactly on the CPSC recommendation rather than above it, and for most toddlers that is the practical difference between a climb and a non-climb. Pair it with the Life Saver gate kit below and you have a self-closing, self-latching system rather than a hinged panel with a hook.

It also scales. Sections are modular, so a small 24-foot enclosure and a 120-foot perimeter use the same parts, and the fence comes down in winter without destroying the deck.

Where it falls short

Cutting a section to a custom length is the part owners complain about most, so measure every run twice before you drill. Custom shapes mean ordering the latch and pole placement at the factory rather than trimming mesh on site.

The gate has to be bought separately, and if you skip it and improvise a panel, you have lost the single most important piece of hardware in the whole system.

2. Blue Wave Above Ground 8-Section Base Kit – Best for Metal Frame Pools

This is the fence problem most above-ground pool owners ignore entirely, and it is the category most of this roundup misses. A metal frame pool with no barrier is a 24-inch-high wall of nothing around a body of water, and a toddler can climb a pool wall far more easily than a fence.

The Blue Wave base kit solves that by bolting to the pool’s own metal uprights and top rails rather than to the deck, so there is nothing to drill. Eight vinyl sections at 64.5 inches each cover most round and oval frame pools, and the slat design keeps visibility into the pool high.

Be clear-eyed about the height, though. At 24 inches this is below the 4-foot CPSC recommendation that the rest of this list meets, and reviewers say so plainly. It works because the fence sits on top of a pool wall that itself is a couple of feet tall, so the combined barrier is more meaningful than the number suggests.

It is not compatible with soft-sided pools, which rules out a large share of modern above-ground frames. If yours has a flexible liner wall, you need a ground-based system or a full perimeter fence instead.

What makes it worth the trouble

Installation needs a screwdriver and a drill, not a rotary hammer, and the whole kit weighs 52 pounds. Owners using a screwdriver and a drill get a working barrier in an afternoon with zero deck damage and zero risk of cracking sleeves.

The 5-year warranty and the company’s stated spare part availability matter here, because a fence you cannot repair is a fence you replace every two years.

Where it falls short

Bracket alignment is the recurring complaint. Some buyers report brackets that need rework to sit flat on certain upright styles, so check your pool’s rail profile before you commit.

The white vinyl shows dirt and algae lines, and reviewers note the height may not deter a determined climber once the child is old enough to reach the pool wall top.

3. WaterWarden 5-Foot Mesh Fence – The Tallest Option in the Lineup

Height is the most direct safety upgrade available, and this is the only fence in the group that goes beyond the 4-foot minimum. Five feet removes the hand-over-the-top problem entirely for most toddlers, and it also gives you margin if your local code turns out to want 60 inches.

The fence is UL-certified, which is a certification tier above what most of this category offers. The mesh is UV-protected with reinforced edging, and spring-loaded safety latches join sections so a gate can be created wherever your layout needs one.

The catch is the deck. This fence installs into concrete or cement-tiled decks and is explicitly not recommended for pavers, which rules out a lot of modern pool builds. If your patio is pavers, you are looking at core drilling, surface-mounted posts, or a different product.

Buyers also report that the tension needed to keep the mesh flat makes seasonal removal harder than the click-and-lift marketing implies. Some report missing hardware in boxes, and a few report panel spacing inconsistencies between units.

What makes it worth the trouble

The extra 12 inches of height is real protection. A typical 30-month-old measures around 35 inches tall, and their reach when standing on tiptoe at a climbing aid gets into the high 40s, so a 5-foot fence leaves very little to grab.

Reinforced edging and UV protection are what keep the mesh from stretching after a season of sun, and stretch is what turns a climb-resistant surface into a ramp.

Where it falls short

Plastic receptacles are tight to install and some buyers report cracking them, which is mostly a symptom of drilling without the drill guide. Rent the guide or buy it before you start.

Wood decks can be made to work with modifications, but that is a weekend project of its own and not a straight install.

4. Life Saver Self-Closing Gate Kit – The Gate Most Parents Should Buy Separately

Open gates are the number one way pool fences fail in real yards, and this is the part of the system that fixes it. The gate has a magnetic latch positioned at adult height, so a toddler can pull on it and nothing happens, plus self-closing hinges so the panel cannot be left standing open.

At 4 feet by 4 feet with a 2-foot walk-through opening, it lines up with the section kit above. The aluminum is powder-coated square stock with double-truss uprights, and the warranty is limited lifetime rather than the 5 years most of this group offers.

A key lock option adds a second layer for a house where a non-swimming sibling might push a button. Reviews also mention weekday phone support, which is unusual at this price and genuinely useful when the hinges will not align on the first attempt.

Reviewers do flag that the instructions arrive as separate documents for the gate, hinges and latch. Budget an extra hour reading rather than improvising, because the hinge position sets the latch position.

What makes it worth the trouble

A magnetic latch has no spring to fatigue and no keyhole for a curious toddler to work, which is why it is the mechanism most safety-focused manufacturers settled on. Self-closing hinges are the other half, and this gate has both.

If you already have mesh fencing from another brand, this style of gate is often the cheapest upgrade available to an aging installation whose original gate no longer closes properly.

Where it falls short

Gate alignment is genuinely difficult and reviewers describe it as the hardest part of any pool fence install. Hinges set the latch position, and you rarely get more than one attempt before you are re-drilling.

The magnetic latch may need periodic adjustment as the frame settles, and some buyers report model changes affecting perceived quality between batches.

5. VINGLI 4 x 96-Foot Kit – The Most Fence for One Purchase

Most people underestimate their perimeter until they measure it. A typical residential in-ground pool with a deck needs far more fencing than a single kit listing suggests, and this one covers 96 feet as eight 12-foot sections.

The mesh is Teslin, a PVC-based material that resists cracking and holds its shape better than plain polyethylene. Reviewers also report installing it with wooden posts when they wanted to avoid masonry drilling entirely, which is a real advantage on a patio they did not want to core.

The weak point is the gate. Buyers commonly report that the included latch does not self-lock reliably, and the practical fix many found was adding an aftermarket magnetic lock. If you install this, plan on that as a second purchase.

There is no top rail on the panels, so straightness depends entirely on tension between posts. Sloppy tension creates a belly in the mesh that a toddler can use as a step, and the instructions are light on how to avoid that.

What makes it worth the trouble

Rolling the fence up and having one person reinstall it next spring is a genuine convenience, and for a 96-foot run it would take several people otherwise. Parents who fence for grandchildren rather than their own children value this most.

Open-weave mesh means you keep sight lines to the water, so you are not fencing yourself out of supervision just to contain a toddler.

Where it falls short

A gate that does not lock itself is a compromise on the one hardware item that must work every single time. Budget for a magnetic latch and test it with a two-year-old pulling on it before you leave the drill down.

Some buyers reported stripped pre-installed screws and drill template alignment problems, so check the box contents against the parts list before you start.

6. VEVOR 4 x 2.5-Foot Gate Kit – Budget Gate With a Manual Latch

This is the cheapest way to add a gate to a fence run you already have, and the materials are better than the price suggests. The poles are one-inch square aluminum with 3.9-inch stainless steel legs, and the mesh is 340gsm Teslin PVC with triple-needle stitching along the borders.

Compatibility is the underrated feature here. Because the hooks are pre-installed on the poles, buyers report using it as a gate for fences from other manufacturers, which solves the problem of a fence that shipped without any gate at all.

Read the latch description carefully before you buy: the push-pull switch is positioned about 20cm above the gate for safety, and the gate does not automatically lock. It needs a manual push to latch, which a determined toddler can work out.

Reviews are blunt about the instructions, the drill template alignment, and reports of missing screws and caps. Several buyers report customer service being unresponsive on defective parts, so inspect the box carefully on arrival.

What makes it worth the trouble

Triple-needle stitching and stainless hardware at this budget level is a fair trade, and the 11-pound weight means two people can carry it out and set it in one session.

If your plan is a mixed fence with panels from one kit and this gate, the fit is one of the better cross-brand matches in the group.

Where it falls short

Manual locking is the whole argument against it. On a fence whose job is to hold a child out of water, a latch that needs an adult to push it shut is a compromise you have to think about.

Brackets are less substantial than on the premium kits, and reviewers note limited adjustability plus plastic inserts that can go brittle in cold weather.

7. Happybuy 4 x 48-Foot Kit – Solid Mid-Range Perimeter Run

Four 12-foot sections at 4 feet high is the middle ground between a small above-ground enclosure and a full perimeter run. The posts are 1000D powder-coated aluminum, and the joins use a hook-eye buckle system that reviewers say pulls panels together tightly once tensioned.

The 340gms Teslin mesh and triple-stitch overlock sewing sit at the standard spec for this category rather than above it. That is fine for a properly tensioned install, and the wind-resistant design holds up in open yards once the panels are straight.

The most common complaint is mesh sagging where there is no horizontal tension member. Owners who fix the tension report it performs well for years; owners who skip it end up with a wave in the panel that works as a foothold.

The gate is sold separately, so budget for one of the gate kits in this roundup. Sections can be shortened, which is helpful when your perimeter is not an even multiple of 12 feet.

What makes it worth the trouble

Being able to trim a section rather than reorder means you are not stuck with a fixed panel length, which is the practical difference between finishing in a day and finishing in a week.

One-person removal means winter storage in a garage is realistic, and the powder-coated finish resists the corrosion that eventually attacks bare aluminum in coastal yards.

Where it falls short

Forty-eight feet rarely covers a full in-ground perimeter, so most buyers end up buying a second kit. Measure your complete four-sided run before ordering and round up.

Hook connections can loosen over time with repeated removal and reinstallation, so a quick tension check each spring is worth the five minutes.

8. Real Relax 4 x 48-Foot Kit – Heaviest Mesh Weight in the Test Group

The specification that sets this one apart is the mesh. At 350gsm it is heavier than the 340gsm Teslin used by most kits in this roundup, and heavier mesh resists the sagging and UV softening that turns a taut panel into a bouncy one.

Stainless steel feet on every pole matter more than they sound. In a yard with salt air or damp soil, aluminum feet are the first thing to pit and streak, and reviewers single this out as a build quality upgrade.

The measuring ruler included for pole spacing is a small thing that saves real time. Consistent hole spacing is what keeps the panels straight, and straight panels are what keep the mesh climb-resistant.

Be measured about the confidence here. The 4.5-star rating comes from 48 reviews, so there is far less long-term data behind this than behind the Life Saver or Blue Wave kits. It is a newer product with good specs, not a proven survivor.

What makes it worth the trouble

Heavier mesh and stainless feet are exactly the two failure points in mesh pool fences, and this kit addresses both. For a yard that stays up year-round, that is where durability is actually won.

Peg covers are a cosmetic win that matters more than it should, since they hide the drilled sockets when the fence comes down for winter.

Where it falls short

Forty-eight feet is the same coverage limit as the mid-range kits, and the gate is still sold separately, so the total cost per finished foot is not as low as the per-kit number suggests.

With a small review base you are buying on specification rather than on evidence, which is a fair trade only if you keep receipts and inspect parts on arrival.

9. Aqua Select 24-Inch Vinyl Kit – Removable Above Ground Fencing

Like the Blue Wave kit, this solves the above-ground problem by mounting to the pool structure itself rather than to the ground, which means no drilling and no deck damage. The brackets are described as extra-strong and attach to the pool uprights and top rail.

The removable design is the part that matters most in practice. When the pool guy needs access, the fence comes off in minutes and goes back on afterward, which addresses the single failure mode parents complain about most in forums.

The honest limitation is the same one: 24 inches alone is below the 4-foot guideline, and it only works as a barrier because the pool wall adds height underneath it. Reviewers say so directly rather than pretending otherwise.

Vinyl can become brittle in extreme cold, so in a climate with hard winters you may want to take it down rather than leave panels flexing overnight at freezing temperatures.

What makes it worth the trouble

The UV protection is what keeps white vinyl from going the yellow-grey that makes a fence look neglected after two summers. For a visible backyard fixture, that is worth paying for.

Having 2-piece, 3-piece and 8-piece versions means you can cover a small wading pool or extend an existing run without buying a whole new kit.

Where it falls short

The mounting brackets are designed for a specific upright style, so check compatibility with your pool frame before buying and be prepared to find an alternative if it does not match.

Soft-sided pools are excluded, and reviewers note the height may not deter a climber who can already get onto the pool wall.

10. Vinyl Works Kit A – Cut-to-Fit Resin Sections for Steel Wall Pools

This is the most straightforward above-ground kit in the group. Eight 24-inch resin sections with stainless steel hardware, round pickets, and 64.5-inch sections that cut down to fit whatever your pool perimeter actually measures.

That cut-to-fit property is genuinely useful because above-ground pools are rarely a clean multiple of the section length. Being able to trim a panel to close the last gap avoids the awkward short section that leaves a climbable gap.

Two limitations stand out. The height is 24 inches, and the mounting brackets are blow-molded and non-adjustable, so there is no forgiveness if your uprights are not perfectly spaced.

At 51 pounds for the full kit this is a heavier lift than the mesh systems, and it is built for steel wall pools only, which rules out soft-sided frames.

What makes it worth the trouble

Stainless steel hardware through the whole kit is unusual at this level and is what keeps the joints from rusting in a wet environment. Reviewers consistently note the clean white finish suits a deck better than dark mesh.

For a steel wall pool where the wall itself adds height, this is a straightforward barrier that does not require touching the deck at all.

Where it falls short

Non-adjustable brackets mean an imperfect fit stays imperfect. Check upright spacing across the whole pool before you start rather than discovering a mismatch at the far end.

Reviewers mention vinyl yellowing over time and note this kit carries a lighter review base than the leading above-ground options.

11. Petorldog 40-Inch Metal Fence – Tool-Free Setup With Double-Lock Gates

This one is different from everything else here. It is a metal panel system with pre-drilled panels and stakes, so setup needs no drill at all. For a rental, a grandparents’ yard, or a pool you fence seasonally, that difference is decisive.

Forty-eight panels covering 110 feet fold down for storage, and the double-lock gate mechanism is the most child-resistant latch in this roundup. It is the strongest gate design here and the reason the fence is worth a look despite the height.

At 40 inches it still falls short of the 48-inch recommendation, and the product is marketed primarily for pets rather than toddlers. That framing is honest and worth reading as a signal about which failure mode the manufacturer optimised for.

With 38 reviews and reports of stability concerns, plus stakes that may be too short for hard or rocky soil, this is the pick we would test before trusting with a toddler, not the pick we would install on day one.

What makes it worth the trouble

Tool-free setup changes the economics for temporary fencing. If you are fencing for visiting grandchildren for a summer, or you cannot drill in a rental, no-drill is the feature that makes the whole project possible.

The double-lock gate is worth copying as a concept even if you choose a different fence, since it adds a second barrier against a toddler who has learned the first latch.

Where it falls short

Eight inches below the recommended height is a real gap for a child who can climb, and metal panels stacked as a step turn a 40-inch fence into a much shorter one. Keep nothing climbable near the fence line.

Stability depends entirely on stake length and soil conditions, so push-test every stake after installation and add a longer stake if it moves.

12. Vinyl Works Kit B – Three Add-On Sections for an Existing Base

This is an expansion kit rather than a fence, and it only makes sense if you already own a Vinyl Works Kit A base. Three 24-inch resin sections with the same stainless hardware, 64.5 inches each, that clip onto the existing system.

Its value is specific but real. Rather than tearing out and replacing a perfectly good base fence because your pool grew or you added a section, you extend it with matching parts and matching finish.

Two things to know before you add it to a cart. It requires Kit A to function at all, so buying it first means buying two things, and at 24 inches it adds height, not protection height.

Buyers who pair it with the base report it works exactly as expected. Buyers who buy it alone report that it does nothing, which is the single most common complaint in this listing.

Who this works for

Anyone who already installed Kit A and then realised the perimeter was longer than the base kit covered. The stainless hardware and white resin match, so the extension does not look like an afterthought.

Because the sections can be cut to fit, three panels often cover more awkward leftover runs than three whole sections on a straight side.

Who should skip it

If you do not own a Kit A base already, this is not a starting point and the listing should not be read as a standalone fence.

For a toddler-safety application, the 24-inch height means this adds containment around an above-ground pool rather than a compliant four-sided barrier on its own.

The Five Non-Negotiable Criteria for a Toddler-Safe Pool Fence

We scored every product in this roundup against the same five criteria, in this order. If a fence fails any one of them, it is not a toddler fence, no matter how good it looks.

1. A self-closing, self-latching gate

The gate is where fences are defeated, and it needs both halves of the specification. Self-closing means spring-loaded or gravity hinges return the panel to the latched position on their own. Self-latching means the latch engages without an adult pressing anything.

The latch should also sit high enough that a toddler cannot reach it. Magnetic latches that release at adult height, like the one on the Life Saver gate kit, are the pattern worth copying. Any gate that needs a key on the pool side is safer but rarely convenient enough to stay locked.

2. Climb resistance with no footholds

A toddler climbs with knees, not hands, which is why horizontal rails are the problem rather than the vertical post spacing. Mesh with an open weave and no top or bottom rail gives a child nothing to hook a leg over.

This is the single biggest reason mesh outperforms aluminum picket fencing for this age group, and it is why the NDPA recommends mesh surfaces. Check that the mesh is taut, since a sagging panel creates the bulge that becomes a step.

3. Height of at least 48 inches

The CPSC recommendation is 48 inches, and some states including California and Arizona require 60. Measure from the ground at the highest point along the run, not from the deck surface, because that is where a child’s foot lands.

For reach-height math: a typical 30-month-old stands around 35 inches tall and reaches roughly 47 inches standing flat-footed. A 48-inch fence puts their reach a few inches below the top rail, which is the margin that matters.

4. Bottom clearance between 2 and 4 inches

CPSC guidance allows no more than 4 inches of clearance beneath the fence on a solid surface, and no more than 2 inches on grass, gravel or mulch. A wider gap is a tunnel.

Uneven ground is the practical difficulty here, and it is why parent forums keep reporting children squeezing under mesh. Walk the full run after installation and check every low point, especially where panels meet at corners.

5. A clear zone with nothing climbable inside

The fence line only works if nothing sits against it. Planters, deck chairs, pool equipment, trash cans and toys stored against the fence all become stairs, and this is the second most common way real installations get defeated.

Keep three feet clear on the pool side of the fence and move anything climbable away from it. If you have an above-ground pool, the pool wall itself is the biggest object to consider, which is why above-ground pools need their own solution.

Mesh vs Aluminum vs Vinyl vs Metal: Which Fence Type Suits Your Yard

Mesh is the default answer for in-ground pools and the only material that reliably resists a climbing toddler, because there is nothing rigid to step on. Aluminum picket systems look better and last longer but create horizontal rails a child can use.

Vinyl and resin picket systems are built for above-ground pools and mount to the pool frame itself. They are not four-sided barriers at 24 inches, but paired with a pool wall they are a sensible second layer.

Metal panel systems are the only truly tool-free option, which matters for rentals, seasonal fencing and grandparents’ pools, but the 40-inch models in this roundup are built primarily for pet containment.

Glass and wood both appear on installer websites, and both come with real trade-offs. Glass has no footholds but is expensive and needs specialist installation. Wood has footholds by design and should not be used as a primary toddler barrier.

Above-ground pools and decks

Parents with an above-ground pool surrounded partly by a deck ask this question constantly in forums. The answer is usually two barriers: a pool-mounted vinyl kit for the wall itself, and mesh perimeter fencing for the deck edge and any steps.

If your pool has soft-sided walls, the pool-mounted kits in this roundup will not fit and you need a ground-based system instead. Automatic covers are a separate question, and our guide to automatic pool covers for safety covers what they do and do not solve.

What Not to Rely On Alone – And the Layers That Come After the Fence

Chicken wire is the most common shortcut and the one to avoid. It is thin enough for small fingers to part, it rusts, and it sags under a kid who leans on it. Safety mesh with reinforced triple-stitched edges is a different material with different failure modes.

Temporary tarps and rope lines are not barriers. Neither is a pool cover on its own, because children have been documented getting under covers and into the water, and covers can collect water and change the surface weight.

With the fence in place, the layers that add real protection are specific. Door alarms on every sliding glass door and gate leading to the pool area. A pool alarm, ideally a subsurface unit, so you know someone entered the water. A designated Water Watcher, one sober, undistracted adult whose only job for an hour is watching the water.

Then the layers that work on the child rather than the yard. Swim lessons, which reduce risk meaningfully without making a fence optional. And CPR training, because a fence lowers the chance of a drowning, not the consequence of one. Anyone who watches children around your pool should have it.

One more layer worth mentioning from the pet side, since most of these fences handle dogs as well: run perimeter containment for pets separately, and if you have a large yard, an in-ground dog fence or wireless dog fence for large yards keeps a dog from wandering to a neighbour’s pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If your pool is in-ground with a concrete or paver deck, the Life Saver DIY 4 x 12 section kit is the one to build around, paired with the Life Saver self-closing gate kit. That combination meets the CPSC height recommendation, ships with brass latch hardware, and carries the deepest review history we found across 1506 buyer ratings.

If your pool is above-ground, start with a pool-mounted vinyl kit for the wall and add mesh fencing around the deck edge and steps. If you cannot drill, the metal panel system is the only viable option in this roundup, with the understanding that its 40-inch height is built more for pets than toddlers.

Whatever you install, measure the finished fence before you walk away: 48 inches minimum, latch above toddler reach, nothing under 2 inches at the bottom, and no furniture within three feet. Then add door alarms, a pool alarm and swim lessons behind it, because the best pool fences for toddler safety work best as one layer in a system rather than as a single purchase.