Pool Size Chart: Dimensions and Gallons

Standard inground pool sizes and gallons

Inground pools are almost always described by their length and width in feet, with depth as a separate range. The gallon figures below use typical average depths for each size. Your pool may differ if it is unusually shallow or deep; run your own numbers with the pool volume formulas.

Size (ft)	Typical depth range	Average depth used	Gallons
12 x 24	3 to 6 ft	4.5 ft	9,695
14 x 28	3.5 to 6 ft	4.75 ft	13,929
16 x 32	3 to 7 ft	5 ft	19,150
16 x 32 (deeper)	3 to 8 ft	5.5 ft	21,065
18 x 36	3 to 8 ft	5.5 ft	26,661
20 x 40	3 to 8 ft	5.5 ft	32,914
20 x 40 (deep)	3 to 9 ft	6 ft	35,906

Notice how much the depth swings the result. A 16 by 32 pool gains nearly 2,000 gallons going from a 5 foot to a 5.5 foot average depth. When someone quotes a pool size without a depth, any gallon figure is a guess.

What is the standard size for a pool?

There is no official standard, but the industry centers on 16 by 32 feet for a full-size residential pool: big enough for laps and games, small enough to heat and maintain affordably. Builders also offer 14 by 28 and 18 by 36 as the steps down and up. Anything under about 12 by 24 feet is usually marketed as a plunge or cocktail pool rather than a swimming pool.

Is a 15x30 pool a good size?

Yes, for most families. A 15 by 30 foot pool sits between the 14 by 28 and 16 by 32 standards and holds roughly 16,000 to 18,000 gallons as a rectangle, or about 12,000 to 13,500 as an oval. It fits a typical suburban lot, costs less to heat than a 16 by 32, and still gives a 30 foot swim lane. It is one of the most commonly built sizes in the US for exactly that reason.

Is 16x32 a small pool?

No. At about 19,150 gallons, a 16 by 32 is a solid mid-size to large residential pool. Pools considered small are 12 by 24 (under 10,000 gallons) or plunge pools under 600 square feet of surface. A 16 by 32 comfortably handles a family of six with room for games, and it is the size most pool equipment is benchmarked against.

What size pool for a family of 6?

A 16 by 32 foot pool is the usual recommendation for a family of six: about 512 square feet of surface and roughly 19,000 gallons gives everyone space without anyone feeling crowded. Families that swim daily or host often step up to 18 by 36. Above ground, the equivalent is a 24 foot round (about 13,500 gallons) or larger. See above ground pool volume by size for the round and oval chart.

Above ground, kiddie, and Olympic sizes

• Above ground rounds: 15 ft (4,627 gal), 18 ft (6,662 gal), 24 ft (13,536 gal), 27 ft (17,132 gal), all at typical water depths.
• Kiddie and paddling pools: a 10 foot round kiddie pool at 1 foot deep holds about 3.1416 x 25 x 1 x 7.48 = 588 gallons. Most hold a few hundred gallons.
• Olympic pool: 50 meters x 25 meters x 2 meters minimum depth = 2,500 cubic meters = 660,430 gallons. About 20 to 30 times a residential pool.

Whatever size you are considering, the free pool volume calculator converts any dimensions to gallons in seconds.