How Much Space is Needed for a Pool?
A well-designed pool complements any outdoor living area. While the pool is usually the visual center of focus – the purpose of the pool design should be to ensure the outdoor space can be used seamlessly all year round. This simply means that you need to position and allocate space according to how you’re going to use the remaining outdoor space. So, how much space is needed for a pool?
How Much Space is Needed for a Pool?
In this post, we’ll discuss how much space you need for a swimming pool. We’ll also highlight the factors to bear in mind when choosing the size and design of your pool.
How Much Space Is Needed for a Pool
When thinking about pool size, you want to consider how you’re going to utilize the remaining space. For instance:
- Paved areas form ideal spots for outdoor furniture and paths for foot traffic
- Garden beds and plants offer privacy and soften finishes
- Grassed areas create play areas and free-roaming ground especially if you have kids and animals
- Outdoor entertaining and rooms will help to protect you from the summer’s heat and keep you warm when it gets chilly
- Pools improve your home’s aesthetic appeal all year round and serve a practical purpose for the summer.
Nonetheless, there’s more to your yard than just the pool. And that’s why you want a pool that’s not too large to take up the entire space, leaving plenty of room for other activities. Many homeowners also opt for the minimum swimming pool size for their homes to ensure that they have enough room for other activities.
Pool Design
It goes without saying that you also need to consider the design of the pool and the pool surroundings as it will have an impact on the practical use of the space. As a general rule of thumb, you want your pool and pool surround to occupy about 25% of the total available area. So, if your yard is either small or medium size (approx. 150 square meters), consider building a small pool of about 20-28 square meters with a suitable small pool surround area. This gives you plenty of room to use your outdoor area for many other functions such as:
- Backyard cricket
- Parking a trailer and building a shed
- Thrusting up a clothesline
- Building a veggie patch or garden
- Playing some soccer
Your yard is an outdoor entertaining area so the size and design of your pool should be based on how you will use the space.
Key Points
- Pools always look good so make it stand out by going for a great design
- Ensure the pool surround occupy about 50% of the pool surface area
- Build your pool and pool surround to occupy about 25% of the total area available (especially if you have kids)
Bottom Line
So how much space is needed for a pool? The general rule of thumb is to build a pool that’s approx. 25% of the total available space. Bear in mind that you want a pool to complement rather than to occupy your entire yard. Ultimately, the size of your pool should be dictated by how you plan to use your yard space. If you have additional questions about building a pool, the pros at Venture Custom Pools have the knowledge and expertise to help.
FAQs
Pool Design
How much space is needed to put in a pool? ›
Deciding on how much space your pool takes up in your yard will depend on your requirements for the outdoor area. As a general guide, the pool and the pool surrounds should occupy approximately 25% of the total outdoor area. This will allow space to create an entertaining area or a play area for the kids.
How much room do you need around a pool? ›
Build your pool and pool surround to occupy approximately 25% of the total available area (especially if you have kids) Ensure the pool surrounds occupy an area of approximately 50% of the pool surface area.
Is a 12 by 24 pool big enough? ›
However, the average small inground pool is around 12 by 24 feet, which should provide plenty of room for swimming, playing, and relaxing for the typical family. Plunge pools and spools may be even smaller.
Is a 10 foot pool big enough? ›
10ft is a great size- not so big that it took up the whole garden, but big enough to properly play in and have floaties, and even our little one could properly swim widths in it. It was big enough for us adults too, and we could both happily float about on a lilo with plenty of room to spare.
Can you put a pool in a small space? ›
As you might be surprised to learn, as little as 1,200 square feet of backyard space provides enough room to install a stunning pool. Not only is it possible to install a pool in a small yard, but with today's innovative technology, there are more small pool design options than ever before to choose from.
How big does a pool equipment room need to be? ›
Deciding On Pool Equipment Pad Size
Most will average around four feet by six feet. However, if you're adding a gas heater or heat pump, a pad that's four feet by eight feet is probably best.
How much clearance do you need around a pool? ›
Space between patio furniture and pool edge: 30”+ Pathways: 3'+ wide. Seating area for 3-6 people (e.g., a couch + a couple chairs): 10' x 10' (minimum) Dining area for 4 people: 10' x 10' (minimum)
What size room do you need for pool? ›
For a typical 8-foot pool table with a playing surface of 44” x 88”, you're going to need a minimum room size of: 48 inch cue: 11'8” x 15'4” or 3.56m x 4.67m. 52 inch cue: 12'4” x 16' or 3.76m x 4.88m. 58 inch cue: 13'4” x 17' or 4.06m x 5.18m.
Is 4 feet enough space around a pool table? ›
The easy – but rough – 'rule of thumb' is: Start with the length and width. Add 5 feet to each side of the table – all the way around. For example, an 8′ x 4′ table needs roughly an 18′ x 14′ room.
Pool Sizes by Type
| Pool Type | Common Depths | Popular Sizes (in feet) |
|---|
| Inground | 3 – 10 feet | 16 x 32, 18 x 36, 20 x 40 |
| Above ground | 3 – 5 feet | 10, 16, and 24 feet in diameter |
| Olympic | 7 – 10 feet | 154 x 82 |
| Lap | 5 – 10 feet | 10 x 40, 8 x 50, 6 x 40 |
4 more rowsMar 3, 2023
A 12' x 24' foot above ground pool will comfortably fit 4-5 average size adults to swim, float and play. There are approximately 6,800 gallons in a 52" above ground pool and requires approximately 2 cubic yards of sifted(playground) sand to create a 2" layer under the liner and create a sand cove.
What is the smallest inground pool you can get? ›
How small can an in-ground pool be? Most of the smallest in-ground pools across all pool types, on average, are around 12' by 24', 10' by 15', or even a 10' x 10' Spool/co*cktail pool! In-ground pools can be even smaller.
What is a good size pool for a family of 5? ›
For a family of 3-5 people, it is recommended that a pool be a minimum of 16 feet by 32 feet. For a family of 6-8 people, 18 feet by 36 feet is considered the minimum. These aren't rules, however. These are guidelines.
What is a good size pool house? ›
Pool houses vary in size with the most common being around 12 feet x 16 feet. The size of your pool house may just depend on what you intend to use it for, the size of your pool, or the size available around your swimming pool area. Our design team will be glad to help you size your custom pool house appropriately.
Is a bigger pool better? ›
The upside to investing in a larger swimming pool include: More space for playing and entertaining within the pool. More room for exercising and swimming, especially if you enjoy doing laps. The ability to have both a deep and shallow end to appeal to both kids and adults.
How far away from house can you put a pool? ›
There is a national standard that requires that all swimming pools must be at least 10 feet away from the house walls. As mentioned, this will protect electrical wiring from leaks, floods, and splashes.
How much space do you need around a swimming pool? ›
For a residential installation, most manufacturers recommend a minimum of 0.9 metres of decking space around the pool. Some examples of common endless pool sizes and spacing requirements: 1 x 4.3 metre pool – Requires about a 3 x 5.2 metre area. 4 x 4.9 metre pool – Needs around a 3.4 x 5.8 metre space.
What is the best size pool for a backyard? ›
It's recommended having a depth fewer than six feet to meet most pool needs. For a family of six to eight people, an 18 foot by 36-foot pool is recommended. This should be sufficient to avoid crowding and allow for the playing of games. Rectangle shaped pools look best for this size.
