How to Choose the Right Swimming Pool Size for Your Family and Your Home

A swimming pool is more than just a tub of water in your backyard. It’s a lifestyle choice, a gathering spot for loved ones, and your personal oasis for relaxation or exercise. If you're ready to make this dream a reality, you’ve likely discovered there’s a lot to consider beyond just digging a hole and filling it with water. One of the most important (and exciting!) decisions you'll need to make is choosing the right size for your swimming pool installation. From the size of your yard to your budget, lifestyle, and family needs, there are plenty of factors to weigh. This guide will help you uncover the key considerations and provide actionable insights to find the perfect pool size for your home and family.

Popular Pool Sizes to Consider

Before you plan your poolside parties, it’s good to start with a few basics. Pools come in an array of shapes and dimensions to suit different needs and budgets. Below is a range of standard pool sizes to give you an initial idea of what might work for your space and lifestyle.

• 12 x 24 feet Perfect for smaller backyards or families of 1–3 people. Ideal for casual lounging and cooling off on hot days. • 16 x 32 feet A versatile choice for medium-sized yards. It’s great for families of 3–5 people and offers enough space for additional features like a patio or dining area. • 18 x 36 feet This size comfortably accommodates larger families (6–8 people) and provides plenty of room for games, swimming, and relaxation. • 20 x 40 feet Ideal for luxury designs and larger backyards, ensuring adequate space for entertaining and a variety of water activities.

Pro Tip: These measurements follow the typical 2-to-1 length-to-width ratio for rectangular pools, which is the most common shape due to its timeless design and versatility. For an interactive way to visualize the pool that will fit your space and needs, check out our easy and convenient Pool Planner Tool! It’s your first step toward turning your dream pool into a reality.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pool Size

Define Your Purpose for the Pool

What do you hope to get out of your swimming pool? Whether it’s for splashing around with the kids, serious laps, or pure relaxation, this will directly influence your choice of pool size.

For family fun and entertainment

• Consider a mix of shallow areas for kids and deeper sections for adult swimmers.
• Recommended size: 18 x 36 feet for larger families or 16 x 32 feet for smaller families.
• Pro Tip: Check out our popular Grande (rectangular) or Coral Sea (kidney-shaped) models for these features.

For exercise and lap swimming

• A rectangular pool with a minimum length of 30 feet is best for uninterrupted swimming.
• Recommended size: 30–40 feet in length. Consider models like the Whitsunday for its generous swim lanes.

For compact relaxation

• A shallow, smaller footprint pool is ideal for limited backyard spaces.
• Recommended size: Under 14 x 25 feet. The Outback Escape and Pixie models are perfect for this purpose.

Assess Your Backyard Space

Your available outdoor space will dictate the maximum pool size you can install. Make sure to account for surrounding features, such as patios, gardens, or seating areas. Also, leave adequate deck space (at least 3–5 feet) for relaxation and safety.

Expert Tip: Use our Backyard Pool Planner to visualize how different pool sizes fit in your yard before making any big decisions. With just a few clicks, you can see how your dream pool complements your existing outdoor space.

Think About Pool Maintenance

Larger pools require more effort and resources to clean and maintain. If you’re planning for frequent use or have pets and kids, investing in a durable material like fiberglass can reduce long-term maintenance headaches. Our fiberglass pools are sturdy, require fewer chemical treatments, and are less susceptible to algae growth compared to concrete.

• Bonus: Fiberglass pools like Barrier Reef's models are available in various shapes and sizes with added longevity and beauty.

Determine Your Budget

Your pool size will also depend largely on your budget. Here’s how costs might vary based on pool dimensions and installation style.

Smaller Pools

• Lower upfront costs and reduced maintenance expenses.
• Great for compact backyards or those looking for an affordable entry point to pool ownership.

Larger Pools

• Higher installation and ongoing maintenance costs, but with added flexibility for hosting parties or family recreational use.

Financing Tip: Many finance companies offer customized plans for pool projects. These packages make it easier to stretch your payments over time without compromising on the size or features you want.

Local Regulations and HOA Guidelines

Make sure your pool design meets local regulations, zoning laws, and HOA requirements. These may include restrictions on size, placement, or fencing.

So, What Size Pool Best Meets My Needs?

Seems like an easy enough question, but when you delve deeper you may decide that you need a swimming pool in your backyard for many reasons. Constructing a swimming pool doesn’t just happen because you want one. In most cases you have an initial reason why you are having a swimming pool installed. So, it’s important to review all the options a swimming pool can offer you and your family and then from there determine the right size pool for your yard. Here are some ideas to consider:

A. For recreational purposes, pools must have a shallow and, in some cases, a deep end. The shallow end is safe for children while the deep end can be used by older or more experienced swimmers. This is important as you could expect that a person of any age could be utilizing the pool. 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. Want to see a great model in this size range? See the Grande.
• For a family of less than six, a 16-foot by 32-foot would be a little more compatible. This size would allow for swimming and casual relaxation while staying cool in the pool. Kidney, free form, or bean-shaped pools work best for this pool size. The Coral Sea and Oyster are good options for this size range.
• For smaller backyard footprints, you will be looking for a pool that offers the ability to just chill and relax. For that kind of pool, you will be looking for a size that’s under the 14-foot by 25-foot size range. You can get a lot of versatility from smaller pools and they take up a much smaller space, which is perfect if you have a smaller backyard to work with. The Outback Escape, Milano and Pixie are good fiberglass pool models in this size range.

B. Swimming laps for regular exercise, this type of pool size should be a rectangular shaped pool. We recommend a minimum of 30 feet in length to provide enough space for lap swimming and exercise. The swim lane is important, but so is the depth and other features. The Coral Sea and Whitsunday offer wide swim lanes for swimming laps.

C. For competitive and athletic swimmers, pool depths should be more than your height and you should have a pool that allows you to practice complete strokes so that you can maximize your efforts. We have two pool models that are 40-foot in length and these pools are also great for entertaining. See all of our pool models here.

How Big is your Living Space?

Not all pool needs are the same and not all backyards are of a standard size. So, the space you must work with in your backyard will dictate the pool size you can install and any other design features you will want to integrate. Nonetheless, not all houses have large outdoor spaces to accommodate wide-ranging pool sizes. Thus, it’s important to maximize the use of your living space when designing your swimming pool project. Because we offer a wide range of pool sizes you will be able to optimize your project accordingly.

To wrap things up on the right swimming pool size for you

Choosing the perfect swimming pool size and shape for your family may not be as easy as you once thought. You will have to consider many things and it might seem overwhelming at first. This is where a good swimming pool installer can help you out. They can help you explore your swimming pool model options, based on your needs and help you decide the best pool size to meet all the considerations we discussed in this blog post. However, if you’re still uncertain on who to contact, we work with many great dealers across the USA and we can recommend a dealer to you. Contact us today and we can put you in touch with a Barrier Reef Fiberglass Pool dealer and you could be swimming in the perfect size pool to meet your needs this summer.