So, you have decided it's time for pool. What size pool do most Arizona homeowners get? Understanding the average pool size can make customizing your own pool easier.
Maybe you're worried you'll go too small and regret it. We do want that first family barbecue to go off without a hitch. Maybe you're worried a big pool eats your whole backyard and you lose the patio. Both are real concerns that Shasta Pools has heard for the last 60 years building Phoenix Valley swimming pools.
So, before you land on a size for your own backyard. It helps to know what everyone else is building.
This article highlights real dimensions for small, medium, and large pools. Also, we share the square footage and gallons. The more information you have before your first design appointment the better pool you create.
What Is the Average Pool Size in Arizona?
The average pool size in Arizona is more of range than one solid number. We have split the average sizes into 3 tiers.
The smallest real pool is 10 feet by 20 feet. That's 200 square feet, a 60-foot perimeter, and it's what Shasta calls a cocktail pool. The next tier up is what most Arizona families call the base pool size of 15 feet by 25 feet.
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Small (cocktail/spool tier): 10x20 ft, 200 sq ft, about 10,000–12,000 gallons
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Standard (family tier): 14x28 to 16x32 ft, 400–600 sq ft, about 10,000–20,000 gallons
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Large (entertaining tier): 18x36 ft and up, 650+ sq ft
Pool Being Too Big
"The only regrets or concerns I would say is people are the biggest concern about a pool being too big — is it taking up too much of their backyard and not having enough room to do anything else with. They don't want it to consume their backyard. They still want an outdoor living space, not just a pool." — Doug Martin, Shasta Pools Designer
|
Pool Size Tier |
Common Dimensions |
Square Footage |
Gallons (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Small (Cocktail / Spool) |
10' x 20' |
~200 sq ft |
10,000–12,000 gal |
|
Standard (Family) |
14' x 28' to 16' x 32' |
400–600 sq ft |
10,000–20,000 gal |
|
Large (Entertaining) |
18' x 36' and up |
650+ sq ft |
20,000+ gal |
If My Backyard Is a Standard Residential Lot, What Size Pool Is Realistic?
Most new-build backyards in the Phoenix Valley consist of 18 to 35 feet deep. A 15x25 pool fits comfortably in that range. This allows room left for a patio and some grass.
If your lot runs tighter than 18 feet deep, the cocktail pool tier (10x20) becomes the realistic option. The setbacks and walkway clearance eat into anything larger fast.
What a 15x25 pool leaves you room for?
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3–4 feet of clearance on the back and sides for planters or walkway
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A pool set at least 5 feet off the house
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Enough remaining yard for turf, a dog run, or a dining space
Newer Builds Tend
"The newer the homes these days, the smaller the yard, which means more homeowners are landing in the 15x25-and-under range not by choice, but by lot size. On a smaller lot is to trade decking for turf. That's my biggest trade off, is when you don't have a big yard, more turf to give them a bigger feel." Doug Martin, Shasta Pool Designer
How Many Gallons Does an Average Pool Hold?
A standard-tier pool holds somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons. The small, cocktail-size pools run contain 10,000 to 12,000 gallons. The 16x32 range and larger provides 19,000 to 20,000-plus.
Gallons is the number that drives your chemical costs and run time for the life of the pool. A 20,000-gallon pool is double the sanitation load of a 10,000-gallon one.
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