WeekendCalc

Pool Surface Area Calculator

Pick the shape of the pool and enter its size. You get the surface area in square feet, the distance round the edge, the area of a liner (floor and walls) and the area of a deck border of the width you choose.

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Your project

Half of the shallow depth plus the deep depth, or the flat depth of an above-ground pool.

The width of the deck or paving all round the pool.

Results

Example job shown. Change the numbers to match yours.

Pool surface area
512 ft²
47.6 m²
Perimeter (distance round the edge)
96.0 ft

Related areas

Liner area (floor and walls)Surface area plus perimeter × average depth
896 ft²
Deck border area
448 ft²
Area in acres
0.01175 acres
  • The liner figure is the floor plus the straight walls, so it is a minimum: a real liner is cut larger for the corners, coping and the slope of the floor, and a liner maker will quote from the exact pool. The kidney formula (A + B) × length × 0.45 is a trade approximation, good to about 5 to 10%.

Before you buy: round up to whole packs, check the size printed on the label, and add a little spare. Your supplier has the final say.

How this calculator works

The surface area of a pool depends on its shape. A rectangle is length × width. A round pool is π × radius × radius, and an oval is length × width × 0.7854 (π ÷ 4). A kidney pool is approximated by (A + B) × length × 0.45, where A and B are the widths of the two rounded ends. The perimeter of a rectangle is 2 × (length + width), the circumference of a round pool is π × diameter, and the perimeter of an oval uses the Ramanujan approximation for an ellipse.

rectangle = L × W round = π × (D ÷ 2)² oval = L × W × 0.7854 kidney ≈ (A + B) × L × 0.45

Worked example: a 32 × 16 ft rectangular pool has an area of 512 ft² and a perimeter of 96 ft. A 24 ft round pool has an area of 452 ft² and a circumference of 75.4 ft. A 33 × 18 ft oval has 467 ft² and a perimeter of 81.9 ft. A kidney pool 32 ft long with ends 18 and 12 ft wide has about 432 ft². A 4 ft deck border round the first pool takes 448 ft² of paving.

Tips before you buy

  • Measure the water surface, not the outside of the pool wall. The wall and coping can add several inches each way.
  • For a pool shape that is none of these, divide it into rectangles, circles and half circles, find each area and add them up.
  • Use the surface area to size a solar cover, and the pool volume calculator (area × average depth × 7.48) to find the gallons.
  • The more surface a pool has, the more water it loses to evaporation, so a cover pays back faster on a big pool.

Tools & materials for this project

Affiliate links As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not change what you pay.

Solar pool coverPool linerMeasuring tape (100 ft)Pool test kitPool deck pavers

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate the area of a pool?

Multiply length by width for a rectangle (a 32 × 16 ft pool is 512 ft²). For a round pool use π × radius × radius, for an oval multiply length × width × 0.7854, and for a kidney use (A + B) × length × 0.45.

What is the surface area of a 24 foot round pool?

452 square feet, which is π × 12 × 12.

What is the area of an oval pool?

Length × width × 0.7854. A 33 × 18 ft oval pool has a surface area of 467 ft².

How do I find the area of a kidney-shaped pool?

Measure the length and the width of each end, then use (A + B) × length × 0.45. For ends of 18 and 12 ft on a 32 ft pool that is about 432 ft². It is an approximation.

How is pool area different from pool volume?

The area is the size of the water surface in square feet. The volume multiplies it by the average depth and by 7.48 gallons per cubic foot.

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Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.