Pool size: how do you choose the ideal size for your pool?

Are you about to buy a swimming pool? But don't you know what the ideal one is size for your future pool is?

Very understandable, because it is not an easy choice. Every garden is different and everyone has different requirements. The perfect pool size does not exist.

This article helps you identify your wishes and needs and determine (the ideal size for you) of your pool.

What is the ideal size for my pool?

For ambitious swimmers, the gold standard is of course a olympic swimming pool. According to the International Swimming Federation, such a pool must be 50 m long, 25 m wide and at least 2 m deep. Unfortunately, not everyone has a 50 by 25 garden...

Most of us have learned to swim in a competition pool. They are 25 m long and often 21 m wide, usually with a flat area around 1 m deep, rising to around 4 m deep. Sufficient for most non-Olympic competitions, especially for swimmers who want to train well. But this type of bath probably won't fit in your backyard either.

Apart from these two types of swimming pools, there is no official standard. Pre-assembled prefab swimming pools are often rectangular and 8 m, 10 m or 12 m long, but this is ultimately the manufacturer's choice to save production costs.

With a sufficient budget, you have free choice in the size and shape of your bath. You can't imagine it that crazy.

So the ideal size is a question of your personal situation, your wishes and your needs. The better you map these out, the more perfect your picture will be. This article is going to help you with this.

Determine the ideal pool size? Ask yourself these 5 questions

So your own pool starts with a thorough inventory: What is my basis?
What do I want? What don't I want?

Answer the following questions and choose the pool size that suits your needs.

Question 1. How much space do I have in my garden? 

This sounds very simple, but is often underestimated. We'll see how much (swimming) surface you need later.
How big is your garden? And how many square meters are you willing to sacrifice for your pool?

Also keep future needs in mind, such as a slide for your children or a carport. In addition, installations such as a swimming pool must maintain a certain distance from the plot line (in the Netherlands, the minimum is usually 1 m).

So check whether you can build a swimming pool in your garden without a permit.

Question 2. Do I want to swim laps in my pool? 

Not everyone who buys a swimming pool wants to train for a medal there. In a pool of, for example, 4 m x 8 m, you can splash around, do water aerobics or just chill out.

If you mainly want to be sporty, you have two options: a “standard” pool or a counter-current pool.

If you swim sportively, you want to be able to swim laps with as few interruptions as possible (such as having to turn). One swimming channel takes these needs into account. Swimming channels for private use are usually 12 m — 25 m long and approximately 2 m wide. Do you have a garden that is at least 12 meters long?

If you are somewhat trained in the techniques of turning, you will glide 2 m (or longer) through the water. You then complete the rest of the length with 3 - 4 turns, then you have to turn again. This is not fun to swim and the better your technique, the bigger the problem.

The alternative is a counter-current swimming pool. You swim against a stream of water in such a bath, simply put, you swim without moving forward. Technically advanced counter-current systems have a fully adjustable flow and thus adapt the swimmer's level.

The flow is also so broad that your entire body is surrounded and supported.
The swimming experience is then just like in open water: swim at your own pace, without having to turn around.

Because you swim “on the spot”, you can stay extremely compact in terms of size. The Swimm Intelligent Pools, for example, have a swimming area of just 4 m x 2.25 m. A perfect pool for the health swimmer!

Question 3. Who will use the pool?

‍Take into account the wishes and needs of everyone who will use the pool regularly. A pool under 12 m long is of little use to a sporty swimmer (unless it has a counter-current system!).

Can you treat your sports enthusiast to your own swimming channel? Great! But if you also have small children, they don't find such a “swimming ditch” very attractive to splash around in. Chilling in the water is also more fun when you can stand together in a group.

Take stock of the different preferences and find the best compromise for your family.

Question 4. What size pool looks good in my garden? 

This further addresses the theme from question 1. You now have a better idea of your wishes and needs. Of course, the eye also wants something. So a swimming pool shouldn't be alone into but also bee fit your garden.

A larger swimming area usually offers more options, but an XL pool is just right in your mind
XS garden fits, really doesn't look good. Optically, your garden will then be “eaten”; a pleasant atmosphere can hardly be created.

If you want to be able to relax in the pool as well as next to the pool, do you have benefits from compact dimensions. Then you can really consciously give your pool a place in your life without it dominating everything.

You can finish the area around your pool as you wish and still have space left for other outdoor activities.

If the size of your pool is good ratio status with the size of your garden Your asset usually also looks more luxurious. Your garden has a structure that includes your swimming pool.

If your pool not only looks luxurious but you also swim in it, you really have the top prize. By the way, you'll find that combination in our Swimm Intelligent Pools (hint, hint...).

Question 5. How much can my pool cost? 

The more compact your pool, the less money you have to invest (unless you have really crazy ideas in terms of shape, like the picture above). The larger your pool, the higher certain costs usually are:

• Higher material costs = higher price for the pool, the finish (tiles, wooden deck, etc.) and the accessories (e.g. pool cover)
• With a (partly) underground swimming pool, you have a larger construction site necessary, sometimes also larger machines, more manpower, so higher labour costs
• The more water in your pool, the more expensive it is to (add) your pool filling
• The more water in your pool, the more water you need filtering, chlorination, etc.
• The more water in your pool, the larger or more powerful the pumps and the heating its
• Larger installations usually consume more energy
• If you outsource (major) maintenance, it costs more (-> working hours)

Quite a few items to calculate with. Use our articles about the expenses, it upkeep and it winterize to look at key aspects in more detail.

Cheap is often expensive. High-quality products usually last longer and are more energy efficient.

Swim Intelligent Polish are also perfect in this area. A compact swimming surface and a water depth of 1.25 m or 1.35 m simplify excavation work, technically advanced installations are energy efficient, installation costs are low compared to “standard” pools and maintenance is also done in no time. So more time (and more money) for other fun things!

Found the ideal size for your pool?

In reality, the perfect pool for all swimmers does not exist. However, it is possible to find the perfect pool for you. Your budget, the size of your garden and your personal wishes determine what size is optimal in your case. Overall, a “perfect” pool should meet the following requirements:

• Compact dimensions (less is more)
• Perfect location to relax (in and near the pool)
• Swimming like in open water (no hassle with turning)
• An unparalleled swimming experience for every level of swimmer (your pool,
  your rules)
• Premium materials and systems (less hassle, more fun)
• Low installation costs (more money for other fun stuff)
• As little energy and maintenance costs as possible (even more money for other fun things)

Do you know which pools offer all these benefits (and more)?
Swimm's Intelligent Pools, of course. They fit in (almost) any garden, work extremely cost-efficiently — and no one has swum out of them so far. Not even an Olympic champion like Maarten van der Weijden.

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Interested in a counter-current swimming pool?

Discover the world of Swimm. Check out our website or feel free to make a appointment to come and test swim.

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