Swimming Pool Volume & Fill Cost Calculator
Understanding Your Pool's Volume and Fill Cost
Knowing the exact volume of your swimming pool is crucial for several reasons, from maintaining proper chemical balance to estimating heating costs and, of course, understanding the initial cost to fill it. This calculator helps you determine your pool's volume and the estimated cost to fill it with water.
Why Pool Volume Matters
- Chemical Dosing: Accurate chemical application (chlorine, pH adjusters, algaecides) depends directly on your pool's water volume. Too little, and your water quality suffers; too much, and you waste chemicals and risk skin/eye irritation.
- Heating Costs: Larger volumes of water require more energy and time to heat, directly impacting your utility bills.
- Filtration System Sizing: Your pump and filter need to be appropriately sized for your pool's volume to ensure efficient circulation and cleaning.
- Water Replacement: When performing partial or full water changes, knowing the volume helps you plan and budget.
Calculating Average Depth
Most swimming pools are not a uniform depth. They often have a shallow end and a deep end. To get an accurate volume, you need to calculate the average depth. The simplest way to do this is to measure the depth at the shallowest point and the deepest point, then add them together and divide by two.
Example: If your shallow end is 3 feet deep and your deep end is 8 feet deep, your average depth is (3 + 8) / 2 = 5.5 feet.
Estimating Water Fill Cost
The cost to fill your pool depends on its total volume and the price of water in your area. Water prices vary significantly by municipality and can also depend on whether you're using municipal water or a well. Our calculator allows you to input your local water cost per 1000 gallons (or per cubic meter) to give you an estimated filling expense.
Example (Imperial): A rectangular pool 20 ft long, 10 ft wide, with an average depth of 5 ft has a volume of 1000 cubic feet. This is approximately 7,480 gallons. If water costs $4.00 per 1000 gallons, the fill cost would be (7480 / 1000) * $4.00 = $29.92.
Example (Metric): A rectangular pool 6 m long, 3 m wide, with an average depth of 1.5 m has a volume of 27 cubic meters. This is approximately 27,000 liters. If water costs $1.50 per cubic meter, the fill cost would be 27 * $1.50 = $40.50.
Remember that these are estimates. Actual costs may vary due to water pressure, evaporation during filling, and specific utility billing structures.