How many litres does my pool hold?
Every chlorine or pH dose is worked out on the volume. Get the volume 30% wrong and every dose is 30% wrong. Here are the figures for the best-selling above-ground pools and how to work it out for the rest.
Intex and Bestway table
Capacity stated by the manufacturer (filled to 90%). Where we write "estimate", the figure isn't yet confirmed by an official data sheet.
| Model | Size | Litres |
|---|---|---|
| Intex Easy Set | Ø 305 × 76 | 3,853 |
| Intex Metal / Prism Frame | Ø 305 × 76 | 4,485 |
| Intex Metal / Prism Frame | Ø 366 × 76 | 6,503 |
| Intex Prism Frame | Ø 457 × 107 | ~14,600 (estimate) |
| Intex Prism Frame | Ø 457 × 122 | ~16,800 (estimate) |
| Intex Ultra XTR Frame | Ø 549 × 132 | ~26,400 (estimate) |
| Intex Prism Frame | Ø 610 × 132 | 32,695 |
| Intex Ultra XTR rectangular | 549 × 274 × 132 | 17,203 |
| Intex Ultra XTR rectangular | 732 × 366 × 132 | ~31,800 (estimate) |
| Bestway Fast Set | Ø 305 × 76 | ~3,600 (estimate) |
| Bestway Fast Set | Ø 366 × 76 | ~5,400 (estimate) |
| Bestway Steel Pro Max | Ø 305 × 76 | 4,678 |
| Bestway Steel Pro Max | Ø 366 × 100 | 9,150 |
| Bestway Steel Pro Max | Ø 427 × 107 | 13,030 |
| Bestway Steel Pro Max | Ø 457 × 107 | 14,970 |
| Bestway Steel Pro Max | Ø 549 × 122 | 23,062 |
| Bestway Power Steel rectangular | 404 × 201 × 100 | 6,478 |
Watch out for inflatable-ring pools
Easy Set and Fast Set pools have a rim that narrows towards the top: they hold about a third less than a cylinder of the same size. If you work out the volume with the circle formula, you'll be well off.
Rule of thumb for above-ground pools not in the table:
- frame (Frame, Steel Pro Max): cylinder volume × 0.84;
- inflatable ring (Easy Set, Fast Set): cylinder volume × 0.68.
Formulas for other pools
All measurements in metres. The result is in cubic metres: multiply by 1,000 to get litres.
| Shape | Formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangular | length × width × average depth |
| Round | 3.14 × radius × radius × water height |
| Oval | length × width × depth × 0.89 |
| Freeform | length × width × depth × 0.85 (estimate) |
The average depth of a sloping floor is (minimum + maximum) ÷ 2. For above-ground pools use the water height, not the frame height.
Example: 8 × 4 m in-ground pool, depth from 1.2 to 1.8 m. Average depth 1.5 m. Volume: 8 × 4 × 1.5 = 48 m³, which is 48,000 litres.
The volume calculator does the sum for you.
Let Serenpool do the maths
Choose your Intex or Bestway model, or enter shape and size: Serenpool works out the volume and uses it for every dose.