Pool Volume Calculator — Australia
Metric by default: metres in, litres out. Salt systems here target 3000–4000 mg/L.
Pool volume formulas (litres)
- • Rectangle: Length × Width × Avg depth × 1,000 = litres
- • Round: π × (Diameter ÷ 2)² × Depth × 1,000
- • Oval: π × (Length ÷ 2) × (Width ÷ 2) × Depth × 1,000
- • Kidney: 0.45 × (Wide lobe + Narrow waist) × Length × Depth × 1,000 (±10% estimate)
Average depth = (shallow end + deep end) ÷ 2, measured at the waterline. 1 m³ = 1,000 L exactly.
Common Australian pool sizes
| Type | Dimensions | Approx. litres |
|---|---|---|
| Plunge | 3 × 2.5 m × 1.2 m | ~9,000 L |
| Small | 6 × 3 m × 1.5 m avg | ~27,000 L |
| Medium | 8 × 4 m × 1.5 m avg | ~48,000 L |
| Large | 10 × 5 m × 1.6 m avg | ~80,000 L |
| Lap | 12 × 3 m × 1.4 m | ~50,000 L |
Pool volume FAQs
How do I calculate pool volume in litres?
Measure length, width and average depth in metres, multiply the three, then multiply by 1,000. An 8 × 4 m pool at 1.5 m average depth holds 48,000 litres. Round pools use π × radius² × depth × 1,000.
How many litres are in a cubic metre?
Exactly 1,000 litres per cubic metre — so a 48 m³ pool holds about 48,000 litres. Australian pool equipment and water bills commonly use both units.
Should I use average depth or deep-end depth?
Always average: (shallow + deep) ÷ 2, measured at the waterline rather than the wall top. Using deep-end depth alone can overdose every chemical by up to 40%.
How does the kidney pool estimate work?
Use 0.45 × (wide lobe + narrow waist) × length × average depth — the industry-standard approximation (±10%). Add two-thirds of any dose, retest, then top up.
Why does pool volume matter for chemicals?
Every dose is per litre — chlorine at 1–3 mg/L, salt at 3000–4000 mg/L. Wrong volume means algae from under-dosing or damage and waste from over-dosing. Calculate litres first, then dose with our chemical, chlorine and salt calculators.