The right pool size is the one that supports how you want to use the water while leaving the rest of your backyard workable. Begin with swimming and seating needs, then allow for the pool surrounds, barrier, equipment and access. For a custom concrete pool, the design conversation should cover the whole outdoor space. Fitting […]
The right pool size is the one that supports how you want to use the water while leaving the rest of your backyard workable. Begin with swimming and seating needs, then allow for the pool surrounds, barrier, equipment and access.
For a custom concrete pool, the design conversation should cover the whole outdoor space. Fitting the largest possible rectangle into the lawn is only one way to measure it.
Compare dimensions with a simple example
A rectangular water area measuring 6 metres by 3 metres covers 18 square metres. At 7 metres by 3 metres, it covers 21 square metres. That extra metre of length adds 3 square metres of water area, but whether it is useful depends on the layout and how you want to swim.
These are illustrative dimensions, not standard recommendations or finished construction footprints. They exclude the surrounding structure, paving, fencing and other site requirements. Steps and benches also occupy part of the pool’s water area.
Ask to compare two layouts on your site plan. Seeing the pool alongside outdoor furniture and access routes can make the trade-off clearer than looking at dimensions alone.
Decide what you want to do in the water
Swimming lengths, family games and sitting on a submerged bench create different priorities. Write down your main use, then identify what you would like if space allows.
If open swimming space matters most, ask how much remains after steps and seating are included. If relaxing together matters more, a well-positioned bench may be more useful than extra length in another part of the pool.
Depth deserves its own discussion. Length and width alone do not show how the pool will feel or suit the people using it.
Keep room for the backyard around it
Mark the things you want to retain: an outdoor table with room to move chairs, a route from the house, a lawn area, planting or access to a shed. Then place the pool within that plan.
A narrow leftover strip may look acceptable on paper but be awkward for everyday movement or maintenance. Test the proposed arrangement against ordinary activities, such as carrying meals outside or moving between the house and garden.
Include the barrier, equipment and building access
Have the pool team review the barrier and gate arrangement as part of the design. Do not treat it as an item to squeeze in after choosing the water dimensions.
Ask where filtration equipment will sit and how it will be reached for maintenance. The route available for construction also matters: side access, slopes and existing structures can influence how the project is planned.
A site assessment is needed to establish what is feasible. A rough backyard measurement starts the conversation; it does not confirm that a particular design can be built.
Prepare two priorities before your design discussion
Decide what matters most inside the pool and what must remain outside it. Bring those priorities, backyard photos and any available site plan to the first conversation with Noffke Pool Co.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 6 metre by 3 metre pool right for a small backyard?
It may suit some sites, but dimensions alone cannot confirm suitability. Allow for the pool structure, surrounds, barrier, equipment and access, then have the proposed layout assessed.
Do steps and benches reduce swimming space?
They occupy part of the pool footprint, so the overall dimensions do not describe the unobstructed swimming area. Ask to see steps and seating clearly marked on the plan.
Can a custom concrete pool suit an awkward backyard?
A custom design can respond to the shape of a site, but access, levels, structures and other site constraints still need assessment. Suitability cannot be confirmed from dimensions alone.
Ready to compare pool layouts for your backyard? Contact Noffke Pool Co with your suburb, photos and main priorities to discuss a custom concrete pool in Brisbane or South East Queensland.