16 x 36 ft kidney pool
pool plan
An estate-class pool: resort presence at home, with room for swimming, play and lounging at the same time. At this size the supporting decisions matter as much as the basin — plan generous decks, a solid heat source and an automatic cover from day one, because every square metre of water is heated, treated and covered.
The kidney is the archetypal free-form pool: one flowing bean-shaped curve with a waist that invites planting, a boulder or a slide. It blends into naturalistic landscapes better than any straight-walled shape and makes small gardens feel bigger because the eye never finds a hard boundary.
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16 × 36 ft — shown to scale
The numbers, computed
- Water surface
- 327 sq ft
- Water volume
- 11,738 gal (49.0 tons)
- Perimeter
- 81′ 11″
- Depth
- 3′ 11″–6′ 7″
- Excavation approx.
- 96 cu yd
- Fill time (garden tap)
- 30 hours
- Skimmers needed
- 2×
- Heat pump size
- 55,000 BTU/h
Figures are computed from the sampled pool outline and the plan's depths — the same geometry the 3D designer uses. Excavation includes shell and working allowance; your site conditions may differ.
Also in metric sizes: 10 × 5 m
What it costs to build
A rough installed-cost range per construction type, at this size — the pool itself, with basic coping. Not a quote.
| Construction | Installed cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl liner | $36,000–$55,000 | Fastest and least expensive; the liner is replaced every 8–12 years. |
| Fiberglass | $48,000–$69,000 | One-piece shell, quick install; limited to sizes and shapes a mould exists for. |
| Concrete (gunite) | $58,000–$91,000 | Built to any shape or size; the slowest build and the most upkeep. |
Rough 2026 estimates for the pool installed with basic coping — excavation, shell and basic equipment. Excludes deck, fencing, landscaping, heating and permits, all of which vary by site and by builder; get real bids before budgeting from these figures.
Questions about this plan
- How much water does the 16 × 36 ft pool hold?
- About 11,738 gal (49.0 tons of water) at 3′ 11″–6′ 7″ depth — computed from the actual pool outline, not a rule of thumb.
- How long does it take to fill?
- Roughly 30 hours from a standard garden tap (~6.6 GPM). A water delivery service fills it in a few hours.
- Is this size right for my garden?
- The water surface is 327 sq ft; plan roughly 1.5–2× that footprint including the surrounding deck. Open the plan in the designer and set your own deck margins to see the full footprint.
- Can I change the depth or edge type?
- Yes — open the plan in the designer and adjust depths, edge system (skimmer, deck-level overflow or raised), finishes and accessories freely.
- How much does the 16 × 36 ft kidney pool cost to build?
- Roughly $36,000 to $91,000 installed at this size, depending on construction type — before deck, fence, landscaping, heating or permits. See the cost table above for the range per type.
Similar pool plans
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16 × 36 ft · Rectangular
Estate pool20,739 gal · 576 sq ft
16 × 36 ft · Rounded rectangle
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16 × 36 ft · Roman
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16 × 36 ft · Grecian
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16 × 36 ft · Figure 8
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Go on — put a pool in your garden.
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