8 x 16 ft rectangular pool
pool plan
This is a plunge-class pool: sized for cooling off, soaking and small-garden luxury rather than swimming laps. A uniform depth keeps the whole basin usable, heating it is quick and cheap, and it pairs beautifully with a deck-level overflow edge for a reflecting-pool look.
The rectangle is the default for a reason: it gives you the most swimmable water for a given footprint, plays well with modern architecture and lap swimming, and makes covers, solar blankets and automatic cleaners simple. Straight walls also keep formwork and tiling straightforward, which builders appreciate.
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8 × 16 ft — shown to scale
The numbers, computed
- Water surface
- 128 sq ft
- Water volume
- 3,675 gal (15.3 tons)
- Perimeter
- 48′
- Depth
- 4′ 3″–4′ 3″
- Excavation approx.
- 32 cu yd
- Fill time (garden tap)
- 9 hours
- Skimmers needed
- 1×
- Heat pump size
- 17,000 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: 5 × 2.5 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 | $26,000–$40,000 | Fastest and least expensive; the liner is replaced every 8–12 years. |
| Fiberglass | $34,000–$48,000 | One-piece shell, quick install; limited to sizes and shapes a mould exists for. |
| Concrete (gunite) | $44,000–$66,000 | 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 8 × 16 ft pool hold?
- About 3,675 gal (15.3 tons of water) at 4′ 3″–4′ 3″ depth — computed from the actual pool outline, not a rule of thumb.
- How long does it take to fill?
- Roughly 9 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 128 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 8 × 16 ft rectangular pool cost to build?
- Roughly $26,000 to $66,000 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
10 × 20 ft · Rectangular
Compact pool6,230 gal · 200 sq ft
Ø 12 ft · Round
Compact pool3,377 gal · 113 sq ft
10 × 20 ft · Rounded rectangle
Compact pool6,042 gal · 196 sq ft
12 × 24 ft · Rectangular
Family pool9,675 gal · 288 sq ft
Ø 15 ft · Round
Compact pool5,298 gal · 176 sq ft
12 × 24 ft · Rounded rectangle
Family pool9,344 gal · 282 sq ft
Go on — put a pool in your garden.
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