How to Figure the Square Footage of a Pool

Most pool owners when talking about measurements for their pool are mostly concerned about how to calculate the water capacity. However, when you need paint for your in-ground swimming pool, you need to calculate the square footage to help determine how many gallons you'll need for the job. In addition to the square footage, other factors such as the roughness of the pool surface and the number of coats you intend to apply determine exactly how much paint is necessary.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Measure the length and width of your swimming pool. If you have an irregularly shaped free-form pool, measure the longest portions of the pool.

   • 2

     Determine the shape of your swimming pool. Each size requires a different multiplier.

   • 3

     Multiply (length x width x multiple) in order to get the pool's square footage. An oval pool requires a multiplier of 1.65, rectangle 1.5, free-form 1.6, Roman 1.55 and L-shaped 1.65. For example, a 12--by-18-foot oval pool would be calculated as follows: 12 x 18 x 1.65 = 356.4 square feet.