How to Choose the Right Inground Pool Size, Shape, and Depth in Bucks and Montgomery County

The size, shape, and depth of an inground pool decide how it feels to use every day. They also decide whether the pool fits your lot, passes township review, and leaves room for a patio and seating. At KS Pools & Patios, these are the first questions we work through with homeowners in Bucks County and Montgomery County, long before anyone breaks ground.

This guide walks through the choices in the order we recommend making them.

Start With How Your Family Will Use the Pool

The best pool for your yard depends on what happens in it. A family with young swimmers wants a large shallow area. A household that swims for exercise needs a long straight run. Frequent hosts need room for people to stand, sit, and move between the water and the patio.

Write down the three ways you expect to use the pool most. That short list will guide every decision that follows.

Common Inground Pool Sizes

Many residential pools in the region fall between about 15 by 30 feet and 18 by 36 feet. That range fits most suburban lots in towns like Newtown, Richboro, Horsham, and Blue Bell while leaving space for decking. Smaller lots can still work well with a compact pool, plunge-style design, or a spa paired with a modest pool.

Remember that the pool is only part of the footprint. Decking, walkways, equipment pads, and fencing all need space too. A pool that looks right on paper can feel crowded once the surrounding patio is added, which is why we plan both together.

Choosing a Pool Shape

Rectangular pools

Rectangles are the most versatile shape. They suit lap swimming, pool games, safety covers, and clean modern or traditional architecture. For many families, a rectangle is the best pool shape for entertaining because it keeps the deck easy to arrange.

Freeform pools

Curved, organic shapes blend into wooded or landscaped yards and pair naturally with boulder waterfalls and planting beds. They work well on properties where the pool should feel like part of the landscape.

Geometric and Roman-end pools

Squared corners with a rounded or stepped end give a classic look that complements the colonial and farmhouse homes common across Bucks County and the Main Line.

Your construction method affects your choices. A custom gunite pool can be built to almost any size or shape. A fiberglass pool comes from a set of manufactured shells, and its width is limited by what can travel on the road. Our fiberglass vs gunite comparison explains the tradeoffs in more detail.

Setting the Right Pool Depth

Depth should follow use. A pool with a shallow end that gradually slopes to a deeper area gives children and adults space to play and swim. A flat or sport-style depth works well for volleyball and games. Tanning ledges and wide steps add shallow space for lounging and give young children a safer place to sit near the water.

Diving is the biggest depth decision. A diving board or diving area requires a specific deep-water envelope and adequate pool size, and not every yard or pool can accommodate one safely. We review diving options with you during design so the pool is built to the right standard from the start.

Fitting the Pool on Your Lot

Township rules in Bucks County and Montgomery County shape what can be built. Before finalizing a design, we review:

• Setbacks from property lines, the house, and easements
• Impervious surface limits, which count the pool and patio against your lot allowance in many townships
• Septic systems, wells, and underground utilities
• Slope, drainage, and stormwater requirements
• Access for excavation equipment into the backyard
• Sun exposure and views from the house

Handling these details early prevents redesigns later and keeps the permit process moving.

Plan Safety Features From Day One

Safety is easier and more attractive when it is designed in rather than added later. Pennsylvania generally requires a barrier around residential pools, commonly at least 48 inches high with self-closing and self-latching gates, and your township confirms the exact requirements. Other features families often include are:

• Safety covers that fit the pool shape
• Door and pool alarms
• Gradual transitions from shallow to deep water
• Code-compliant, anti-entrapment drain covers
• Step and path lighting for evening use

How KS Pools & Patios Helps You Plan

As a design-build pool and outdoor living contractor based in Langhorne, KS Pools & Patios handles layout design, 3D renderings, engineering, and permit coordination under one roof. You see the pool, patio, and landscape together before construction starts, and one team stays accountable through the finished project. You can browse completed work in our project gallery or learn more about our pool construction services.

If you are still weighing budget, our guide to inground pool costs in PA explains how size and features affect price. Already own a pool that no longer fits your needs? See our page on pool renovation in Bucks and Montgomery County.

Pool Size, Shape, and Depth FAQs