Above Ground Pool Gallons Chart (12

Filled to 90% of the wall, the same pool holds 13,198 gallons by geometry. Find your size below. If you know your exact model, use the manufacturer's capacity instead.

Chart: round pools 12–33 ft × 42/48/52/54 in walls

These are geometry values: π/4 × diameter² × water depth × 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, with water at 90% of the wall height (a 52 in wall holds about 46.8 in of water). Real pools hold less; see the next sections.

Round above-ground pool gallons at 90% fill (geometry)
Diameter	42 in wall	48 in wall	52 in wall	54 in wall
12 ft	2,665	3,046	3,300	3,426
15 ft	4,164	4,759	5,155	5,354
16 ft	4,738	5,415	5,866	6,091
18 ft	5,996	6,853	7,424	7,709
20 ft	7,403	8,460	9,165	9,518
21 ft	8,162	9,327	10,105	10,493
24 ft	10,660	12,183	13,198	13,706
27 ft	13,491	15,419	16,704	17,346
28 ft	14,509	16,582	17,964	18,655
30 ft	16,656	19,036	20,622	21,415
33 ft	20,154	23,033	24,953	25,912

US gallons. Multiply by 0.93 for a typical metal-frame or steel-wall pool, or by 0.87 for an inflatable-ring pool, to get a realistic estimate (±7%).

Chart: oval pools

Above-ground ovals are not true ellipses: they are a rectangle with a half circle on each end, which holds more water. The values below use that shape, again at 90% of the wall.

Oval above-ground pool gallons at 90% fill (straight sides, round ends)
Size	48 in wall	52 in wall	54 in wall
12 × 18 ft	4,985	5,400	5,608
12 × 24 ft	6,924	7,501	7,789
15 × 24 ft	8,394	9,094	9,444
15 × 30 ft	10,818	11,720	12,170
16 × 32 ft	12,309	13,334	13,847
18 × 33 ft	14,124	15,301	15,889
21 × 41 ft	20,638	22,358	23,218

Area = (length − width) × width + π × width² ÷ 4. If your oval really is an ellipse, use the oval pool calculator and pick "true ellipse".

Why real capacity is lower: our analysis of 26 models (median 0.933)

We read the stated capacity of above-ground pools on intexcorp.com and bestwayusa.com on 2026-09-29 and compared each one with the geometry of its nominal size at the fill level the maker states. For the 26 models with a confirmed value and a stated fill level, the real capacity was a median 0.933 of the geometry, ranging from 0.823 to 1.000.

Inflatable-ring pools (Intex Easy Set, Bestway Fast Set) came in at 0.823–0.896. Their walls slope inward, so the water surface is narrower than the ring that gives the pool its name.
Frame and steel-wall pools came in at 0.856–1.000, with 13 of the 17 between 0.90 and 0.97. The nominal size is usually the outside of the frame, not the liner.

So real capacity runs 0–18% below the box-size math, and a dose built on the box size can come out up to about 22% too high. With chlorine, that is a small error. With acid in a small pool, it can push pH lower than you intended. The full list of manufacturer capacities, with links to each maker's page, is below.

Above-ground pool capacities (manufacturer data)
Model	Capacity	Fill basis	Real ÷ nominal geometry	Source
Intex Easy Set 6ft x 20in (Happy Crab / Jolly Whale)	232 gal878 L	80% fill	0.823	manufacturer
Bestway Fast Set 6ft x 20in	248 gal939 L	80% fill	0.879	manufacturer
Intex Metal Frame 8ft x 20in	483 gal1,828 L	90% fill	0.856	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 8ft x 24in	513 gal1,942 L	80% fill	0.853	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 10ft x 24in	813 gal3,078 L	80% fill	0.865	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 10ft x 30in	1,018 gal3,854 L	80% fill	0.866	manufacturer
Intex Metal Frame 10ft x 30in	1,185 gal4,486 L	90% fill	0.896	manufacturer
Bestway Fast Set 12ft x 30in	1,421 gal5,379 L	80% fill	0.840	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 12ft x 30in	1,485 gal5,621 L	80% fill	0.878	manufacturer
Bestway Steel Pro MAX 12ft x 30in	1,710 gal6,473 L	90% fill	0.898	not confirmed
Intex Metal Frame 12ft x 30in	1,718 gal6,503 L	90% fill	0.903	manufacturer
Intex Prism Frame 12ft x 30in	1,718 gal6,503 L	90% fill	0.903	manufacturer
Intex Clearview Prism Frame 13ft x 6.5ft x 48in	2,224 gal8,419 L	not stated	0.977	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 15ft x 33in	2,587 gal9,793 L	80% fill	0.890	manufacturer
Intex Prism Frame 16ft x 8ft x 42in	2,873 gal10,875 L	90% fill	0.953	manufacturer
Intex Ultra XTR Frame 14ft x 48in	3,861 gal14,615 L	not stated	0.931	manufacturer
Bestway Steel Pro MAX 15ft x 42in (with LED light)	3,955 gal14,971 L	90% fill	0.950	manufacturer
Intex Prism Frame 15ft x 48in	4,440 gal16,807 L	90% fill	0.933	manufacturer
Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR Frame 18ft x 9ft x 52in	4,545 gal17,205 L	90% fill	0.962	manufacturer
Intex Prism Frame 20ft x 10ft x 48in (oval)	4,809 gal18,204 L	90% fill	1.000	manufacturer
Intex Clearview Prism Frame 16ft x 48in	5,061 gal19,158 L	90% fill	0.935	manufacturer
Intex Ultra XTR Frame 16ft x 48in	5,061 gal19,158 L	90% fill	0.935	manufacturer
Intex Easy Set 18ft x 48in	5,455 gal20,649 L	80% fill	0.896	manufacturer
Coleman Coleman Power Steel Swim Vista 18ft x 48in	6,092 gal23,061 L	90% fill	0.889	not confirmed
Intex Greywood Prism Frame 18ft x 48in	6,423 gal24,314 L	90% fill	0.937	manufacturer
Intex Ultra XTR Frame 18ft x 52in	6,981 gal26,426 L	not stated	0.940	manufacturer
Bestway APX 365 24ft x 12ft x 52in	7,937 gal30,045 L	90% fill	0.945	manufacturer
Intex Ultra XTR Frame 20ft x 48in	7,947 gal30,083 L	not stated	0.939	manufacturer
Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR Frame 24ft x 12ft x 52in	8,403 gal31,809 L	90% fill	1.000	manufacturer
Bestway APX 365 22ft x 52in	10,668 gal40,383 L	90% fill	0.962	manufacturer
Intex Ultra XTR Frame 24ft x 52in	12,481 gal47,246 L	not stated	0.946	manufacturer
Bestway APX 365 31ft 4in x 16ft x 52in	13,798 gal52,231 L	90% fill	0.943	manufacturer
Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR Frame 32ft x 16ft x 52in	14,364 gal54,374 L	90% fill	0.962	manufacturer

Capacities read on manufacturer pages on 2026-09-29. "Real ÷ nominal geometry" below 1 means the box size overstates the water volume.

Download this data (CSV) · License: CC BY 4.0

Calculator for your pool

Pick your model if it is in the list: the calculator then uses the maker's number. If not, enter the shape, size, and wall height, and choose frame or inflatable. The calculator applies the matching correction and tells you which dose chart is closest.

Above-ground pool gallons

Your model

Shape

Measured in

Diameterft

Wall heightin

Filled to% of wall

Pool type

Result for example values. Enter your own numbers.

4,426 gal16,753 L

Estimate: geometry 4,759 gal × 0.93 (typical ratio of real to nominal capacity for frame pools in our sample of 26 models). About ±7%.

Check your water for 4,426 gal: chlorine, pH, and alkalinity doses in order.

For the most accurate number, use your model's stated capacity or calibrate with a salt or CYA rise (the app can do this).

Estimates, not guarantees. Always follow the product label. How we calculate

Fill level: 80% vs 90%

Makers don't all rate capacity at the same water level. Intex rates its Easy Set pools at 80% of the wall and most frame pools at 90%, and some pages don't say. The difference matters: an 18 ft × 48 in pool holds 6,091 gallons at 80% and 6,853 gallons at 90% by geometry, 762 gallons apart. To be exact, measure your actual water depth, divide it by the wall height, and enter that percentage in the calculator.

For the Intex model list and the Bestway model list, the fill basis is shown next to each capacity.

Download the data (CSV)

The manufacturer table above is available as a CSV file (link under the table) with brand, model, capacity in gallons and liters, fill basis, our ratio to geometry, the source URL, and the date we read it. Two values could not be confirmed on the maker's own site and are marked "not confirmed". If you find a newer spec on a manufacturer page, tell us and we will update the row and its date.

FAQ

What size pool holds 10,000 gallons?

A 22 ft round pool with a 52 in wall is close: Bestway rates its Power Steel (APX 365) 22 ft × 52 in at 10,668 gallons. Among ovals, a 15 × 30 ft pool with a 48 in wall comes to about 10,061 gallons after the frame correction.

Sources

Intex product pages, capacities and fill levels (read 2026-09-29): intexcorp.com
Bestway product pages, capacities (read 2026-09-29): bestwayusa.com
Geometry and correction factors: our methodology page