How many gallons is a 27 ft round pool?
A 27 ft round frame pool holds about 15,500–16,100 gallons with a 52 or 54 in wall.
On this page (7 sections)
Those estimates apply the typical correction for frame and steel-wall pools. By geometry at 90% fill, it holds about 16,700 gallons with a 52 in wall and 17,350 gallons with a 54 in wall.
Quick answer: 27 ft round pool gallons by wall height
A 27 ft pool holds more than twice the water of an 18 ft pool with the same wall: 16,704 vs 7,424 gallons at 52 in. The data block lists 42–54 in walls. Use the frame column (× 0.93): 15,534 gallons for "27 x 52" and 16,132 for "27 x 54". One size up is the 28 ft round pool.
| Wall height | Geometry | Frame pool estimate (× 0.93) | Inflatable estimate (× 0.87) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 in wall | 13,491 gal51,071 L | 12,547 gal | 11,738 gal |
| 48 in wall | 15,419 gal58,367 L | 14,340 gal | 13,414 gal |
| 52 in wall | 16,704 gal63,231 L | 15,534 gal | 14,532 gal |
| 54 in wall | 17,346 gal65,662 L | 16,132 gal | 15,091 gal |
Geometry = π/4 × diameter² × water depth × 7.48. Real pools hold less than the nominal size suggests. The factors are medians of 26 manufacturer capacities (our own calculation).
| Change | Amount |
|---|---|
| +1 ppm FC (12.5% liquid chlorine) | 15 fl oz434 mL |
| +10 ppm TA (baking soda) | 2.0 lb911 g |
| +10 ppm CYA (stabilizer) | 1.2 lb543 g |
Closest full chart: 15,000 gal dose chart.
Always follow your product’s label directions. Pool and spa chlorine, bromine, shock and algaecides are EPA-registered pesticides: use products labeled for pool or spa use, and don’t swim or soak until levels are within the limit on your product’s label. If this page and a label disagree, the label wins.
Why real capacity is lower than the math (0.933 median)
Manufacturers rate capacity at a fill line below the top of the wall (80% or 90% in our data). Even at the same fill level, real pools hold less than the math for their listed (nominal) size. We compared 26 rated capacities with the geometric volume of their nominal size, and the median ratio was 0.933. For large frame pools, the spread was narrow: manufacturer-confirmed Intex and Bestway round pools from 16 to 24 ft fell between 0.935 and 0.962. We don't yet have a 27 ft model with a published capacity, so this page uses 0.93.
How far off could that be? If your pool matched the highest ratio among large pools in our data (0.962), a 27 × 52 would hold about 16,070 gallons, 3.5% more than our estimate. For daily chlorine, that is about half a fluid ounce per ppm. To find your real number, look for "capacity" or "water capacity" in your manual or on the box. Or measure it: add a weighed amount of salt or stabilizer, and calculate the volume from the rise you measure a day later. A 40 lb bag of salt raises about 15,500 gallons by roughly 310 ppm.
Starting doses for this volume
For the 52 in estimate of 15,534 gallons (the data block uses a 48 in wall, 14,340 gallons):
- Chlorine, +1 ppm: 16 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine, 20 fl oz of 10%, or 32 fl oz of 6% bleach.
- Alkalinity, +10 ppm: 2.2 lb of baking soda.
- Stabilizer on a fresh fill: 3.9 lb to raise cyanuric acid (CYA) from 0 to 30 ppm; 5.2 lb to reach 40 ppm. It dissolves slowly, so add it in a skimmer sock or as the label directs.
- Salt for a new salt system: about 415 lb to 3,200 ppm, ten 40 lb bags plus 15 lb.
Always follow the product label. It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. The 15,000-gallon dose chart adds shock and acid amounts at a nearby volume.
Calculator: your exact depth
Enter 27 ft and your wall height. If you have the manual's capacity, skip the estimate and use that number in the dosing calculators.
Chemicals per week for this size (estimate from your own loss)
At about 15,500 gallons, chlorine is a real cost. A 2 ppm daily loss uses about 1.75 gallons of 12.5% liquid chlorine a week. A 3 ppm daily loss uses about 2.6 gallons. Measure your loss for a few days. Check stabilizer first: with CYA near zero, sunlight can destroy chlorine much faster than swimmers do. The stabilizer calculator gives the amount for your reading.
Filled, the pool's water weighs roughly 130,000 lb (15,534 gallons × 8.34 lb), about 65 tons.
Safety. Carry and pour large chlorine and acid doses in their original containers, one at a time, with the pump on. Never combine them, and rinse any spills with plenty of water. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
FAQ
How many gallons is a 27 ft round 52 in pool?
About 16,704 gallons by geometry at 90% fill and about 15,534 gallons after the typical 0.93 correction for frame pools. Check your manual for the rated capacity.
How much chlorine for a 27 ft pool?
About 16 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine or 32 fl oz of 6% bleach per 1 ppm in a 52 in pool. A 3 ppm top-up is about 48 fl oz of 12.5% chlorine.
How long does it take to fill a 27 ft pool?
For 15,534 gallons, about 52 hours at 5 gallons per minute, or 26 hours at 10. For every $1 per 1,000 gallons on your water bill, the fill costs about $15.53.
Sources
- Weight of water, 8.34 lb per gallon: USGS Water Science School
- Hayward, salt dosing: hayward.com
- Correction factors from 26 manufacturer capacities, volume formulas, and dose math: methodology