How many gallons is a 30 ft round pool?
A 30 ft round pool with a 52 or 54 in wall holds about 19,200 to 19,900 gallons, after the typical correction for frame and steel-wall pools.
On this page (7 sections)
By geometry at 90% fill, a 30 ft round pool holds about 20,600 gallons with a 52 in wall and 21,400 gallons with a 54 in wall. Frame and steel-wall pools hold less than geometry predicts, so plan with the corrected 19,200 to 19,900 gallons.
Quick answer: 30 ft round pool gallons by wall height
The data block lists 42 to 54 in walls. For planning chemicals, use the frame column (× 0.93): 19,178 gallons for "30 x 52" and 19,916 for "30 x 54". A 48 in wall gives 17,703 gallons after the same correction. If your manual or carton states a capacity, use that number instead of any estimate on this page.
| Wall height | Geometry | Frame pool estimate (× 0.93) | Inflatable estimate (× 0.87) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 in wall | 16,656 gal63,050 L | 15,490 gal | 14,491 gal |
| 48 in wall | 19,036 gal72,058 L | 17,703 gal | 16,561 gal |
| 52 in wall | 20,622 gal78,062 L | 19,178 gal | 17,941 gal |
| 54 in wall | 21,415 gal81,065 L | 19,916 gal | 18,631 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) | 18 fl oz536 mL |
| +10 ppm TA (baking soda) | 2.5 lb1.12 kg |
| +10 ppm CYA (stabilizer) | 1.5 lb670 g |
Closest full chart: 20,000 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.
30 ft vs 27 ft: how much more water
Three extra feet of diameter look small on the ground, but volume grows with the square of the diameter. At a 52 in wall, a 30 ft pool holds 20,622 gallons by geometry, compared with 16,704 for a 27 ft pool: about 23% more water, and 23% more of every chemical. Doses taken from a 27 ft guide will be too low for this pool.
We have no 30 ft model with a manufacturer capacity in our data set, so this page uses the median correction of 0.93 from 26 rated above-ground pools. The largest round pools we could check against their makers' numbers (16 to 24 ft) held between 0.935 and 0.962 of their nominal geometry. At 0.962 a "30 x 52" would hold about 19,840 gallons, roughly 3% more than our estimate: well under one fluid ounce of 12.5% chlorine per ppm.
Starting doses for this volume
For the 52 in estimate of 19,178 gallons (the data block uses a 48 in wall, 17,703 gallons):
- Chlorine, +1 ppm: 20 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine, 25 fl oz of 10%, or 40 fl oz of 6% bleach.
- Alkalinity, +10 ppm: 2.7 lb of baking soda.
- Stabilizer (CYA) on a fresh fill: 4.8 lb for CYA 0 to 30 ppm; 6.4 lb to 40 ppm. It dissolves slowly: use a skimmer sock or follow the label.
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 20,000 gallon dose chart adds shock and acid amounts at a nearby volume.
Calculator: your exact depth
Enter 30 ft and your wall height, or switch to measured depth if the water line sits lower than usual. The result feeds straight into the dosing calculators.
Salt, chlorine, and filling at this size
Salt. A new salt system at 19,178 gallons needs about 512 lb of salt to reach 3,200 ppm: twelve 40 lb bags plus 32 lb, so buy thirteen. Each 40 lb bag raises this pool by roughly 250 ppm. Add it in stages and wait a day before the next reading. The pool salt calculator works from your current level.
Chlorine. A pool this size losing 2 ppm a day uses about 2.1 gallons of 12.5% liquid chlorine a week; at 3 ppm a day, about 3.2 gallons. Measure your own loss for a few days before you buy by the case, and keep stabilizer in range so sunlight does not destroy most of it.
Filling. 19,178 gallons takes about 64 hours from one garden hose at 5 gallons per minute, or 32 hours at 10. If your water costs $1 per 1,000 gallons, the fill costs about $19. The pool fill cost calculator compares a hose with a water truck. Filled, the water weighs about 160,000 lb (19,178 gallons × 8.34 lb), roughly 80 tons.
Safety. Large doses mean heavy jugs and bags: pour one product at a time, into the water, with the pump running. Never combine chlorine and acid, and rinse any spill with plenty of water. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
FAQ
How many gallons is a 30 ft round 52 in pool?
About 20,622 gallons by geometry at 90% fill and about 19,178 gallons after the typical 0.93 correction for frame and steel-wall pools. Check your manual for the rated capacity.
How many bags of salt for a 30 ft round pool?
For a new 30 x 52 pool at about 19,178 gallons, about 512 lb to reach 3,200 ppm: thirteen 40 lb bags. Test first if the pool already has salt, and follow your chlorinator's manual for its target.
How long does it take to fill a 30 ft pool?
For 19,178 gallons, about 64 hours at 5 gallons per minute, or 32 hours at 10.
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