Designing Your Pool Bottom: what you need to know
The most common inground pool bottoms are standard, wedge, sports, play, flat, and coved flat. Each one can change how deep the pool gets, how people use it, and how much digging it takes.
Pool bottom shapes compared
| Pool bottom | Best for | Shape | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | A traditional shallow-to-deep layout | Shallow end, transition slopes, and a flat deep hopper | Requires more excavation than shallower designs |
| Wedge | A gradual, beach-like entry | Slopes gently from the shallow end to the deepest point | No large flat hopper in the deep end |
| Sports | Volleyball, water polo, and active play | Flat shallow sections at both ends with a deeper center | Not as deep as a diving pool |
| Play | Family recreation and games | Gradual slope from both ends to a deeper center | Less aggressive than a sports bottom |
| Flat | Laps, simple games, and easier installation | One consistent depth across the pool | Limited depth variation |
| Coved flat | A deeper shallow end or deeper flat bottom | Slopes from the wall down to a deeper floor | A coved shallow end needs a ramp in front of the step |
Sports and play bottoms typically reach about 5' to 6' at the deepest point. A flat bottom's depth depends mainly on the height of your wall panels, and it needs much less digging than designs with a deep hopper. If you cove the shallow end, a ramp has to be shaped in front of the step so there is something to step onto when you get in.
Planning a diving board?
Decide before you choose a pool bottom. Diving board manufacturers such as S.R. Smith require the pool to meet or exceed a minimum diving water envelope for the specific board, based on the ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 standard, and warn that using a board on an improperly sized pool may result in death or serious injury. Plan a diving board during initial pool construction so its depth requirements are built in from the start. See How to Safely Design a Diving Board Pool, and shop inground pool diving boards.
Before you order
Pool bottom depths and slopes vary with pool size, wall panel height, liner type, and custom design, so confirm the final layout and depth with your pool designer before ordering or excavating. If you don't see the bottom you want, ask about a custom design. To see how the bottom shape affects the dig, read How to Excavate for your Inground Pool, or browse inground pool kits by shape. For diagrams of each bottom, see Designing Your Pool Bottom: Shapes and Terms on our blog.
Still need help?
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