Pool House Size Calculator

Plan on at least 200 sq ft for a functional pool house with a changing area, bathroom, and storage. Anything under about 100 sq ft is really a cabana or shed — fine for changing and towels, but too small for a bathroom plus storage plus circulation space.

The typical pool house is about 431 sq ft (roughly 20 ft by 21 ft), and most fall between 100 and 800 sq ft. Popular stock plans cluster around 300 to 650 sq ft — for example 306, 360, 595, and 650 sq ft designs — with the final size driven by how many rooms you include.

A custom-built pool house runs $150 to $600 per square foot, with the national average project around $72,000. As a quick estimate, a 300 sq ft pool house at a mid-range $300 per sq ft costs about $90,000 (300 × 300 = 90,000). Adding a bathroom typically adds $15,000 to $35,000, and permits run $400 to $2,000.

A compact changing room of 5 ft by 7 ft (35 sq ft) works for one person. For comfort — bench, hooks, and turning space — aim for 50 sq ft or more. Plan one changing room per 6 regular swimmers so nobody queues in a wet towel.

There is no universal code distance, but keep at least 5 feet of clear space between the pool's edge and the pool house wall for maintenance access and drainage; 10 feet is a comfortable design target. Property-line setbacks for pools and accessory structures are typically 5 to 10 feet. Always confirm with your local building department.

The classic six: a changing room (35 sq ft), a bathroom — half bath 35 sq ft or full bath 48 sq ft, a shower stall (3 ft by 4 ft, 12 sq ft), storage for equipment and toys (6 ft by 8 ft, 48 sq ft), a kitchenette (6 ft by 10 ft, 60 sq ft), and a seating or lounge area (10 ft by 12 ft, 120 sq ft). Add 15% on top for hallways and circulation.

Use the occupancy rule: 120 sq ft of base building plus 20 sq ft per regular swimmer plus 6 sq ft per party guest, with a 200 sq ft minimum. For example, 6 swimmers and 20 guests: 120 + (6 × 20) + (20 × 6) = 360 sq ft. Also plan one bathroom per 15 people at peak so the line never forms.

A 10 ft by 12 ft building is 120 sq ft — below the 200 sq ft minimum for a full pool house. It fits a changing area plus storage (a 10 by 10 ft layout is the classic minimum for changing + storage), but not a bathroom, shower, and lounge together.

In most jurisdictions yes — budget $400 to $2,000 for permits, plus plan review for electrical and plumbing. A pool itself is often reported to add roughly 5 to 8 percent to home value, and a well-built pool house strengthens that effect by making the pool area usable and comfortable year-round.