Cocktail pools tend to be less than 400 square feet and provide an ideal solution for homeowners with limited outdoor spaces. Sometimes called "spools" for a small pool that combines a pool and a spa, these cocktail pools often include heaters, jets, and benches.
How Big Are Cocktail Pools? Cocktail pools vary in size from pool to pool. They typically take up anywhere from 300-1,000 square feet (average is 400 square feet) and can be installed in different locations around your yard.
Spools, on average, measure around 10 to 15 feet long by six to eight feet wide. If you entertain a lot (spools are sometimes referred to as “cocktail pools”), a larger spool pool will give your guests plenty of room to splash around.
A plunge pool, at the most basic level, is a smaller pool that's still deep enough to “plunge” into. Cocktail pools might be three or four feet deep. A plunge pool could be six feet deep, or even deeper if you wanted it to be -- but most plunge pools tend to have between four and five feet of depth.
Cocktail pool disadvantages to consider
While cocktail pools are pretty neat, there are a few things that you might not like about going with such a small pool: Lack of play space. No room for games, racing, or floating in a pool this size. No free swimming.
Compared to the costs of installing a backyard pool, spools are relatively affordable, especially when you consider lower than average energy and upkeep costs.
A cocktail pool, also called a “spool” (spa + pool), is a combination of a spa and a pool; the perfect solution to getting the most out of your limited space. It's smaller than a standard pool, usually having a surface area smaller than 400 square feet. This type of pool is essentially an oversized spa.
Small pools can be called plunge pools or splash pools, but can also be used for therapy or exercise in addition to a quick dip on a hot day.
Also referred to as a “cocktail pool”, a spool pool can be anywhere from 10 to 16 feet long and 6 to 8 feet wide, providing plenty of room to stretch out, swim a few laps, or just cool off on a hot summer day — without taking up nearly the same space as a traditional backyard pool. Photo Credit: California Pools.
Essentially a spool is a smaller size swimming pool with added spa-like features. Typically measuring 10 – 16 feet long and 6 – 8 feet wide, spools are ideal for restricted spaces or oldy shaped backyards.
If you want to get the most distance in, you can set your spool to enable you to literally swim against the current; essentially swimming in place as you stroke and kick against the jets.
The small size of a typical spool — 5,000 to 10,000 gallons — with sides that might range from 10 to 15 feet, means clients can often afford to upgrade to more expensive materials compared to larger pools.
What is a Small Pool? While the sizes and dimensions of pools vary, anything that's about 10 feet by 10 feet or smaller is typically considered a small pool. In terms of depth, three feet is standard for soaking and floating, and four to five feet and above is the best depth for lap pools.
Most Plunge Pools are 20 feet or shorter in length, 8 feet or less in width and five feet or smaller in depth with a flat bottom. That size gives a homeowner options about placement. A small backyard, a side yard, or even a large indoor sunroom might be the perfect spot for a Plunge Pool.
How small can an in-ground pool be? Most of the smallest in-ground pools across all pool types, on average, are around 12' by 24', 10' by 15', or even a 10' x 10' Spool/Cocktail pool! In-ground pools can be even smaller.
10 x 20 is considered a small in-ground pool, while a 20 x 40-foot pool is on the larger side of things.
But plunge pools typically run from 6 1/2 to 10 feet wide and 10 to 22 feet long. The depth ranges from 5 1/2 to 7 feet, and the bottom is almost always flat. A plunge pool that's 10x20 feet is a popular size. Pre-cast or pre-fabricated models can start as small as 7x13 feet at 5 feet deep.
A spool can fit indoors as well as outdoors and the water temperature can be adjusted depending on the season. It provides features similar to a swimming pool while having the benefits of a hot tub. You can use it to cool yourself off in the summertime heat, or warm yourself up during the cold months of winter.
“Think of it this way,” Elena continues, “usually two of anything is when you start to feel that warm and fuzzy buzz, and three is when you start to feel genuinely drunk.” While Zoe only handles beer and liquor, she said her rule of thumb is: “Well drinks is somewhere around four (depending on tolerance).
In order to avoid these high taxes, Washingtonians have turned to their neighbors, Idaho and Oregon, where state taxes on spirits stand at $10.92 and $22.73 per gallon compared to Washington's $35.22 per gallon. For context, the national median liquor tax is $5.53 per gallon.
Measuring approximately 10 to 20 feet long and 6 to 8 feet wide, a spool is much smaller than an in-ground swimming pool but at least twice as large as an average spa.
How long does it take to install a spool? Installation of a cocktail pool can take 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the size, type, and location. A professional can install an above-ground, vinyl-lined swim spa in 3 to 4 days.
Mini spools are designed to be installed in an existing open differential and are used to replace the side gears and spider gears. They also lock both axles in place so that they both put power to the ground with equal torque and traction.