Use average filled depth for water volume
A rectangular pond or pool volume is footprint area times average filled water depth. Maximum excavation depth can overstate the water volume when there are shelves, slopes or unfilled freeboard. US gallons are a unit conversion from the resulting cubic feet.
Measure and calculate
- Measure the water surface length and width for the rectangular approximation.
- Enter average filled water depth in feet.
- Use the cubic-foot conversion mode if you already know the actual volume.
US gallons = length × width × average depth × 1,728 ÷ 231.
A worked example
- Inputs
- The water footprint is 10 by 6 ft with 2 ft average filled depth.
- Calculation
Volume: 10 × 6 × 2 = 120 ft³. US gallons: 120 × 1,728 ÷ 231 = 897.6623.- Result
- 897.66 USgal
The estimate is 897.66 US gallons. For an irregular basin, calculate measured sections or use an independently determined volume instead of treating maximum dimensions as a full rectangle.
Read the result
| Output or check | What it means for your project |
|---|---|
| Water volume: US gal | The rectangular approximation multiplies the water footprint by average filled depth, then converts ft³ to US gallons. |
| Average versus maximum depth | Shelves, slopes and unfilled space make maximum excavation depth unsuitable as average water depth. An irregular basin needs measured sections or another volume estimate. |
Common questions
Should I enter excavation depth or water depth?
Use average filled water depth. Empty space above the waterline is not part of the stored water volume.
Are these imperial gallons?
No. The conversion uses US liquid gallons, with 231 cubic inches per gallon.
