Pettit shows both the actual interior (swimmable) size and the transportation / outside size so you are not comparing a swim area to someone else’s shipping crate dimensions. Shoppers comparing inground pools in Pinellas County, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Citrus — from Largo and Seminole to Wesley Chapel and Tampa — need both numbers. Most fiberglass manufacturers market the exterior coping size as “the pool size.” The water you swim in is smaller. If you compare quotes on the advertised number alone, you can think two pools are the same size when one has noticeably less swim room.
Call 727-847-7665 or request a free estimate.
Why the outside size is larger than the swim area
A fiberglass shell is a molded structure. Outside the waterline you still have:
- The flange / coping ledge that ties into the deck
- Structural thickness of the laminate
- Steps, benches, and loungers that occupy interior footprint even though you are not doing laps there
The truck and the hole care about the outside footprint. You care about the interior water. Honest selling lists both.
How Pettit lists sizes on the site
On our fiberglass pools category and each model page, we call out that pool size shown is INTERIOR measurements, and we warn that most manufacturers market exterior coping size instead. Example from the Splash – 8×16 page:
- Model name / common size label: Splash 8×16
- Published note: size shown is interior; ask competitors for interior swimmable size, not transportation size
- Inside Pool Measurement: 15’3″ × 7’1″
- Depth and approximate gallons are listed on the same page
Read the inside measurement when you are picturing swim space. Use the exterior / transport needs when you are checking side-yard access (Pettit installs need at least a 7.5-foot access path) and setbacks on the site plan.
How to compare two quotes without getting fooled
- Ask for interior length × interior width and depth range in writing.
- Ask whether steps and benches are included inside that interior rectangle.
- Compare gallons — a useful cross-check when lengths look similar.
- Ask for the outside / transport footprint so the dig and deck plan match reality.
- Ignore glossy “12×24” labels until you know which measuring stick was used.
Shoppers comparing materials should also read fiberglass vs. concrete. For budget, see the cost guide and how payments work. Financing: Starting at $400 a month W.A.C. — financing.
A quick example from our lineup
Model names on the category page look like Splash 8×16, Fiesta 10×20, Laguna 11×23, Millennium 12×25, and Roman 13×30. Those labels help you browse. The swim decision should wait until you open the model page and read the Inside Pool Measurement, depth range, and gallon figure. Two “12-foot-wide” pools from different brands can differ by a foot or more of actual water width once flanges and benches are counted. If a salesperson will only give you the transportation size, treat that as a red flag and ask again in writing for interior dimensions before you compare price per foot.
When you send a survey for a quote, mark the proposed exterior footprint so setbacks and the 7.5-foot access path are checked against the shell that will actually arrive — not against a swim-only rectangle. Trees near that footprint can also force a different model; see trees in the way of your pool.
Interior vs. advertised size FAQs
What is swimmable interior size?
It is the water area you actually swim in — measured inside the shell. Pettit lists inside pool measurements on each model page so you can compare swim space honestly.
What is advertised or transportation size?
It is the outside / coping / shipping footprint of the shell — longer and wider than the interior because of the flange, coping, and step or bench structure. Many manufacturers market this exterior size as ‘the pool size.’
How does Pettit show sizes on the website?
Product pages note that the pool size shown is interior measurements, and they publish an inside pool measurement (for example the Splash lists Inside Pool Measurement 15’3″ x 7’1″ while the model name is Splash 8×16). Always read both numbers.
How should I compare quotes from two brands?
Ask every seller for interior swimmable length and width (and depth range), not only the marketing size. Compare gallons and interior footprints side by side.
Why does the outside dimension matter at all?
The exterior footprint is what must fit the dig, setbacks, and crane path. You need both numbers: interior for swimming, exterior for the yard and permit site plan.
Pick a model with the right swim space
Fiberglass pool installation across Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas — including Wesley Chapel, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Seminole, and Land O’ Lakes. Citrus County homeowners in Inverness, Crystal River, Homosassa, and Beverly Hills are welcome too. See our service areas hub for every city we cover from Port Richey.
Call 727-847-7665 or contact us online. Pettit Fiberglass Pools, 6651 Industrial Ave, Port Richey, FL. Warranty · How to check a Florida pool contractor