Olympic Swimming Pool Dimensions: FINA Official Standards and Specifications

By Sarah Miller · May 28, 2026

Standard Olympic Pool Dimensions

Olympic swimming pools must adhere to strict FINA specifications to ensure fair competition across all international swimming events.

An Olympic pool is exactly 50 meters (164 feet) long with a tolerance of +0.03 meters.

The standard width is 25 meters, accommodating 10 lanes at 2.5 meters each.

FINA recommends a minimum depth of 2 meters throughout, with 3 meters preferred for competition.

Lane ropes extend the full length. Lane markers on the pool bottom are dark lines 0.2-0.3 meters wide.

Starting blocks must be at least 0.5 meters above water with a minimum surface of 0.5 by 0.5 meters.

Competition water temperature must be maintained between 25-28°C (77-82.4°F).

Electronic touchpads are installed at both ends of each lane, connected to timing systems accurate to one-thousandth of a second.