Often when you start swimming the thought of swimming a mile seems so abstract and ridiculous there’s just no reason to think about it other than a fleeting thought. However, swimming laps is one of the best ways to exercise. Eventually you may find yourself thinking about how many laps in a pool is a mile?
If you’ve already invested into an inground pool for your backyardpool or even a club membership, you might as well put it to good use. Swimming will burn calories like no other form of exercise. Though, the answer to how many laps in a pool is a mile is not as simple as you’d think.
How Many Laps In A Pool Is A Mile?
If you’re swimming in your backyard pool, you’ll need to measure your pool length in feet. Then, divide 5280 (feet in a mile) by the pool length to get the quantity of laps. For example, if your pool is 41 feet long, 5280/41 = 128.8 laps.
3 Most Common Pool Sizes In USA
If you are swimming in a competition pool, there are three different lengths you’ll find in most pools in the USA. A competition pool is divided into lanes, often with starting blocks, wall targets, and tiled lines on the floor.
25 Yard Pool (SCY)
First, you’ll find the 25 yard pool. This is referred to as the “short course yards” or “SCY” pool. This is the pool size preferred by the NCAA and most USA college swimming takes place in a 25 yard pool. This pool is 75 feet long and to swim a mile will take 70.4 lengths of the pool. We’d suggest rounding up to 72 laps, then you can get out of the pool the same end you started.
25 Meter Pool (SCM)
Next, you’ll find the 25 meter pool. This is referred to as the “short course meters” or “SCM” pool. This length is preferred by swim clubs and summer swim leagues. This pool is 82 feet long and to swim a mile will take 64.4 lengths of the pool. In this case we’d suggest rounding up to 66 laps so you can once again get out of the pool at the same end you started.
Olympic Pool (50 Meter)
Finally, there’s the olympic pool. This pool is the longest you’ll find in the USA, and this is the 50 meter pool. This is referred to as the “long course” or “LCM”. This is the competition length for the Olympic Games and dimensions are set by FINA the governing body of olympic swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, high dive, and open water swimming.
This pool is 164 feet long and to swim a mile will take 32.2 lengths of the pool. Many people will round down to 32 laps to equal a mile, but we’d suggest going the extra effort and swimming the 34 laps to exceed the mile and get out of the pool where you got in.
Bottom Line On How Many Laps In A Pool Is A Mile?
There are some pools out there with moveable bulkheads. Meaning, the pools can be configured to be 50 meters, 25 meters, 25 yards, or really any length at all. If you’re not sure how long the pool is, have no fear. Ask your fellow swimmers, lifeguard, or pool attendant. Now go out there and swim that mile!
