Most pools are 36" deep (from floor to mid-line of water tile) at the shallow end where the steaps are located, and 3 steps are pretty standard.

The top step is usually about 3" under water, so that leaves 33" of depth to be covered by 3 steps. 33" divided by 3 steps = 11". So each step will be about 11". I am assuming that all 3 steps have the same height.

Our pool is 39" deep at the shallow end, and we have 3 steps. Our steps are 12" high. We're still building, but I have no issues going in/out of pool. I am not tall.

-Gorilla

The rise of your steps is calculated by taking the height from floor to the top of beam and adding your coping thickness. Divide this by the number of steps.
If you have a water depth of 36", plus 3" tile above water, plus 4" coping gives you 43". 3 steps in the pool is 4 risers to the deck at 10 3/4".
More steps takes away more floor space so I personally would prefer fewer steps with a larger rise.
A 12" rise won't feel so high when there's water in the pool.

I just measured my risers... 11", not 12". Except that the top riser (step to top of brick coping) will be about 11 1/2". Those figures are pretty close to cascades formula. Thanks cascade!

Sorry for giving out wrong data... e.g. 3" of water above top step... I forgot about the distance between step and bottom of water line tile.

-Gorilla

Thanks for the answers. I guess I need to give a bit more info here.

First, the pool is already in, just waiting until closer to the end of the build to finish off the inside. So, the steps are already installed and are 12" high.

Second, the location of the step isn't typical I guess. The pool is a rectangle, about 27' n/s and 9' e/w. It starts about 3 or 3.5' deep and goes to just over 5' deep. The stairs are not in the shallow end, which is on the north side of the pool, but on the east side of the pool. The stairs stick out from the pool so that you have a rectangle pool with a smaller rectangle on the side (9' n/s and 3' e/w) that is the stairs.

Due to the configuration, the depth of the pool is very different from the north side of the steps than on the south side of the steps. I am not concerned with the height of the last step on the southern part of the steps, as I understand there isn't anything that could have been done about that.

I hope this all makes sense!

My question is still about is there a standard of how pool steps should be designed as for height?

What heights are others steps in their pool and spa at?

Thanks!

Jennifer

10 to 12 inch risers are normal for steps in a pool. Normal risers for steps in your house are 6 to 7 inches. What you have to remember is that there will be water in the pool and when you walk in the pool you will feel buoyant. Walking in the pool without the water will feel awkward now because you are used to the normal 6 to 7 inch risers that are in your house and there is no buoyancy. Go with the standard for the pool and you should be fine. I get this question as a pool builder all the time and once there is water in the pool the steps are fine.

Jennifer,

Quote: "My question is still about is there a standard of how pool steps should be designed as for height?"

Don't know where you live, but I know Long Beach CA (just goolged it) has a code whereby risers have to be uniforn, and not exceed 12".

Richmond KY has the same... 12" max, but the lowest riser has to be uniform, meaning that the pool floor must be level where the staris are located.

From what you describe, your steps will not meet Richmond code... so maybe they won't met your local code too? I would consult your county for the proper recommended dimensions.

-Gorilla

Our pool is underconstruction right now...

Our steps from bottom to top are 14", 12", 11.5"..

I am 5'5" and feel like I am on a stair master trying to get out... however, I agree with muddyboot that when the water is in you do not feel as heavy. My friends pool is 12" on all her steps and it never crossed my mind while climbing out that the steps were big... And ALL four of our kids have grew up climbing in and out of her pool.

They just poured our steps yesterday and I had the same feeling, that 12" looked incredibly steep and dangerous for small children, elderly, and those of us with bad knees! Our build foreman assured me that it is a standard height and it will be different when there's water in the pool. Sure hope he's right!

Standard pool step depth's are
1st 6" water
2nd 18" water
3rd 30" water
floor 42" water (3 1/2 ft)
The first rise from the top step to coping top is 6" water plus 3" waterline tile above water plus coping height, typically 2" for brick or stone and 3 1/2" for a cantilevered concrete coping.
All rises are 12"

See ya,
Kelly

when they emptied our pool to renovate it this summer, i couldn't believe how hard it was to climb in and out with no water......it NEVER felt like that with water! i wouldn't have believed it if i hadn't already experienced it myself. the water takes care of it completely, it's pretty wild. don't worry, it's all good!

can the first step be 15” from top of coping? we want more water on the step.

How should a Baja deck be incorporated with the entry steps? We are adding one but need to resign entry. I cannot visualize this!