What Size Koi Pond Should I Design for my Yard?

Great question! There are many factors that should be taken into consideration when determining what size Koi Pond is best for you and your family. Keep in mind that scale is important when deciding on what size pond would look best. Each property’s terrain is different and for this reason having a professional pond builder onsite can help design the layout with the best sightline from various vantage points for your new water feature. If you are a Do-it-yourselfer consider a few important factors, such as proximity to the house. Might you enjoy the pond more often, if it is closer to your outdoor living space? If that is the case, the lay of the land close to your house will help determine what size Koi Pond you can have.

Often homeowners don’t think about the fact that a pond can also be enjoyed from inside of the home gazing outward. So the question you should ask yourself is; where do I spend most of my time when I am inside? Is it in the kitchen sipping coffee or perhaps unwinding at the end of the day with a glass of wine in the living room? Does this favorite spot inside offer you a view of the outside? If so, you may want to consider putting the pond or an aspect of it within the site line because the fall and winter seasons are just as beautiful as spring and summer. Once again, what is the available space just outside that window or door? If you are fortunate to have a view of your koi pond from inside, it will provide enjoyment year round, during pleasant and not so pleasant weather conditions.

Just because your house maybe large, that doesn’t mean you need to have a large pond. Having a large property just gives the designer a larger canvas and palette to design with. And in turn, some small homes can accommodate a large pond if the setting is right. In the end, most of the time, when trying to figure out what size pond works best for you, the deciding factor often comes down to budget.

Let’s start with the smallest recommended size pond and work our way up. The reason for this is very simple and a bit on the science side of things. Our suggestion is that your pond should be at least 8’ x11’ [excavation area before contours and boulders eat into the space]; this size pond starts at roughly $7,800. The science behind the size suggestion is that the pond build is actually the development of an Eco-System; and anything smaller is more difficult to maintain with success. It takes a delicate balance to keep a pond crystal clear and thriving. Experimenting with ponds is fun and is educational for hobbyists of all ages. Creating a harmonist eco-system can take a little time to get established, but once done, the results mean a crystal clear pond. Considering fish for your pond? Large Koi can be expensive so we want the pond to be in tip-top shape before you introduce prize koi fish.

Lastly, with our 15 plus years of installing ponds we have found that most pond owners install three ponds in their lifetime. They start with a small pond or container garden, then expand to the pond they think they want; and often enlarge it again to finally achieve the “right pond” for their setting. There is nothing wrong with this process, but if budget allows, it is best to consider all of these factors before breaking out the shovels and earth moving equipment.

When it comes to deciding what size Koi Pond should I design for my yard, keep in mind the comment we hear most at Turpin’s and that’s “I wish I would have made my pond larger!” But in the end the best question you can ask yourself is: How much money do I want to invest in this project?

If you have any other questions, or need help figuring out what size koi pond is best for you and your home please contact us here.