The Best Height For Swimming Pool Fences

The height of swimming pool fences can range from 3.5 feet to 5 feet high. An average child capable of climbing a 4 foot high fence will most likely also be able to go over 5 feet. Beginning with a four-foot fence is probably a wise choice. Once the youngest child is older -- say around six, and hopefully has been enrolled in swimming lessons -- a shorter height like 3.5 feet is acceptable. At this point, the swimming pool fence serves more in the capacity of accident prevention (i.e., someone falling in by mistake) than as a barrier.