One concave curve · Timeless · Room for a spa · Phoenix, AZ
Kidney Pool Shape
The kidney pool shape is a soft, timeless curve with one gently concave side — a classic that fits real-world yards and leaves a natural nook for a spa. We Fix Ugly Pools® designs and builds custom kidney pools across the Phoenix metro.
The kidney pool is one of the most enduring shapes in backyard design — a smooth, rounded form with one side curved gently inward, like a kidney bean. That single concave curve softens the pool, creates a natural pocket for a spa or landscaping, and helps the shape fit yards that a strict rectangle cannot. It has been a go-to for decades for good reason.
What is a kidney pool shape?
A kidney pool is a curved shape with two rounded ends and one side that dips inward in a soft concave curve, while the opposite side bows outward. That gentle in-and-out is what gives the kidney its timeless, organic look — more relaxed than a geometric pool, but simpler and more compact than a fully free-form design. It is often considered the original “designer” shape and a predecessor to the curvier figure 8.
The concave side is the kidney’s signature feature. It creates a natural nook — an ideal spot to tuck a raised spa, a cluster of boulders, a fire feature, or planting — so the pool and its surroundings flow together. As one of the most popular curved pool designs, the kidney is built as a fully custom gunite shape sized to your yard.
What a kidney pool looks like
Picture a long, rounded oval, then imagine one long side pressed gently inward so it curves back on itself. The result is a soft, asymmetrical form with two generous rounded ends and a graceful waist — organic without being complicated.
That shape reads as calm and natural, and the inward curve gives you a built-in alcove. Settle a spillover spa, a tanning ledge, or a custom rock and water feature into the nook, and the kidney becomes a relaxed, resort-style centerpiece.
Where a kidney pool shines
A natural spa nook
The concave side forms a ready-made pocket for a raised spa, boulders, or a fire feature.
Timeless, soft look
A gentle curved form that has stayed in style for decades across many home types.
Fits sloped & irregular yards
The curves adapt to grade changes and odd lot lines better than a rigid rectangle.
Family-friendly
Rounded edges and an easy depth transition feel welcoming for kids and guests.
Blends with landscaping
The curves settle naturally into planting, decking, and boulder accents.
Fully custom gunite
Built on site in concrete, so the size, depth, and curve of the nook are tailored to your yard.
A relaxed classic, built for you
A kidney pool is a fully custom concrete (gunite) build, so we shape the curve and the nook to your yard and your life. New custom pools in the Valley generally range from $38,000 to $60,000, with premium features like a raised spa, water features, and extensive hardscape adding roughly $60,000 or more on larger projects. Your free design consult sets the right scope and a clear number.
How we design and build your kidney pool
Design consult
We walk your yard, place the concave nook where it works best, and sketch the kidney to fit.
Engineering & permits
Custom plans, structural engineering, and permitting handled by our licensed team.
Excavation & gunite
We dig the curved outline, set steel, and shoot the gunite shell that forms the kidney shape.
Finish & features
Tile, coping, interior finish, and a spa or water feature in the nook complete the look.
Which yards and homes suit a kidney pool?
The kidney is one of the most adaptable shapes there is, which is why it fits so many real backyards. Its curves handle sloped lots, grade changes, and irregular lot lines more gracefully than straight sides, and it works in both compact and spacious yards because the shape can be scaled up or down without losing its character.
Stylistically it is a true all-rounder — comfortable next to traditional, ranch, and transitional homes and relaxed landscaping. If you want a bolder curved statement, look at the free-form or figure 8 shapes; for crisp modern lines, see the geometric shape. We will help you choose at the consult.
Construction and cost considerations
As a curved shape, a kidney takes a little more hand-forming than a straight-sided pool, but it is one of the simpler custom curves to build, which is part of its long-running popularity. Cost is driven mostly by size and by the features you add — the concave nook invites a raised spa or water feature, and those choices move the budget more than the shape itself. As a reference point, new custom pools in the Phoenix area generally run $38,000 to $60,000, with elaborate spas, water features, and hardscape pushing larger builds up by around $60,000 or more. Every kidney pool is quoted after an in-person design consult. Explore the full range of types of inground pools and inground pool options as you plan.
Finishes and features that pair with a kidney pool
The kidney suits warm, natural finishes as easily as clean modern ones. A premium pebble interior lasts about 25 to 30 years and gives the curves a rich, natural tone; a quartz-blend finish lasts about 12 to 18 years; standard white plaster lasts about 5 to 7 years. The classic kidney pairings put a raised spillover spa in the concave nook, with a tanning ledge or baja shelf in a rounded end, bubblers, a rock or sheer-descent water feature, natural-stone coping, and warm LED lighting. Browse all of our custom pool features to design your kidney pool.
“They completely transformed our backyard. The crew was professional, the finish is gorgeous, and it’s held up beautifully in the Arizona heat. Worth every penny.”
Why Arizona homeowners build with We Fix Ugly Pools
- Licensed, bonded & insured. Arizona ROC KA5-275609 and KA5-353555 (KA-5 swimming pools, commercial and residential), and KB2-304269 (KB-2 residential and small commercial general contractor).
- Building the Valley since 2001. 20,000+ pools built and renovated across metro Phoenix.
- Any shape, fully custom. We design and build custom concrete/gunite pools in any curved shape you can imagine.
- 700+ projects a year. A seasoned design-build team that shapes kidney pools and spa nooks routinely.
- 4.9 stars from 305+ homeowners. One of the most-reviewed pool companies in Arizona.
- Design-build under one roof. From first sketch to final fill, one accountable team.
Ready to design your kidney pool?
Book a free design consult and we will shape a timeless kidney pool — spa nook and all — to fit your yard, your style, and your budget.
Kidney pool shape FAQs
What is a kidney pool shape?
Can I put a spa in a kidney pool?
Is a kidney pool good for a sloped or irregular yard?
How much does a custom kidney pool cost in Phoenix?
What interior finish lasts longest on a kidney pool?
Do you build kidney pools across the Phoenix metro?