The prices in this guide are accurate as of 2024*
There are lots of good reasons to install a swimming pool in your garden or home. Below ground pools can add value to your house and make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Not to mention that swimming pools look great and increase the appeal of your outdoor space.
Whether you want to improve your health and fitness by exercising more, or just want a cool body of water to relax in during the hot summer months, a swimming pool can do both.
Swimming pools come in a range of prices. Above ground pools cost around £6,500 to have installed professionally, whereas below ground pools cost around £90,000 for an outdoor pool, and around £120,000 for an indoor pool.
Getting a swimming pool can make your garden a great space for BBQs and outdoor parties, helping you and your guests make the most of the hot weather.
How much you end up spending will depend on how large you want your pool to be, and where you live in the UK, with cost of labour rising in London and the South East.
What are the different types of swimming pools?
The main choices you need to make when it comes to swimming pools is whether you want yours to be built above or below ground. Above ground pools are less expensive to install, and some options don’t require professional installation.
You can also get an indoor pool installed rather than an outdoor one, if you have the space to accommodate for one in your home. Outdoor pools take up garden space but are usually the most common option. They cost a lot less to install than indoor pools.
You could get:
| Pool types | Pros | Cons |
| Outdoor pool | Lower cost to build and run than indoor pools Heats in the sun so fewer heating costs Easier to integrate pool add-ons like slides, deck jets, and waterfalls | Less time to enjoy the pool throughout the year (outdoor pools are usually only used for four to five months a year) Can attract unwanted animals or even people Weather-dependent Harder to keep clean due to debris and leaves |
| Indoor pool | Retainers heat better costing less in energy bills Can swim in it all year round Easier to keep clean as indoor pools don’t get dirty from wind-blown leaves and debris | More expensive to install and run Requires careful humidity control monitoring to avoid mould from developing Can’t enjoy it in the sun during the hotter months |
| Above ground pool | Cheaper than below ground pools Easy to install Can be heated with heat pumps High end options are available Temporary structures can be moved or removed if needed | Requires a lot of maintenance (to the exterior of the pool) Bad at retaining heat Don’t add value to home Not permanent The least aesthetic Have limited design and depth options |
| Below ground pool | Endless choices for sizes, shapes, styles Highly customisable Can be easily designed to fit your gardens landscape | More expensive than above ground pools Take longer to build than above ground options More dangerous for pets and children as the water surface is near ground-level |
| Infinity pool (below ground pool) | The most visually impressive and aesthetic Great for homes with a steep drop-off to show off a nice view | The most expensive More costly to maintain |
How much does it cost to buy and install a pool?
A swimming pool is a luxury addition to your home. If you’re considering getting one, a pool comes with lots of benefits. To name a few:
- Good way to increase the amount you exercise, improving your health and reducing stress levels
- Can improve family time and is a great addition to social gatherings and your social life in general
- If you build an outdoor pool, it can increase your time outdoors and away from technology and screens
- Swimming pools look good and increase the value of your home
Before you commit to buying a swimming pool, you should think about whether a pool is the right fit for you, as swimming pools are a large investment that requires annual maintenance work and costs. A pool should therefore fit in well with you and your household’s lifestyle and needs.
You also need to have enough space to comfortably install one. Buying the wrong size pool is one of the biggest mistakes pool owners regularly make. Make sure you do your research before you hire your tradespeople.
Prices can range quite a bit, depending on the material you choose to build your pool out of, and how big you want your pool to be. The below are some ballpark figures. For a more accurate quote using your specific dimensions and material choices, let us know what you have in mind, and speak to a skilled swimming pool fitter today.
The below prices include cost of materials and installation, for pools with a depth of 1.25 metres.
| Type of pool | Lower range | Average cost | Upper range |
| Heated outdoor pool | £60,000 | £90,000 | £120,000 |
| Heated indoor pool | £70,000 | £120,000 | £175,000 |
| Heated above ground pool* | £5,000 | £6,500 | £10,000 |
| Heated infinity pool | £90,000 | £120,000 | £150,000 |
*Note that these prices for above ground pools include the cost of installation. A competent DIYer could install their own above ground pool, lowering costs to around £2,000 to £3,500. If you’re looking to get a below ground pool, we do not recommend you attempt to DIY.
These prices include the cost of installing a heating system in your pool.
Smaller, inflatable outdoor pools cost anywhere from £25 to £400 and beyond, and don’t require installation.
Close section ↑What material should you get your swimming pool made from?
The most common pool materials are concrete, fiberglass, vinyl, and steel. Each has pros and cons that are listed below, and that might impact your choice, especially as some materials, such as concrete, are more expensive to install, and take longer to build too.
| Material | Pros | Cons |
| Fiberglass | Cheaper option Easy to heat Lightweight but strong, flexible and durable Quick to install Wide range of sizes, colours and pool shell styles Little maintenance | Very slippery Not very customisable (fiberglass pools are prefabricated) More expensive to install than vinyl but less than concrete |
| Concrete | Lots of design options (like mosaics and tiling), as well as shapes and sizes Very durable | Really hard to remove once fitted Can stain or discolour over time Repairs are expensive Requires a lot of maintenance |
| Vinyl pool liner | Easy to clean and can be repaired easily Can be custom sized | Not as durable Needs careful maintenance Some consider it ‘cheap’ looking |
| Steel | Very durable and resistant to cracking Low maintenance Custom sizing available | More expensive Requires specialist steel pool fitters |
Most swimming pools take between four and 12 weeks to install. Fiberglass is the fastest installation material, taking only a handful of weeks, whereas concrete pools take the longest, ranging from anywhere between 2 and 4 months.
You also need to factor in between one and four days for the excavation of the foundations for your below ground pool. The cost of excavation is not always included in your quote when you hire pool fitters, so make sure to ask exactly what is included in your package.
To hire a swimming pool installer, let us know about your project today.
Can you DIY a swimming pool?
The easiest type of pool to DIY is above ground pools, where you purchase the pool and then build the frame yourself. You can buy your own materials, or purchase a pool frame kit.
A popular choice for pool frames is wood pallets, though you can definitely get creative with what materials and design you choose. Mason sand, plastic, and stone are also popular options.
There are plenty of tutorials that can teach you how to build a pool frame. This could be a great, cost-effective solution for your new pool, helping you cut installation costs, whilst also improving the visual look of your above ground pool.
We don’t recommend trying to DIY your own in-ground pool, as these pools require experienced tradespeople, excavation work, and professional tools to ensure that everything is installed safely and correctly.
You can hire a tradesperson to install your pool here.
How much does it cost to run a swimming pool?
On average, you can expect to pay around £50 to £100 a month to keep your pool healthy and running properly. This includes the cost of cleaning filters and maintaining the right pH levels in the water.
Keep in mind that every time you open and close your pool (for instance for the winter months when you don’t plan on using it), reconnecting chemical feeders, heaters, pumps, filtration, and refilling your pool will cost you.
For a single season, all the chemicals you need, like chlorine, could cost you anywhere from £300 to £500.
Refilling your pool tends to cost around £2 to £3 per m3. An average sized pool would cost around £60 to £100 to refill.
You will also want to routinely hire an electrician to ensure your pool’s sub fuse box is running properly. A labour bill for this service could cost you anywhere from £30 to £45 an hour.
On top of this, you will also need to consider the cost of heating your pool as well. How much you spend on your swimming pool heating will depend on the type of heating you choose to get. You could spend:
- Roughly £2,000 to run an electric heater for your pool (around 19p per kW)
- Roughly £900 to run an oil heater for your pool (around 9p per kW)
- Roughly £500 to run a gas heater for your pool (around 5p per kW)
- Roughly £400 to run a heat pump for your pool (around 4p per kW)
These prices look at the cost of running heating in your pool for an entire season (May to September).
How to save money on your new swimming pool
There are plenty of ways you can lower costs for a new pool, especially in terms of running costs.
We recommend you never try to cut corners when it comes to buying good quality materials and skilled labour, as this is likely to end up costing you in the long run in repairs as problems arise further down the line.
- Consider investing in a variable-speed pump. These are more efficient than single speed and dual-speed pumps, and can help you run your pool for longer and get better pool water circulation at a fraction of the electrical energy.
- Invest in a good pool cover. This will keep your pool insulated, help trap escaping heat, control evaporation, and overall reduce running costs.
- Order your materials during the winter months. If you order your pool the winter before you plan on having your pool installed, it will cost you less money as it will avoid you purchasing supplies during the warmer months when prices go up.
- Look after your pool. Make sure you maintain your pool, cleaning it frequently and applying the correct chemicals. This will ensure you don’t end up spending more than you need on chlorine and other products and will minimise the chances of you spending more money on repairs or professional pool cleaning services. To do this, make sure you keep to a regular schedule, and check your pH, calcium hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, cyanuric acid, and residual chlorine levels on a frequent basis.
- Pick a reasonable size. Not only does a huge pool cost more to install up front, but larger pools are also more expensive to maintain, raising your annual water and chemical bills considerably. A smaller pool is more affordable in the long-run and might be a better solution if you’re trying to budget.
- Think about what you use your pool for. If you’re mostly using your pool to exercise in, then you can probably review your heat settings and lower the temperature of your pool, saving you money. You can also lower the temperature during the hottest periods of the year where a cooler pool is preferable.
- Invest in a solar pool heater. A solar heater can help you reduce your energy bills, making your pool cheaper to run in the long term. They’re also more eco-friendly. Though they are more expensive to install up-front, in the long run, it is a cost-effective investment.
- Install drainage channels around your pool. Drainage channels catch water that is splashed out by bathers and returns it into the pool’s system. Saving water is both cost-effective (reduces your water bill and your chemical bill) and environmentally important.
If you’re thinking of getting a swimming pool installed, let us know what you have in mind, and get some free quotes today.
Conclusions
A swimming pool can increase your enjoyment of your garden or home, especially during the warmer months of the year, when the heat can become intolerable.
You should research extensively before you hire tradespeople to do the job, making sure that you understand what the maintenance and heating costs will be in the long run.
Buying the wrong size pool for your home is one of the biggest mistakes pool owners make, so we recommend you think about what size you want your pool to be.
Cost of labour rises in London and the South East, sometimes by as much as 20% more on average. Your choice of pool materials will be the other big cost factor.
Swimming pools look good and are a fun addition to any home. If you think you might want to install a pool, let us know what you have in mind, and get some free quotes today.
*The Rated People cost guides are produced in collaboration with the quote-building platform PriceBuilder, and a range of tradespeople across the 30+ trades on our platform were consulted. Please note that the prices included are for guidance only – how much you end up spending will depend on the specific requirements of your project.
