Lap Pool Costs Don’t Have to Make a Huge Splash

Are you looking for ways to stay fit and keep cool all summer? Installing a lap pool in your yard is a great way to meet both of those marks. The price can fluctuate quite a bit—depending on size, style, and labor, you might be looking at spending anywhere from $4,000 for a store-bought above-ground pool, to over $100,000 for an in-ground, indoor custom-built pool.

How Much Does a Lap Pool Cost by Length?

The cost to build a lap pool varies based on the size of the pool. If you’re going for a full-length 50-meter, Olympic-style lap pool, you might end up spending anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000.

A 25-meter lap pool will cost around $100,000 to $400,000.

Residential pools for backyards are often a single swimming lane that’s about 10-meters long and will cost around $50,000 to $100,000. Keep in mind that the pool that is best for your yard will vary based on how much space you have available. Get in contact with a swimming pool installer near you to determine what you can fit in your backyard.

Lap Pool Cost Breakdown

The biggest factors that play into the cost of a home lap pool are the materials, labor, and your preferred style of pool. There are also smaller costs that will influence the price, like the water needed to fill the pool and the required permits to start the project.

Materials

If you’re installing an in-ground pool, you’ll need to pick the type of surface that goes along the walls and floor of your pool. Most residential lap pools are 8 feet by 40 feet and are 4 feet deep. You’ll need to have enough materials to cover the sides and the bottom of the pool, as well as the surrounding area.

The main types of materials used are:

Labor

Installing a pool is not a one-person job. There are teams involved with planning out the design, pouring the materials, and laying the right type of surface on the walls. This can run the cost up to as high as $100,000, depending on how big of a lap pool you’re looking to install and if you need to expand your house.

But if you choose to go with an above-ground pool, you don’t need to worry about all of that. Instead, you find the place where you want the pool and get to work. Even with labor, you’re only looking at spending around $6,000. 

Style of Pool

When you imagine your new lap pool, you may think you’re stuck with only one option, but there are many features that you can add to make it stand out. You can try a saltwater filtration system or add a slide that takes your fun to another level. Others will want an infinity pool that looks like it goes on forever, while others favor the typical round or square shapes they’re used to diving into.

Saltwater pool costs are around $50,000 on average. You’ll need a specific type of saltwater chlorination system for these pools, which ranges from $1,500 to $2,500.

According to HomeAdvisor, an infinity pool costs on average around $79,000. Infinity pools often need glass windows installed to create the optical illusion necessary to give it that look as if it were going on forever, which drives the price up.

For an endless pool, which means the pool creates a current of its own to keep you from reaching the other end, you’re looking at $24,000 to $37,000 extra.

Water to Fill the Pool

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To find how much water you need, you’ll use the calculation “length x width x average depth x multiplier.” The multiplier varies based on the shape of the pool.

The multiplier for:

• Square, Rectangle, or Free-Form Pools: 7.5

• Round or Oval Pools: 5.9

So if you have a typical pool of 8 feet by 40 feet with an average depth of 4 feet for a rectangle pool, you’re looking at around 9,600 gallons. The average water cost is about $1.50 per 1,000 gallons. Keep in mind that you’ll be using water to filter the pool, so once your pool is filled, it doesn’t mean the water bill stops there.

You’ll need to chlorinate the water as well, which will also factor into the cost of maintaining your pool.

Permits

Whether you’re going for an above-ground lap pool or an in-ground lap pool, chances are good you’ll need to pull a permit. You’ll need to file a permit to start the installation process, which has an average cost around $1,000. The true cost of the permit will depend on your state, county, and even city-level ordinances.

How Much Does a Lap Pool Cost by Type?

You have several options for where you can place your new lap pool. You can go above-ground outside, above-ground inside, in-ground outside, and in-ground indoor pools. Choosing between an in-ground versus above-ground pool will come down to your budget and space available.

Above-Ground Pools

Above-ground pools cost significantly less than in-ground, whether they’re inside or outside. You’ll only need to spend around $6,000, including labor. Installing it yourself will cut that cost in half.

Keep in mind that above-ground pools run the risk of damage from mother nature. High winds may cause debris to puncture the pool. If it gets windy enough, you might look outside and find that the entire pool has disappeared.

In-Ground Pools

In-ground pools won’t carry that same risk but will cost much more. The permits are more expensive, and the cost to install an in-ground lap pool is around $50,000, most of it from labor and materials.

In-ground pools do offer more customizable options, where you can decide on the pool’s shape, surface, and style. If the cost of a pool heater is in your budget, that can also be a convenient upgrade.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Lap Pool Yourself?

If you’re looking to install an above-ground pool yourself, you’ll only need to spend around $3,000 to $4,000. With the money you’ll save, you can look into the cost to build a deck around the pool. Those who know their way around a tool box will find putting up the pool only takes about half a day, with most of that time waiting for the pool to fill with water.

For an in-ground pool, you should aim to have professionals install it. They’ll often save you money on materials and already have the equipment ready to begin the process.

What Size Lap Pool Can I Get on My Budget?

Thankfully, there are pools for every type of budget. Whether you want a temporary one to get you through the summer or something more permanent to raise the value of your house, there is a pool style out there for you.

For a budget of $5,000 or $20,000, aim for an above-ground pool. You can install this type of pool yourself and you’ll find it’s ready to go in a matter of hours, rather than weeks with an in-ground pool.

A budget of $20,000 to $50,000 means an in-ground pool may be right for you. You might only have enough money for a basic in-ground pool, so while you may not be able to get certain luxury items, you can still escape that summer heat.

A budget of $50,000 to $100,000 allows for luxury items like an endless pool upgrade and a heater. You might even be able to create an indoor option with this budget. An indoor lap pool costs around $50,000, so long as you already have the indoor space available to install one.

For those that have a budget above $100,000, you can safely get everything you want. You’ll have a high enough budget for an indoor and in-ground pool. You can even opt to build a screened-in porch to keep away from bugs.