Budget, mid-range or luxury: How much does it really cost to install a swimming pool?

If you’re considering installing a pool of your own, there are numerous options depending on your budget.

The cost of installing a pool is a delicate figure that comes down to numerous factors, many of which are determined by whether your backyard is an easily accessible site for installation, and how much the land slopes.

Other factors such as size, shape, materials, water features, heating and lighting are controllable, so you can spend and save in the areas you please.

There are also a wide range of ongoing costs that should be taken into consideration during the installation process. While a chlorinated pool might be cheaper to install when compared to a natural pool, the ongoing costs of a natural pool are very small.

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Budget pool installation

Budget: $20,000 – $25,000
Options: Above ground, plunge, vinyl-lined, fibreglass, swim spas

Installing a pool is no cheap feat, but with a few compromises, there are options as low as $20,000 if you’re happy with an above ground pool.

“When it comes to pools, there’s two ranges – above-ground and inground,” Remonda Rose, managing director of Bluehaven Pools, said. “The above-ground pools are usually made of vinyl liners and they’re great for sloping blocks.”

The main cost associated with above-ground vinyl pools is the landscaping you choose to surround the pool, but with a smaller budget, decking is the cheapest option, Rose said. 

“What happens with the landscaping is usually what ups that cost, as you need some way of getting in the pool,” she said. “This is usually decking or raised, elevated landscaping if you’re not following the natural contour of the land.”

While they compromise on size, precast concrete plunge pools and swim spas are other budget options. These are also more affordable options for sloping blocks.

Mid-range pool installation

Budget: $25,000 – $60,000
Options: In-ground, fibreglass, concrete, standard-sized pools

A mid-range budget for pool installation opens up more possibilities, including concrete and fibreglass in-ground pools – or what many would consider a “classic” Australian backyard swimming pool.

“Both fibreglass and concrete in-ground pools start from $25,000 and they’ll go all the way up to $100,000 to $150,000 in residential developments,” Rose said. “The average person will spend around $45,000 on an in-ground pool.”

This price usually covers excavation, concrete, interior materials, filtration, tiling, sanitisation, heating and lighting. 

Interior finishing in particular can bump up the price of an in-ground pool. For example, a glass beading interior can cost $8,000 but completely tiling a pool can cost $20,000.

As for above-ground pools, in-ground pools can become costly depending on your landscaping needs.

“What surprises people is the integration with the backyard,” Rose said. “People end up spending just as much on the landscaping as they do on the pool.”

Add-ons you can expect in this price bracket include pool covers, which help save on cleaning, heating and water costs over time. Many cost between $300 and $1,500.

High-end pool installation

Budget: $60,000+
Options: Larger in-ground pools, natural pools, sloping or difficult sites, water features, expensive landscaping materials, interior tiling, 

A budget of over $60,000 might have you expecting underwater disco lights and waterfall features, but for those with a sloping or uneven backyard, a big chunk of the cost will fall to landscaping the area so it can hold a pool in the first place.

“It’s all custom designed when it comes to in-ground concrete, and a fibreglass swimming pool will need to be nestled in to ground because it’s held into the ground with a bond beam,” Rose said. “So you need a fairly flat, level block, otherwise you’re spending lots of money on concrete just to landscape it.”

Feature walls, elevated structures and adding a spa are also add-ons for more luxury pool installations. These can easily add $10,000 to the project. If you’re interested in glass fencing around your pool, this can cost an additional $20,000, depending on the area.

Those looking to spend more during the installation process, but save on ongoing maintenance, should also considering installing a natural pool. A natural pool can look like a conventional swimming pool, but works biologically. It doesn’t use chlorine to kill algae but rather filters out the material algae consumes to grow, making for a more gentle swimming experience for your skin.

“They’re all individually designed and there’s a lot of variables,” says Wayne Zwar from Natural Swimming Pools Australia. “I would say they’re at the higher end of the pool market.”

Natural pool filtration systems cost about $30,000, compared to about $8,000 for a chlorinated pump or filter, according to Zwar.

But the physical and mental benefits and the level of customisation that is possible make natural pools more desirable to those willing to spend more to save later, Zwar said.

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