How much does it cost to build a pool in 2022?

We hate to burst your inflatable flamingo, but yes, pool prices have skyrocketed alongside most goods and services across the country.

A shortage of trades, an increase in freight charges and the rising price of all the pieces that go together to create a backyard water-hole have combined to add around 20 per cent to the cost of installation and landscaping compared to 2020 prices.

Shane Broughton, owner of Master Pool Builders in Sydney, has been in the pool building industry for more than 30 years and says he’s never seen such big price hikes.

“Prices have always snuck up, but never in one hit,” he says. “Trades are all putting their prices up because they’re in demand and getting lots of calls for their work; the cost of steel has gone up by at least 50 per cent. The industry in general has gone up by 15 per cent to 20 per cent.”

Broughton says a turn-key pool including surrounds used to start at $40,000. Now prices start at $50,000, and that’s just for the pool.

By the time you add fencing, landscaping and maintenance equipment for what he describes as a “finished, usable product”, you’re looking at between $60,000 to $75,000. The average spend for a Master Pool Builders customer is $100,000.

The good news, says Jonas Ryberg, marketing director for Fluidra, Australia’s leading supplier of pool equipment, is that strong innovation within the pool sector has led to more options than ever before, from a huge selection of fibreglass pools to modular concrete pools and shipping container pools.

“This provides options at different price points,” he says.

For all budgets, these are the key expenses you need to consider when planning for a pool.

The pool and excavation

Prices vary across the country but as a general rule, the larger the pool, the more you’ll pay for excavation. 

Broughton says that, on top of the cost of machinery to dig the dirt, it will cost homeowners an average of $5000 to dispose of it.

Lynley Papineau, managing director at Aquatic Leisure Technologies, Australia’s largest pool manufacturer, says it’s possible to have dirt removed by developers looking for clean fill, but Broughton believes current legislation makes it more difficult to offload for free.

Ryberg reminds homeowners to include council fees and preliminary site costs in their pricing estimates.

When it comes to the pool shell, Broughton says there’s not much price difference between fibreglass and concrete.

“When I started in this game, fibreglass pools were actually half the price of concrete, but now they’re the same price,” he says. “The cost of cranes is really expensive and the fibreglass shells are much better than they used to be. They’re made with much better materials and they’re a much nicer product.”

Papineau says transportation will often affect the pricing of fibreglass pools.

“Western Australia has a lower pricing point because we’ve got so many manufacturers in the state,” she says. “But go across to Victoria and it’s the most expensive because they have the least amount of manufacturers and so freight costs are higher.”

Shipping-container pools range from $15,000 to $120,000 depending on the size and inclusions, according to Brisbane’s Gateway Containers.

Interior finishes

From plaster to marble and plenty of options in between, the finish you choose for your pool will have a big impact on both appearance and price.

Broughton says that, at the budget end of the scale, pebbles are a popular choice. Unlike the brown and gold surfaces of the 1970s that were sometimes uncomfortable on your feet, today’s aggregates are made from a finer, smoother pebble.

“At entry level, a white pebble looks great and gives you a nice light blue,” says Broughton. “If you want a slightly darker blue, you add glass beads to the mix which produce colour. If you want a really dark pool you add a lot more glass and you also add oxide to the mix. Each stage increases the cost by $2000 to $3000.”

Those planning a fully tiled pool will need to add $15,000 to $20,000 to the price.

Fencing and landscaping

If you want your new pool to add value to your home it needs to feel like an extension of the living areas, Papineau says.

“When people walk out the back doors into an al fresco area they’re really looking for an integrated area from outside in,” she says.

Soft and hard landscaping go a long way to creating this effect.

When it comes to the pool surrounds, pavers are one of the cheapest options and they’re easy to replace if one gets damaged. 

Hipages estimates slip-resistant concrete paving at $50 to $75 a square metre, while flagstones made from materials like limestone, sandstone or travertine cost between $40 and $100 a square metre. Tiling can cost between $90 and $125 per square metre to lay, plus the cost of the tiles.

Timber decking is variable in cost, with hipages putting the price for a 20-square-metre deck at between $6400 and $10,000. It’s versatile in design and application and can feel softer underfoot. However, unlike stone or other hard surfaces, it will require ongoing maintenance unless you opt for composite decking.

Glass fencing has become the preferred option for Australian homeowners and can add $10,000 to your pool cost, Broughton says. Cheaper and equally worthy options include: aluminium fencing, which might cost $2500; Colorbond, which hipages estimates at $85 to $100 a metre; and timber or bamboo fencing, from $75 a metre. 

The sky’s the limit when it comes to plants. You can opt for a simple selection of potted plants grouped together or create an entire garden or hedge to surround your pool. Papineau advises avoiding trees with heavy leaf litter or roots that could undermine your pool, as well as high-pollen plants that attract bees.

Pool maintenance

Like pets, pools come with ongoing maintenance costs. Ryberg says the price of pumps, filters, sanitisers and chemicals have increased in the order of 15 per cent to 30 per cent.

“It’s been a perfect storm where raw materials are going up, freight is going up and, as much as we try to minimise what we pass on, we’ve got to pass on a lot of those increased costs in higher prices.”

However, Ryberg says when it comes to running a pool there are still plenty of product options to suit different budgets. He suggests homeowners go online to websites like spasa.com.au to get an understanding of what’s involved with pool maintenance.

Again, the bigger the pool the more it costs to maintain.

“You’ll definitely require slightly bigger equipment to move the pool water and keep the pool healthy,” Ryberg says.

“In terms of ongoing running costs, once the equipment is installed the maintenance costs between smaller and bigger pools are not that different unless you’re heating the pool.”

Ryberg says you will pay more for a pool that effectively runs itself.

“If you’re prepared to spend a little bit more time maintaining the pool you can select cheaper products,” he says.

Extras

Heating: Ryberg estimates that between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of Australian pools are heated, either using gas or electric heat pumps which can be connected to solar systems. Broughton puts the cost of a heat pump at around $8000.

Spas: Broughton says to allow up to $15,000 if you want a spa with a decent heater that will have the water warmed up within a half hour. Papineau says you can save money by choosing an integrated fibreglass pool and spa combination.

Water feature: $9000-$25,000 (hipages.com.au)

Spa/swim jets: $3000-$10,000 (oasispools.com.au)

Lighting: $250-$650 plus installation (myperfectpool.com.au)