The Short Answer
On our estimates, an in-ground outdoor swimming pool of about 10m x 5m costs £55,000 to £90,000 to build, with filtration, heating and surrounds. A smaller 7m x 3.5m pool is £30,000 to £55,000, and a semi-permanent above-ground pool £5,000 to £10,000. An indoor pool adds the building and air handling: £60,000 to £150,000 more.
Then there's running it: servicing (£100 to £300 a month on contract), chemicals (£400 to £900 a year) and heating. SPATA, the pool trade body, says an uncovered outdoor pool can lose up to 90% of its heat through evaporation, so budget for a good cover.
Swimming pool prices
| Pool | Built |
|---|---|
| Above-ground, semi-permanent, installed | £5,000 to £10,000 |
| In-ground, about 7m x 3.5m | £30,000 to £55,000 |
| In-ground, about 10m x 5m | £55,000 to £90,000 |
| In-ground, large or high spec | £80,000 to £150,000 |
| Indoor: building and air handling on top | £60,000 to £150,000 |
Running costs: heating and covers
SPATA recommends a heat-retention cover whatever heats the pool, because most heat is lost from the surface by evaporation. The common heat sources are air source heat pumps (ground source more for indoor pools), gas or oil boilers, direct electric heating and solar; it says heat pumps are growing in popularity for their ease of installation and low running costs. Heating kit should only be installed by qualified people.
For an indoor pool, Approved Document L sets a maximum U-value for the pool basin (its walls and floor), so the shell has to be insulated.
Planning permission
A pool for your own use in the back garden is permitted development as an incidental outbuilding, so the same limits apply as for sheds and garden rooms: behind the house, and buildings, enclosures and pools covering no more than 50% of the garden. A pool house counts as a building, with its own height limits. Listed buildings and designated areas are stricter. See garden room planning for the outbuilding rules.
Other prices you may see
Get swimming pool quotes
Pools are priced by size, construction and what goes round them.
Free, no obligation. We're paid by MyJobQuote when a tradesperson buys your job, never by you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to put a pool in the UK?
On our estimates, about £55,000 to £90,000 for a 10m x 5m in-ground outdoor pool, or £30,000 to £55,000 for a smaller one.
What is the cheapest inground pool to install?
A small in-ground pool (about 7m x 3.5m) is the cheapest, at £30,000 to £55,000 on our estimates. An above-ground pool costs less again, £5,000 to £10,000.
Do I need planning permission for a swimming pool in the UK?
Not usually, for a private pool in the back garden within the outbuilding limits. A pool building has height limits, and listed buildings and designated areas are stricter.
How much does it cost to run a pool per month in the UK?
Servicing is about £100 to £300 a month on contract and chemicals £400 to £900 a year, on our estimates, plus heating, which a cover reduces a great deal.
How much is an indoor pool?
The pool plus £60,000 to £150,000 for the building and air handling, on our estimates.
How we priced thisView sources (6, 2 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustryPool covers: benefits and considerations (factsheet C15), SPATA (Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association). Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustrySwimming pool heating (factsheet), SPATA (Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association). Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- Trade guideSwimming pool cost, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Trade guidePool maintenance cost, Checkatrade. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 Dwellings (2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments), GOV.UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
