swim spa cost

So you’re thinking about buying and installing a swim spa in your home, yes?

In that case, you’re probably interested in what it is going to cost you upfront.

While big purchase decisions like this require in-depth research, gathering an estimated cost can be quite confusing. 

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you a breakdown of the three major costs that go into purchasing a swim spa, including the initial cost, installation costs, and any back-end costs, including maintenance, energy, and more. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?

However, compare the price of a swim spa to that of a swimming pool and you’ll find that you save about half the money. Plus, swim spas can be used throughout the year thanks to their heated designs, just like a hot tub. A pool, on the other hand, has a limited season. This means your initial purchase price may actually take you further!

On average, we tell prospective swim spa buyers to save around $15,000 for the cost of a swim spa, though be prepared to purchase extra features and customizations.

If you want more specific information on pricing and don’t want to waste your precious time scouring swim spa pricing information online, click on the button below to get multiple quotes based on your preferences!

What is crucial to note is that delivery doesn’t typically include the setup and installation cost.

There are many factors that go into the cost of installation. Every installation is unique, some proving much more difficult and time-consuming than others.

There are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

Do I need to prepare a site for my swim spa, and if so, what kind of site preparation am I looking at?

Do I need additional electrical work to convert my 110v into a 220v?

Are there any large obstructions in the way that will require a crane to place my swim spa where I want it?

One thing that you must understand is swim spas weigh far more than your standard hot tub. They are made of one solid piece of fiberglass or acrylic. This means you’ll need a slab of concrete, at least 6” thick, to serve as the swim spa base. Typically, you’ll end up spending around $1,500 on an above ground swim spa installation. If you need a crane to haul the swim spa in, you can expect to spend around $1,000 or more.

One thing to note is that in-ground swim spas are cheaper than above-ground swim spas upfront, though once you factor in the costs of installation, an in-ground spa will cost you much more. With an in-ground swim spa, the installation is much like that of a pool. You’ll need to dig a hole large enough to support the structure. Of course, you can’t just dig a hole anywhere. You’ll need to make sure that you’re avoiding phone lines, power cables, water pipes, and gas lines. 

Next, you’ll have to spray mortar or concrete on the sides of that hole to protect your swim spa. You’ll also need to install proper drainage for your swim spa too so that you can replace water when necessary. All of this can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 extra, which is twice the price of standard, above-ground swim spa installation.

Once your swim spa is set up and ready to go, you’ll need to fill it with water.

The amount of water that you need will depend on the size, though you can fill it with a hose, meaning it’s not a very difficult process.

However, you will also need to pay for chemicals to keep your swim spa clean. This is not a one-time purchase. Depending on where you live, the climate conditions, and what kind of chemicals you are using, you will need to come up with your unique maintenance schedule.

This maintenance includes the cost of chemicals for water purification and possible repairs. If you purchase a cheap swim spa, you will likely have to make more repairs in the near future. This is why we recommend you don’t cut costs initially unless you want to pay for it later down the road. 

Cheaper swim spas use cheap building materials. This goes beyond the shell and includes the supporting spa cabinet, the propulsion system, the pumps, and more. This is typically where low-end manufacturers will aim to cut costs. Don’t fall for it! In general, if you cut costs upfront, you will likely end up spending more on your swim spa within years than if you simply spent more, in the beginning, obtaining a high-quality spa. 

Next, we have energy costs. Energy costs can increase over the years. Your best bet is to find a model that makes use of an efficient pump system. If you have an inefficient system, you could end up spending hundreds more on energy costs in a year.

People often ask,

How much does it cost to run a swim spa per month?

Under regular usage, you can expect to spend around $50-$100 per month on swimming spas. Compared to a swimming pool, this is about half of what you would expect to spend.

Getting A Swim Spa Without Breaking The Bank

So what is the average cost of a swim spa?

As you can see, there is no average cost, as the price includes delivery costs, installation costs, maintenance costs, and more. Similar to hot tubs, there are plenty of swim spa models available on the market today, each with a unique purchase price. Make sure that you understand the model you are going to purchase so that you can better estimate your purchase price, delivery costs, and more!

Even when you put all of these costs together, you’ll likely spend less than you would when installing a pool in your backyard. Plus, you’ll get to take advantage of all of the wonderful benefits that swim spas have to offer, from fitness to therapy to pure relaxation. 

For more helpful information, see our are swim spas worth it page.

Also, make sure to complete the questionnaire below to receive several swim spa price quotes from local hot tub dealers based on your preferences! Our free and time saving resource allows shoppers to see multiple price quotes all from one simple request.