How Much Do Lap Pools Cost? [2025 Data]

Lap Pool Cost Factors 

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.

Pool Size 

The size of your lap pool will largely determine how much your pool costs. The most common length for a lap pool is 40 feet, which costs an average of $45,000 to install. Increasing that size to 82 feet—the equivalent of a 25-meter short course lap pool—will increase the cost to between $100,000 and $400,000. 

If you have a vast backyard and a budget deeper than a diving well, you can build an Olympic-size 50-meter pool for between $300,000 and $500,000. The width of the lap pool, which typically ranges from 6 to 10 feet, will also impact the pool’s cost. 

Materials

If you’re installing an inground 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:

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.

An infinity pool costs around $80,000, and they 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.

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 to install a lap pool up to $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. 

Excavation

If you're planning on installing an inground lap pool, you’ll need an excavator to dig a hole for the pool. Expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 in pool excavation costs, including digging the hole and backfilling it once the pool is in place. That cost can run higher if the excavation company runs into obstacles, such as roots, rocks, or very dense soil. Expect an additional cost of around $600 if any extra dirt needs to be loaded into a truck and hauled away.

Land Leveling

Yard leveling costs about $200 to $900 for pools. This step is crucial for a proper pool installation. When you install an inground pool on uneven ground, your pool can suffer from expensive damage down the road, like pool liner leaks and soil erosion. For above ground pools, an uneven yard can lead to pool collapse if there’s too much of a slope.

Water to Fill the Pool

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 your regular maintenance costs. 

Permits

Whether you’re going for an above ground lap pool or an inground 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 of around $1,000. The true cost of the permit will depend on your state, county, and even city-level ordinances.

Maintenance

It's easy to underestimate the cost of maintaining a pool on a month-to-month basis. Pools cost between $150 to $260 per month for maintenance during swim season. This price includes vacuuming, skimming, and chemicals to maintain the pool's chemistry. If you choose to complete the maintenance yourself, you’ll spend about $50 per month on pool chemicals and supplies.

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, inground outside, and inground indoor pools. Choosing between an inground versus above ground pool will come down to your budget and available space.

Above Ground Pools

Above ground pools cost significantly less than inground, 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.

Inground Pools

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

Inground 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.

Indoor Lap Pool

Indoor lap pools offer swimming as a year-round fitness option, but you’ll need a few extras that outdoor lap pools don't require. Expect to pay an average of $50,000 to install an inground, indoor pool or about $6,000 for an above ground indoor lap pool.

In addition to the cost of the pool itself, you’ll need to add a dehumidifier system to ensure the structure housing the pool doesn’t end up with moisture damage or mold.

This type of system ranges from $200 for a portable dehumidifier to $5,000 for a more sophisticated built-in system. Since you're building the pool indoors, you’ll also need special permits ranging from $200 on the low end to $1,000 or more if the construction requires structural changes. 

Infinity Pool

With an edge that seems to disappear on the horizon, an infinity lap pool is certainly breathtaking. The cost to install one of these luxurious pools may also take your breath away. The cost of installing an infinity lap pool is about $80,000 but can go as high as $130,000, depending on the size.

And that’s not where the higher expense of this luxury pool ends. Depending on the size of your infinity pool, it may require two pumps—a standard pool pump and a pump for the overflow edge—increasing its overall cost.

Saltwater Lap Pool

Saltwater pools are easier on your eyes and skin, don’t have the harsh smell of chlorine, and cost less to maintain because they require fewer chemicals. While the cost to install a saltwater lap pool is similar to the cost of installing a chlorine lap pool, saltwater pools require saltwater generators. This device, which creates chlorine from sodium chloride (salt) to sanitize the pool, will tack on between $500 and $2,500 to the pool’s total cost. 

Endless Lap Pool

An endless lap pool is a good option if you don’t have space for a full-sized pool. These pools feature a pump that creates a current you can swim against for as long as you want, allowing you to lap swim in a much smaller space. Think of them as the aquatic version of a treadmill.

Most endless pools measure just 14 feet long. This smaller size also means they cost less to install than a full-sized lap pool. You can purchase an endless lap pool for about $24,000 installed.

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

If you’re looking to install an above ground pool yourself, you’ll need to spend around $3,000 to $4,000. With the money you’ll save, you can look into the cost of building a deck around the pool. Those who know their way around a toolbox 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 inground pool, you should aim to have professionals install it. A swimming pool installer can save you money on materials and will already have the equipment ready to begin the process.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

Setting up an above-ground pool on your own is doable, especially if you find some extra hands to help. But installing an inground pool on your own is usually not possible because there are so many moving parts. There are various factors that can go wrong when a pool is improperly installed, like an uneven pool, gaps between the deck and the pool, a loose liner, and water leaks.

On the other hand, when you hire a reputable inground pool contractor near you to get this done, you can enjoy your pool from day one.

Costs of Common Lap Pool Add-Ons 

Here are common lap pool add-ons that you should consider on top of the cost of installing a lap pool. Some are luxuries, while others will help you take better care of your pool in the long run.

Pool Heater

If you don’t like swimming laps in chilly water, you may want to add a pool heater to your lap pool. Expect to pay between $1,800 and $4,100 for the cost of pool heater installation.

You can hire a pool heater installation service near you or do it yourself and save between $500 and $1,000 in labor. The actual price will depend on the pool size, the type of pool heater, and your location.

Don’t overlook the cost of running that heater. Expect to pay about $100 per month to run an electric pump pool heater and about $200 per month to run a natural gas pool heater.

Lighting

If you prefer swimming in the early morning hours or after the sun drops below the horizon, you’ll need pool lighting. Not only will it make your pool safer at night, but it will also add to its visual appeal.

Adding pool lighting costs between $700 and $1,500, including materials and professional installation costs. Given the proximity of these electrical fixtures to the pool water, it’s best to hire a professional electrician near you to handle the installation. Full-sized LED lights typically cost between $1,000 and $1,500, while smaller LED lights run between $700 and $900. 

Pool Cover

A good pool cover will help you maintain clean and clear pool water by keeping out dirt and debris and shielding the water from UV rays that can degrade chlorine. They also add a layer of safety by preventing children and animals from falling into the pool when it’s covered. You’ll pay between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the type of pool cover you choose. Covers at the higher end of that price range double as a solar blanket that warms the water. 

Pool Enclosure 

As with any pool or spa, you'll need to enclose your lap pool to ensure children cannot access it. Plan on paying between $2,000 and $10,000 to erect a pool fence defending its length and the fence material you choose. A pool fence costs between $15 and $25 per linear foot.

If you live in a colder climate, you can keep your pool open year-round by adding a glass enclosure for $30 to $65 per square foot. Adding a glass enclosure covering a 700-square-foot space would cost between $21,000 and $45,500.

To get the best of both worlds, consider installing a retractable pool enclosure that allows you to close your pool in cold weather or when it’s not in use. Retractable pool enclosures cost between $100 and $200 per square foot, depending on whether you choose a motorized or manual option.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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