Warm summers invite you to use your own garden intensively. A pool completes the recreational offer. But what are the actual costs for the longed-for bathing opportunity? Our pool cost ABC explains.

In a nutshell

  • In addition to the actual pool, there are additional costs for preparation and supply
  • Even moderate operating costs add up over the years
  • particularly cheap acquisition costs often result in higher maintenance costs

What goes into pool construction?

Of course, purchasing a pool isn't just about buying it and unpacking it. In order for your pool to work, various other things are required, which you should know both in terms of content and in terms of their relation to the total costs. The following cost ABC gives you an overview of typical cost factors when building a pool:

acquisition cost

First of all, the acquisition costs, i.e. the costs associated with setting up the pool in your own garden, have an impact:

The pool

Whether it's a quick-up pool or a rigid pool, whether it's a ready-made kit or a modular system, every bathing facility requires a construction that creates the water-bearing pool.

Building a pool in the garden
  • Percentage of total costs: Depending on the size, around 40 to 70% of the acquisition costs

Earthworks and terrain adjustments

In order to be able to set up your pool optimally, there is usually preparatory work in the garden. These include:

  • Creating a level base (for above ground pools)
  • Removal of disturbing stones and other damage-causing foreign objects
  • Construction of a drainage layer against soil moisture and mold growth from below
  • Optional: cable trenches for supply lines
  • Percentage of total costs: from almost 0 to 20 - 30%

ATTENTION: Depending on the local conditions and the design of the pool, this cost item is extremely broad and can vary enormously. It is therefore important to put the necessary work together conscientiously. Contact your pool manufacturer for help.

substrate preparation

Once the soil is prepared, an intermediate layer between the subsurface and your pool protects its skin from damage and wear and tear from stones and other soil components. Possible versions are, for example:

Which base you choose for your pool naturally also has a direct impact on the costs incurred.
  • Tear-resistant fabric tarpaulin (very cheap)
  • Rubber mat as roll goods
  • Special pool underlay available in rolls or sheets
  • Percentage of total costs: 0 to 10%

Electricity and water connection

Depending on the location in the garden and the desired service life, it makes sense to lay water and electricity not just as loose lines, but as permanent installations near the pool.

  • Percentage of total costs: 0-20%

ATTENTION: Electrical installations in particular may only be carried out by specialists!

Pool technology - pump and filter

Anything that goes beyond a pool that is only filled on a daily basis can no longer do without pool technology to keep the water clean. Pumps and filtration systems are therefore essential and a mandatory part of your garden pool.

Pool pump in the garden
  • Percentage of total costs: 10 to 30% of the acquisition costs

Weather protection and hibernation

Whether it's for real hibernation or just protection during non-use phases, you can hardly avoid one or the other form of protective cover.

  • Percentage of total costs: 3 to 5%

Ongoing operating costs

In addition to the purchase of the pool, you should not lose sight of a second, sometimes clearly neglected cost package: the operating costs. With comparatively low amounts, they initially appear small, but add up to a handsome sum both over a summer and over the entire lifespan of the swimming pool. Don't forget this point when calculating the pool costs!

water

Bathing in your own garden is only possible if the pool is sufficiently filled with water. With good pool technology, you save yourself the regular water exchange, so that in addition to the one-time filling per season, only the compensation of the "losses" through use and evaporation is added.

Fill pool with water
  • Share of total entertainment: up to 25%

electricity

Pumps, the controller and sometimes even a heater consume electrical energy. Since the electrical consumers are in operation either permanently or at least for a large proportion of the usage times, one of the biggest cost points in terms of operating costs lurks here.

  • Percentage of total entertainment: 10 to 30%

consumables

Common pool systems for domestic use cannot do without a whole range of different chemical products, the so-called pool chemicals:

  • chlorine (for water purification)
  • pH value increaser (for optimal function of the chlorine)
  • pH value reducer (for optimal function of the chlorine)
  • cleaning supplies
  • Optional: algaecides against algae formation (especially if there is too little chlorine in the water)
The pH value in the pool should be right for carefree bathing fun. In order to achieve this, additional costs are often necessary.

There are also other consumables, such as sand for the most common type of filter, the sand filter.

  • Percentage of total maintenance: depending on water values up to 60%

Sample calculation 1: Construction costs

Postcosts in eurosPercentage of total costs
Steel wall pool (3.50 m x 5.00 m)6.50060
Pumps, filters, etc. (in addition to package content)2.00018
Earthworks (planum and drainage layer)1.0009
floor protection mat2002
power connection5005
cover 6005
TOTAL COST10.800100
Sample calculation for the costs of setting up a pool

Sample calculation 2: Maintenance costs

PostCosts in euros / seasonPercentage of total costs
Water filling (approx. 20m3)8022,5
Electricity (at approx. 5 hours running time / day, approx. 0.5 kW power, approx. 100 operating days / season)7521
Pool chemicals (chlorine, pH raisers and lowerers, etc.)15042
detergents etc5014,5
TOTAL COST / SEASON355100
Sample calculation for the ongoing operating costs of a pool

Notice: Both calculations for the pool costs are expressly EXEMPLARY and should serve as a guide.

frequently asked Questions

How expensive is a private bathing opportunity?

Without knowing the size, construction and model of your dream pool, no specific figures can be given. It is best to first choose a specific model and then - based on the costs you now know - determine the other cost factors according to the specified proportions.

Why do the proportions of the cost factors vary so greatly?

As always, there are very cheap offers when it comes to pool construction, but there are also particularly high-quality, almost luxurious solutions with high costs. And that applies to each individual cost item as well as to the overall package. Therefore, the composition of the cost shares varies just as much as the total price does anyway.

How do I get early cost certainty for my pool?

As long as you set up the swimming pool yourself and carry out all ancillary work yourself, you can only estimate the respective effort or determine prices that are as concrete as possible for the individual items. If, on the other hand, you have the pool set up by a specialist company, there is the possibility of a flat rate including all ancillary work.

Category:

Garden design