How Much Does a Stainless Steel Swimming Pool Cost?

Stainless steel hot tubs and pools are very much at the higher end of the price spectrum when compared to acrylic or plastic prefabricated pools of a similar size. Stainless steel pools are often bespoke designs and are made from marine grade stainless steel. This is more durable, sustainable, hygienic and far less likely to fail but comes at a higher price tag.

When it comes to working out a stainless steel hot tub or swimming pool cost, there are a lot of different things to consider beyond the cost of the hot tub or pool itself. We would recommend a starting budget of £30,000 including VAT for a bespoke stainless steel hot tub, and £66,000 including VAT for a swim spa pool with a counter current unit (including delivery).

However, there are many other elements to budget for such as landscaping, groundwork, plumbing and accessories. In this blog we are going to look at all of the elements when working out the cost of a stainless steel swimming pool, hot tub or spa. These considerations include:

• The pool design (See also blog about different types of swimming pools & spas)
• Materials
• Where the pool will be installed
• What type of design do you want; pool, hot tub, spa or swim spa?

Swimming Pool Design

How Much Customisation?

Naturally, the level of customisation is going to have an impact on the cost of a stainless steel swimming pool. Will you be opting for a modest 4m x 3m stainless steel shell with no additional lighting? Or will you be hoping for one side to be made of plexi-glass, with additional lighting and hydrotherapy jets, vanishing steps and a collapsible TV screen? As you can imagine, these customisations could make a significant difference to the price.

For a hot tub which is 2.4m x 2.2m, we suggest a starting budget of £30,000 + VAT even for the more simple stainless steel hot tubs.

Size and Depth

The size and depth of the stainless steel pool or tub will have an impact on cost because of the additional materials required to build it, plus the additional electrics, plumbing and water required to maintain a larger pool.

There may also be added installation costs for larger pools if large panels need to be transported, and then welded and installed onsite.

To be large enough for swimming against a counter current, we would recommend a minimum of 1.2m depth. SpaFlo pools are usually 1.4m depth minimum and hot tubs 1m depth to make sure the space can be comfortably utilised.

Shape and Layout

Similarly to the size and depth, the shape and layout of the pool could impact the cost. Even bespoke pool designs can follow a simple rectangular or square format which are quicker to design and manufacture. We have done those time and time again so we already know the challenges. But if you have an unusual shape or need a bespoke layout to fill a specific space, these shapes will require additional considerations. Along with further bespoke designs, an unusual shape may bring with it additional requirements such as site preparation, transportation equipment, plumbing, welding, wet testing and filtration.

Additional Accessories

You may opt for some accessories with your stainless steel hot tub or pool. Many customers with smaller spaces opt to include a counter current swimming unit. This is a machine which creates a resistance swim current which someone can swim against in one spot in the water, creating a natural swimming experience without the need for a large pool.

There are many accessories available to make a stainless steel pool feel more luxurious including massage jets, vanishing steps and floors, fold-away TV screens, lighting, sound systems, experience showers and more.

Material

The cost of a hot tub or swimming pool will be significantly impacted by the material used. Prefabricated acrylic pools are much cheaper to design and install than stainless steel. For stainless steel pools, the grade of steel can impact the cost too. At SpaFlo, we use AISI 316L stainless steel which contains between 16-18% chromium and 10-14% nickel, both of which are highly rust-resistant. Read about the benefits of stainless steel.

Other materials can also create problems down the line including delamination, warping, scratches, discolouration and more.

Installation

Beyond the cost of the pool itself, the installation considerations could be the make-or-break of a project so we strongly advise customers to do their due diligence and ensure there is enough budget.

Location

The location of the pool is important. Will it be indoors or outdoors? Above ground or sunken? As part of a landscaped garden or stand-alone? For garden projects, you will need to consider the cost of the landscaping, decking or surround which comes with the pool.

Lots of people and spa businesses install rooftop pools and spas. This can add costs when it comes to water supply, electric, safety rails and non-slip features, and drainage. You may need to enlist the help of an architect for anything structural.

We did a Q&A with Dean Bailey, Founder of Lush Landscapes all about incorporating a hot tub into your garden and what you should be considering. Read our Q&A with Dean here.

Site Preparation

You will need to consider any site prep before installation of the pool. Does there need to be any excavation? Will you need a strong concrete base for the pool to sit on? This will need to be considered as part of the timeline and cost planning of a project.

Electrical and Plumbing

Stainless steel swimming pools need good access to water and electrical supplies, as well as drainage. The cost of engineers to install this correctly, plus the ongoing cost of maintenance should be considered in a project budget.

Installation Equipment

For many swimming pool designs, whilst they are assembled on site, they are usually manufactured off-site in parts and delivered to be assembled. The location of the pool can ramp up installation costs, for example, the use of cranes or specialised lifting equipment where access is very limited.

SpaFlo pools & hot tubs are mostly delivered on a flat bed truck with an onboard crane and for the majority of our customers, this has been fine to get the pool into position with no further delivery costs or complications. However, we have had the occasional project where access is limited and we have had to use additional equipment to move the pool around the site. We can discuss access and installation before we even begin designing your spa.

Local Regulations

Are there any permissions needed for the installation site? The project budget should consider any applications which need to be made and any associated professional fees.

What’s the Total Cost You Should Be Considering?

Whilst this guide could potentially sound a bit daunting, its worth considering all of the additional costs surrounding a stainless stool pool installation before investing in one. For a straight-forward design stainless steel hot tub without many landscaping requirements or customisation, we would recommend having a budget of at least £30,000 to cover the cost of a 2.4m x 2.2m hot tub and installation.

Most of our clients allow more budget than this to make sure their new SpaFlo meets their exact specification.

Please do chat to us at SpaFlo to discuss your hot tub, spa or pool requirements.