Swim spa or pool?

Short answer

A swim spa holds a median 1,940 gallons in 118 sq ft; a 16 by 32 ft pool holds about 19,200 gallons in 512. Angi puts the average in-ground pool at $66,000; swim spas with a published price run $24,599 to $74,999.

Updated October 2026By the HotTubFinder research desk

Measure	Swim spa186 models	In-ground poolCost: Angi, via NerdWallet
Cost
Typical price	$24,599 to $74,999Published prices, 57 models	$66,000 averageIn-ground, national (Angi)
Space
Footprint	118 sq ftMedian: Jacuzzi J-16 PowerPro	512 sq ftExample: 16 by 32 ft of water
Water to heat	1,940 galMost hold 1,325 to 2,650	About 19,200 galExample pool, 5 ft average depth
Install
In the ground	105 of 133 approvedOf the models whose makers say either way	Built in the ground

Verdict: A swim spa suits buyers with a small yard who want to swim against a current and keep the water warm, in about 118 sq ft. An in-ground pool suits buyers who want open water for several swimmers at once and can budget around Angi's $66,000 national average.

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Marquis V174K swim spa seen from above — Swim spas from every brand we track. Photos © each maker, shown for identification.

Catalina Swim Spas Tri-Therapy (C-430) swim spa — Swim spas from every brand we track. Photos © each maker, shown for identification.

Which suits how you'll use it?

Swimming on your own, most days, all year: a swim spa. You swim in place against the current, with no turns, in water you keep warm under a cover.
Several swimmers, or children playing at once: a pool. It gives open water for a crowd; a swim spa's lane suits one swimmer at a time.
A swim for one of you and a soak for the other: a swim spa with a hot tub side; 30 of the 186 we track have one. See them.

A 6 ft swimmer, arms overhead (about 1.2 × height), drawn to scale in 12, 14, 16 and 19 ft swim spas: the room left to kick grows from about 10 in to about 5 ft

Is a swim spa cheaper than a pool?

Cheaper than an in-ground pool, on the figures we have. Swim spas with a published price run $24,599 to $74,999: what 5 makers post on their own sites, and Master Spas' reported prices. NerdWallet, citing Angi, puts the national average for an in-ground pool at $66,000, with materials alone running $14,000 to $135,000. An above-ground pool costs about $1,000 to $6,000.

Ask the swim spa dealer what the price includes: delivery, the pad and the electrical work. The full breakdown is on swim spa cost.

How much space does each need?

The median swim spa covers 118 sq ft: the Jacuzzi J-16 PowerPro at 15 ft 5 in by 7 ft 8 in. Take a pool 16 by 32 ft with an average depth of 5 ft: that is 512 sq ft of water before any deck or fence, and 16 × 32 × 5 = 2,560 cubic feet, or about 19,200 gallons at 7.48 gallons to the cubic foot (a U.S. gallon is 231 cubic inches).

Swim spa lengths and depths model by model: swim spa sizes.

Which costs less to keep warm?

We can price one side. Keeping a typical swim spa warm with the cover on costs about $57 a month, from the median of 44 California standby listings at the US average electricity rate. We have no measured figure for pools, so we don't print one; the example pool holds about 10 times the water of the median swim spa.

What drives a swim spa's running cost: swim spa running cost.

Can a swim spa go in the ground?

Many can. Of the 133 swim spas whose maker says either way, 105 are approved for a recessed or in-ground install. The model's installation manual sets the rules for drainage and service access, so plan it with the dealer and a builder. See in-ground swim spas.

Still deciding? Is a swim spa worth it weighs the cost against the use, and swim spa vs hot tub covers the smaller option.

Get the price range

Common questions

Is a swim spa cheaper than a pool?

Cheaper than an in-ground pool, on the figures we have: swim spas with a published price run $24,599 to $74,999, and Angi puts the national average for an in-ground pool at $66,000. An above-ground pool costs far less, about $1,000 to $6,000.

How many gallons does a swim spa hold?

Most of the 186 swim spas we track hold 1,325 to 2,650 gallons, with a median of 1,940. A 16 by 32 ft pool averaging 5 ft deep holds about 19,200.

Can you put a swim spa in the ground?

Many can. Of the 133 swim spas whose maker says either way, 105 are approved for a recessed or in-ground install. Check the installation manual for the model you want.

Sources

NerdWallet: how much a pool costs (citing Angi) nerdwallet.com · checked October 2026in-ground and above-ground pool cost (the page credits Angi); updated August 2025
California Energy Commission appliance database (spas) cacertappliances.energy.ca.govstandby watts for 44 swim spas
Jacuzzi J-16 PowerPro specifications jacuzzi.comthe median footprint
American Whirlpool DM8 specifications bullgrillsandspas.comthe median water volume