How Much Does It Cost To Build An In-Ground Swimming Pool In UK?

Planning an in-ground swimming pool project? It’s a high-impact addition that can completely transform an outdoor space and significantly elevate a property’s value and appeal. But before you dive in, it’s important to understand the costs involved. 

From groundworks and materials to finishes, the price of building an in-ground pool can vary significantly depending on size, design and specification. This guide outlines the core cost drivers, giving you the insight needed to scope accurately and budget with confidence from the outset.

Building A Swimming Pool In The UK

There are three main ways to build an in-ground pool in the UK:

1. Concrete – built on-site and offering the most flexibility in shape, size and finish, making them the premium (and usually most expensive) option.
2. Fibreglass – pre-formed shells lowered into place, which makes installation quicker and typically mid-range in cost, though you’re limited to set designs.
3. Vinyl liner – constructed using a panel system with a fitted liner to hold the water; often the most affordable upfront, but the liner needs replacing every 7 to 12 years.

In this article, we’ll focus on concrete pools and break down the costs involved in building them. In terms of build specification, BuildPartner gives you three broad options to choose from:

 

• Basic spec is a basic finish; e.g., Leyland, Everest, Wickes.
• Standard spec is a standard finish; e.g., Dulux, Hamilton, Slim Line.
• Premium spec is a high-spec finish; e.g., Farrow & Ball, Fine Line, Siemens.

 

In this article, we’ve provided a breakdown of the cost of building a swimming pool according to a standard specification. In addition, we have provided three different benchmarks to show the range of pricing you can expect among different contractors. These are: 

• Low benchmark – smaller companies are generally lower cost but less specialised and with low project management function; good for low/mid-spec projects and tight budgets.

• Mid benchmark – medium-sized companies offer a balanced mix of cost-effectiveness and specialisation; good for mid-range projects for effective execution within moderate budgets.

• High benchmark – larger companies generally have a higher cost base but can handle a wide variety of specialist tasks; good for mid/high-spec projects and project management.

 

The specification and benchmark you choose will have a major impact on the overall cost of building a swimming pool, so it’s important to align them with your budget and the finish you’re aiming for.

 

Cost Of Building A 10x6m Swimming Pool (Detached)

Here’s a table showing the average costs of building a 10x6m swimming pool (detached build) for a standard-spec project in the UK:

 

10x6m Swimming Pool - Detached Build	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£270,993	£303,019	£332,582	£1,694	£1,894	£2,079
London	£277,042	£319,683	£338,264	£1,732	£1,998	£2,114
Midlands	£261,494	£292,398	£320,925	£1,634	£1,827	£2,006
North England	£283,516	£317,022	£347,951	£1,772	£1,981	£2,175
Northern Ireland	£264,786	£284,057	£319,564	£1,627	£1,775	£1,997
Scotland	£269,186	£300,999	£330,365	£1,682	£1,881	£2,065
South East	£292,798	£327,401	£359,343	£1,830	£2,046	£2,246
South West	£262,277	£301,078	£330,452	£1,683	£1,882	£2,065
Wales	£255,298	£285,469	£305,656	£1,596	£1,784	£1,910
Average	£270,821	£303,458	£331,678	£1,694	£1,896	£2,073

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a 10x6m swimming pool (detached build) to a standard specification:

 

• The minimum cost is £255,298, and the maximum cost is £359,343.
• The total average cost is £301,986, or £1,888 per square metre.

 

Pool Building Cost Breakdown By Project Stage – London

 

Here’s an example of the associated costs for the different stages of building a 10x6m swimming pool (detached build) to a standard-spec – when using a mid-benchmark contractor in London:

 

Total	£319,683	100.0%
External wall structure and lining	£38,815	12.1%
Preliminaries	£37,533	11.7%
Wiring and fuseboards	£33,974	10.6%
Drainage and pipework	£31,868	10.0%
Wall preparation and finishes	£30,773	9.6%
Foundations and substructure	£26,419	8.3%
Roof structure and coverings	£25,887	8.1%
Floor structure and lining	£21,297	6.7%
Floor preparation and finishes	£15,075	4.7%
Heating and cooling	£14,834	4.6%
External windows and doors	£9,520	3.0%
Internal wall structure and lining	£7,880	2.5%
Fixtures and fittings	£7,644	2.4%
Steel and structural supports	£6,361	2.0%
Wired appliances	£4,617	1.4%
Plumbed appliances	£2,613	0.8%
Internal doors and frames	£1,535	0.5%
Ceiling structure and lining	£1,209	0.4%
Demolitions	£865	0.3%
Decoration	£742	0.2%
Ceiling preparation and finishes	£224	0.1%

 

Cost Of Building A Swimming Pool With Facilities

Here’s a table showing the average costs of building a detached pool house comprising a 10x6 swimming pool with a wet room and sauna for a standard-spec project in the UK:

 

10x6m Swimming Pool, Detached With Facilities	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£295,962	£330,940	£363,227	£1,741	£1,947	£2,137
London	£302,271	£348,805	£369,073	£1,778	£2,052	£2,171
Midlands	£285,296	£319,013	£350,136	£1,678	£1,877	£2,060
North England	£307,601	£343,954	£377,510	£1,809	£2,023	£2,221
Northern Ireland	£288,972	£310,236	£349,015	£1,673	£1,825	£2,053
Scotland	£293,561	£328,254	£360,279	£1,727	£1,931	£2,119
South East	£318,097	£355,690	£390,392	£1,871	£2,092	£2,296
South West	£286,123	£328,367	£360,403	£1,727	£1,932	£2,120
Wales	£278,584	£311,508	£333,556	£1,639	£1,832	£1,962
Average	£295,163	£330,752	£361,510	£1,738	£1,946	£2,127

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a 10x6m swimming pool with a wet room and sauna to a standard specification:

 

• The minimum cost is £278,584, and the maximum cost is £390,392.
• The total average cost is £329,142, or £1,937 per square metre.

 

Cost Of Building A Swimming Pool In Existing Building

Here’s a table showing the average costs of building a 10x6m swimming pool in an existing building for a standard-spec project in the UK:

 

10x6m Swimming Pool in Existing Property	Total Average Build Cost			Average Cost Per Sq Metre
	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark	Low Benchmark	Mid Benchmark	High Benchmark
East Anglia	£141,745	£158,497	£173,960	£886	£991	£1,087
London	£145,536	£166,232	£177,574	£910	£1,039	£1,110
Midlands	£137,766	£154,047	£169,076	£861	£963	£1,057
North England	£139,525	£156,014	£171,235	£872	£975	£1,070
Northern Ireland	£139,012	£150,417	£169,219	£869	£940	£1,058
Scotland	£140,142	£156,704	£171,992	£876	£979	£1,075
South East	£144,411	£161,478	£177,231	£903	£1,009	£1,108
South West	£137,690	£157,300	£172,646	£861	£983	£1,079
Wales	£134,705	£150,624	£160,752	£842	£941	£1,005
Average	£140,059	£156,813	£171,521	£875	£980	£1,072

All costs exclude VAT, overheads, and profit.

 

Here’s what the data shows for the cost of building a 10x6m swimming pool in an existing building to a standard spec:

 

• The minimum cost is £134,705, and the maximum cost is £177,574.
• The total average cost is £156,131, or £976 per square metre.

 

Average Cost To Build A Swimming Pool In UK

So, how much does it cost to build a swimming pool in the UK? Based on the three different specifications covered in this article, you can expect building a swimming pool to cost on average (when using a mid-benchmark contractor):

• 10x6 pool - detached build – £303,459, or £1,897 per square metre.

• 10x6m pool, detached with facilities – £330,752, or £1,946 per square metre.

• 10x6m pool in existing property – £156,813, or £980 per square metre.

Please remember that these costs exclude a contractor’s overheads and profit and VAT. There may be other additional costs, such as obtaining planning permission, conducting structural surveys, making unexpected repairs, and completing custom finishes.

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Start your free trial with BuildPartner today to get the most accurate estimate of building a swimming pool based on your own dimensions and specifications.

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FAQs About Swimming Pool Building Costs In The UK

Here are some frequently asked questions about swimming pool building costs in the UK.

What factors affect the cost of a swimming pool?

The cost of a swimming pool mainly comes down to size, depth, and the type of pool you choose. Bigger and deeper pools need more digging, materials and labour, so the price climbs quickly.

 

Concrete pools usually cost more than fibreglass or liner options, and things like tricky ground conditions, poor access to the garden, or choosing an indoor pool can all push costs up. Then there’s everything around the pool, such as decking, paving, or landscaping. 

 

The more bespoke or high-end you go, the higher the final figure will be.

 

Do I need planning permission to build a swimming pool?

Most outdoor swimming pools in the UK fall under permitted development, so planning permission is not needed as long as the pool is within your garden and doesn’t take up more than 50% of the land around the house. 

 

However, if you’re planning a large pool house or enclosure, you’ll likely need approval. Indoor pools that involve significant structural alterations can also trigger planning requirements. Planning permission is also needed if your property is listed or in a conservation area.

 

How long does it take to construct a swimming pool in the UK?

With an average of two tradespeople on site, a typical in-ground pool takes around 14 weeks to complete from start to finish.

What is the breakdown of labour and material costs for building a swimming pool?

Costs for a standard-spec swimming pool in South East England, excluding additional construction or luxury features, break down as follows:

• Building materials: 43%
• Labour: 30%
• Finishing materials: 26%

Price excludes VAT, contractor’s overheads, and profit.