| Cost | Per month | Share | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill in the fields above. | |||
How the calculation works
There is no clever maths here — monthly costs are multiplied by twelve, annual costs added on, and the total divided by the number of days you actually swim.
The point is not the arithmetic. It is that every figure is yours. Published averages for pool ownership are close to useless, because the range runs from a few hundred dollars a year for an unheated pool the owner services themselves to many thousands for a heated pool on a weekly service contract. Fill in what you really spend and the answer means something.
Worked example
Chemicals $45, electricity $60, water $15 a month, with $400 for opening and closing and $500 set aside for repairs: that is $1,440 in monthly costs plus $900 annually, so $2,340 a year. Over 60 swimming days, $39 a day — a figure that tends to change how people think about leaving the heater on.
Assumptions
- Monthly figures apply for all twelve months. If your pool closes for winter, enter the averaged amount rather than the peak-season one.
- Every price is the one you entered — no regional average is used anywhere.
Limitations
- Construction and financing costs are not included; this is what the pool costs to own, not to buy.
- Any increase in home insurance or property tax attributable to the pool is not counted.
- Major resurfacing or equipment replacement is a lumpy cost that a yearly average smooths over.
Questions people ask
How much does a pool cost per year?
Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over five thousand, which is why a single average figure is not worth quoting. The variables are heating, whether you use a service, and how long your season is.
What is the biggest running cost?
Electricity for the pump on an unheated pool; heating on a heated one, usually by a wide margin. Chemicals are almost always smaller than people expect.
How do I cut the cost?
A cover and a variable-speed pump, in that order. The cover cuts heating and water loss; the pump cuts the single largest electrical load. Both pay back in a season or two.
Should I put money aside for repairs?
Yes. Pumps last roughly 8 to 12 years, heaters similar, vinyl liners 8 to 15. None of those are small bills, and all of them are certain eventually.