12 Swimming Pool Types to Consider

Fact checked by Emily Estep

A swimming pool can refer to any permanent or temporary body of water in which users can swim or relax in. Pools come in many different types and choosing the right one requires you to carefully think about what the intended use is for you and your family.

Does your family like to swim, or just relax after a long day in a soothing environment? These are a few considerations when thinking about the types of pool to choose.

Also, budget, lot size, local codes, and availability of materials will all factor into what type of pool you will eventually decide to build or install on your property. Remember to consider the maintenance work required for each type.

As you take the following tour of 12 swimming pool options, give thought to what you really want and need in a swimming pool, and how much time, money, and effort you're willing to invest.

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Kiddie Pool

Best for: Providing a portable play feature for children.

A kiddie pool can be either an inflatable device or a rigid plastic shell. Either way, these pools can be pulled out of storage whenever hot weather arrives and the kids need a place to cool off, then put back into storage at the end of the season. Just make sure you drain the pool after each use.

Kiddie pools often cost just a few dollars, especially if you purchase at the end of the season when prices may be discounted as much as 75 percent. It's entirely possible that this affordable option will satisfy your main reason for wanting a swimming pool. And no pool is easier to maintain. For this type of pool, expect to pay up to $50.

Pros

• Portable

• Affordable

• Easy to Maintain

Cons

• No Filtration

• Small

• Not Completely Swimmable

Above-Ground Swimming Pool

Best for: Owning a fully functional recreational pool for an affordable investment.

Above-ground pools serve as a symbol of attainable pool ownership. There are both hard-sided and soft-sided options in this style, and some pools are almost indistinguishable from much more expensive in-ground pools, especially if you add an elevated deck or frame around the outside of the pool. In many climates, in-ground pools are drained, disassembled, and put away in seasons where they aren't needed. In this case, soft-sided above-ground pools are an excellent choice.

Above-ground pools are relatively easy for DIYers to assemble. The national average for installing an above-ground pool is about $3,000, but it's possible to spend $20,000 or more if your pool includes add-ons, such as built-up decking. While easier to maintain than large in-ground pools, above-ground pools do require managing water chemistry, as well as filtering and cleaning.

Pros

• Affordable fully functional pool

• Comes in soft and hard side options

• Removable

Cons

• Higher maintenance cost than kiddie pool

• Needs more space

• Liner must be protected from sharp objects

In-Ground Family Swimming Pool

Best for: Active families needing a multi-use recreational swimming pool.

Increasingly, swimming pools aren't just a feature of the luxury real estate market. In some housing markets, especially in sun-belt regions, a swimming pool is now an expected feature even in middle-class neighborhoods.

Broad "for-all-ages" appeal is what recreational pools are all about. If you like to entertain, this may be the pool of your dreams—or at least your kids' dreams.

Nationally, in-ground swimming pools average about $55,000 to install, and it's easy to spend $100,000 or more on an upper-end poured concrete pool. But for active families, this can be an excellent investment, both for current enjoyment and for long-term property value. However, you must plan on spending several hours a week on water and filter maintenance and cleaning—or plan on hiring someone to do it for you. You can also look into a robotic pool cleaner to save some time.

Tip

Costs for building a pool can vary greatly depending on the price and availability of labor in your region. For example, costs for building a pool in a major metropolitan city in the Southwest, where there are many contractors familiar with pool construction, can be much more affordable than in a rural area of the Midwest.

Pros

• Unlimited Shapes

• Several finish options

• Good for entertaining

Cons

• Costly Install

• Hidden plumbing

• Higher repair cost

Lap Pool

Best for: Individuals with limited space.

A lap pool is a swimming pool built and used for fitness. Relatively shallow and narrow, these are not pools for diving boards and water slides, but rather for enjoying daily workouts by swimming laps. Typically, lap pools are rectangular in shape, which can make them ideal for long, narrow lots.

Nationally, installing in-ground lap pools costs about $44,000, on average, for an 8 ft. x 40 ft. x 4-foot-deep pool. And such pools come with all the maintenance work required for any in-ground pool.

Pros

• Great for swimming laps

• Perfect for Aerobics

• Good for narrow spaces

Cons

• Shallow

• Narrow

• Cannot accept diving board or water slides

Indoor Pool

Best for: Affluent families with plenty of space and a healthy budget.

An indoor swimming pool is pretty straightforward: It's inside, under a roof, and usually insulated by at least one wall of the home. Indoor pools are generally simple, geometric shapes and are built for swimming or training throughout the year, especially in cold climates.

In most cases, indoor swimming pools feature a standard in-ground pool (average price, $55,000), with a constructed glass enclosure that costs an additional $10,000 to $30,000. However, it is also possible to enclose an above-ground pool in the same way.

The cost of maintaining an indoor heated pool may sometimes be lower than outdoor pools. Because the pool room is protected from the elements, it retains its heat better than outdoor pools. The enclosure keeps leaves and other debris out of the pool, reducing cleaning chores.

Pros

• Year round use

• Lower heating cost

• Good for swimming or training

Cons

• High cost of maintenance

• Increased install cost

• Creates a humid environment that promotes corrosion

Olympic-Size Pool

Best for: Serious athletes and health enthusiasts with plenty of space and a large budget.

Olympic swimming is one of the most widely followed sports in the world and has the largest number of events and participants from different countries. It's no surprise that aspiring Olympians and swimming fans get caught up in the big event and want an Olympic-sized swimming pool of their own.

But adding an Olympic-sized swimming pool is not for the faint of heart. An official Olympic pool is 25 meters wide and 50 meters long, holds 500,000 gallons of water, and costs at least $300,000 to build. Anyone owning such a pool will probably need to hire a pool service for the basic maintenance work.

Pros

• Excellent for athletes

• Used for a variety of events

• Can be sectioned off to become several smaller pools

Cons

• Size

• Cost

• Increased maintenance

Architectural Pool

Best for: A pool that makes a design statement as it serves recreational functions.

Just the name gives it away: An architectural pool must have structure, definite lines, and use the same materials for a cohesive look. An architectural pool is usually geometric, sophisticated, and designed by an architect. If the house is custom-built, the pool is normally built at the same time, taking in the size of the lot and the layout and relationship of the house to the pool.

These are pools for more affluent owners who are likely to hire architects to design their properties. Costs are usually incorporated into an overall master plan for the home and landscape, but such pools can easily add $100,000 or more to the cost of a home. Pool and water quality maintenance are the same as for any in-ground pool.

Pros

• Aesthetically pleasing

• Size conforms to lot size

• Matches house

Cons

• Increased construction cost

• Unique elements increasing labor cost

• Puts form over function

Infinity Pool

Best for: Taking advantage of surrounding landscape vistas.

Infinity pools are also known as infinity edge pools, vanishing edge pools, negative edge, zero edge, or disappearing edge pools. Infinity pools are always custom-built and should be designed to highlight a view. Done right, an infinity pool gives one the illusion of a sheet of water dropping off over the edge of the property, like a waterfall, although you can't see or hear falling water.

They're definitely on the more expensive end of residential swimming pools. Like architectural pools, infinity pools are usually designed and built as part of a master plan at the time of home construction. Expect to pay somewhere in the range of $55,000 - $87,000 for an infinity pool.

Pros

• Highlights View

• Unique Look

• Can be any size

Cons

• Expensive

• Custom built

• Usually needs a drop-off for desired effect

Natural Pool

Best for: Combining water recreation with natural landscape appeal.

Natural swimming pools are self-cleaning pools that combine swimming areas and water gardens. Most natural pools are lined with rubber or reinforced polyethylene. A separate-within-the-pool "regeneration" zone is equipped with aquatic landscaping, which acts as a sort of organic cleaning system.

Like any in-ground residential swimming pool, a natural pool can be designed in a freeform, rustic style with boulders and waterfalls, or it can be modern or architectural—sleek and elegant.

Natural pools usually cost about the same as or slightly more than conventional swimming pools ($75,000 - $150,000), depending on landscaping. They often appeal to gardeners because of the great variety of plant life that can be grown in them, as well as to green advocates and others who don't want to swim in chlorinated water.

When the ecosystem is kept properly balanced, these can be fairly easy pools to care for, but this can be tricky to do. If the water chemistry gets out of balance, or if the pool is overcome with algae, it can be hard to recover without considerable work.

Pros

• Self cleaning

• Can be any shape

• Natural

Cons

• Cannot use entire pool

• Tricky to balance chemicals and plant life

• Closer to a pond than a pool

Spool

Best for: Relaxation and socializing.

Blending the words spa and pool, you get a spool. In recent years, pool builders have increased business with homeowners with tighter budgets and smaller properties who request water features that are smaller than traditional swimming pools but larger than standard spas. Many homeowners use a spool mostly for relaxation and entertaining—a place to soak and cool off on hot days or to enjoy drinks with friends on pleasant evenings. Spools may even have directional jets against which you can swim.

Some spools are in-ground affairs made of poured concrete, but more often, they are created by using a large manufactured spa/whirlpool shell surrounded by a wide elevated deck. Depending on how you outfit your spool, costs can range from $5,000 to $20,000. Maintenance is usually easier than with larger pools, but you will still have water chemistry and filter equipment to manage.

Tip

Some spools are large enough to fall under the code requirements for full-sized swimming pools. So you may be required to add protective fencing and meet other local code requirements.

Pros

• Good for relaxing and socializing

• More affordable than a full size pool

• Can incorporate a surrounding deck

Cons

• Size

• Not big enough to swim

• Shallow

Saltwater Pool

Best for: Owners who prefer to avoid chemicals.

Saltwater pools (sometimes called ocean pools) are not a design or style of pool, but rather an alternative method of water filtration and purification. These pools use a saltwater chlorine generator to convert bulk salt into natural chlorine to kill bacteria and algae. The generator can be added during the pool-construction process or afterward—a standard pool can be converted by adding key components.

A salt-water chlorine generator can also be added to an above-ground pool, as long as it's made especially for above-ground swimming pools.

Maintenance for these pools is similar to traditionally chlorinated pools, with regular cleaning of pool surfaces and filter equipment needed. This type of pool usually cost anywhere from $12,000 - $38,500.

Pros

• Great for chlorine allergies

• Avoids chlorine

• No chlorine smell

Cons

• Higher maintenance cost

• More difficult to chemically balance

• Expensive to repair components

Plunge Pool

Best for: Alternative health enthusiasts.

Plunge pools are small, cold-water pools that have been for quite some time. Many swimmers and athletes like to plunge into a pool of cold water after a heated workout or sauna or spa session, believing it has therapeutic benefits.

Plunge pools can be separated or attached to a larger in-ground pool. Although they look like an ordinary spa, one cautious toe-dip into the pool will reveal otherwise. For this reason, expect to pay $10,000 - $35,000 for a plunge pool.

Pros

• Therapeutic

• Can be incorporated into a normal pool

• Health benifit

Cons

• Small

• No heat

• Not swimmable

Tips for Choosing a Swimming Pool

Costs for adding a swimming pool can vary enormously depending on your needs. At the low end, you can spend just a few dollars for a kiddie pool that provides a portable play feature for kids. At the high end, you can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on pools that serve as architectural features or professional-grade training features.

Give careful consideration to your needs and budget when choosing from these 12 options. Among the things to consider:

Budget

Even if you're on a shoestring budget, your family can get considerable enjoyment from a simple kiddie pool or a small above-ground pool. If budget allows, though, a major in-ground swimming pool might be an impressive addition to your home's real estate value.

Needs

A pool that is used primarily for physical fitness might be considerably different than one that is primarily a kids' play area, which is much different from one that is mostly a place for adults to socialize. Make sure the pool you choose meets your genuine needs.

Available Space

A large in-ground swimming pool can eat up the bulk of a backyard, so think about whether or not a swimming pool is how you want to use up your backyard real estate to the exclusion of other activities, like gardening or family sports. If the answer is yes, then go for it.

Maintenance Requirements

Most swimming pools require a considerable amount of maintenance, but some much more than others. If you have no interest in weekly cleaning, daily water testing, and all the other tasks that go into maintaining a swimming pool, then make sure your budget allows for the cost of a weekly and seasonal pool care service.

DIY Ambitions

Although there are rare DIYers who actually construct in-ground swimming pools, when you find one, it is the exception that proves the rule: almost no homeowner is really equipped to build an in-ground swimming pool.

On the other hand, plenty of skilled and ambitious DIYers can install and maintain above-ground swimming pools. Soft-sided pools that are installed and put away as the seasons change are commonly used by DIYers. In climates that allow for year-round use, DIYers can even construct large wooden decks around above-ground pools to give the feeling of an in-ground pool. If you are an energetic DIYer, you may well like the challenge of creating such a water feature, even if you can afford the professional in-ground option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of swimming pool is the best?

Consider the pool's main use, how much maintenance you are willing to do yourself, and the size yard you have to work with to decide what type of pool works best for you.

What is the most common type of pool?

The most common type of pool is an in-ground pool.

What type of pool is easiest to maintain?

A kiddie pool for its size and simplicity is the easiest to maintain. On the other end, a salt pool is the most difficult.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.