How much does it cost to run a swimming pool in Australia?

Owning a pool is the ultimate Aussie summer dream. But unless you're keen on swimming in a green, swampy nightmare, a lot goes into keeping it pristine. And yes, it takes a fair bit of coin.

In Australia, the average cost to run and maintain a swimming pool sits somewhere between $1,200 and $2,500 per year (or about $100 to $200 per month). But that's just the baseline. You could pay thousands of extra dollars every year to maintain a massive, heated lap pool with weekly professional servicing versus a small plunge pool you maintain yourself.

We know it's easy to get overwhelmed by chlorine buckets and electricity tariffs, so we've broken down the costs individually.

Note: The below calculations assume a medium-sized backyard plunge pool of 6m x 4m x 2m that holds 50,000L of water, which is about the average size. We've also used an illustrative flat-rate electricity cost of 33c/kWh. Your actual cost will depend on your plan, where you live and whether you're on a flat-rate or time-of-use tariff.

Running the filter pump

Monthly cost: $8 to $18

Think of your pool pump as the heart of your swimming pool. To keep your water clean and circulating properly, you'll generally run it daily for somewhere between 6 and 8 hours (though less during the winter season).

Because it's running so often, your pump is one of the biggest energy guzzlers in your home. However, the type of pump you have makes a massive difference.

Under the Australian Government's E3 Program, pool pumps are rated with 1 to 10 stars, and the more stars a pump has, the less energy it uses. To show you how much of a difference this makes, we've compared two Zodiac pool pumps using that same 33c/kWh rate.

As you can see, investing in a smarter, more efficient model cuts your pump's energy use in half. While a variable-speed pump costs more upfront, the savings on your power bill over the long haul are usually more than worth it.

Heating the water

Monthly cost (over a 6-month season): $16–$40 (solar), $50–$250 (gas or electric)

Unless you enjoy ice baths, heaters are essential for a pleasant swim. There are 3 types of heaters on the market: electric heat pumps, gas, and solar.

Here's a rough guide of how much you might spend per month during a standard 6-month swimming season (October to March):

• Solar heating ($16–$40 per month): These are the cheapest to run because the sun does the heavy lifting. You only pay for the electricity required to pump water to the solar collectors on your roof.
• Electric heat pumps ($50–$170 per month): Electric heaters are highly efficient and reliable regardless of cloud cover, though they take a while to heat the water from scratch.
• Gas heating ($100–$250 per month): Gas heaters will warm your pool up in a flash no matter the season, but they are by far the most expensive to run and aren't particularly environmentally friendly.

Keep in mind that your actual heating costs will swing wildly depending on:

• Where you live. Brisbane is relatively cheap to heat a pool, while Hobart is the most expensive.
• Your target temperature. Heating your pool to an ambient 26℃ is much more affordable than a toasty 28℃. Pushing the dial up just a degree or two can raise your heating costs by 30%.
• Your swimming season. Trying to stretch your pool use deep into winter will see your energy bills skyrocket.

Pool chemicals and cleaning

Monthly cost: $30 to $100+

Keeping your pool water balanced, sanitised and sparkling is a non-negotiable ongoing cost.

If you take the DIY route, you can expect to spend between $360 and $1,200 a year (around $30 to $100 per month) on essential chemicals like chlorine, salt, pH balancers, and algaecides. Exactly where you sit in that range depends on your pool system. Saltwater pools are generally cheaper to run month-to-month because you only need occasional bags of salt, whereas traditional chlorine pools require constant manual chemical dosing.

If you value your weekends and prefer to hire a professional pool cleaner, be prepared to pay for the privilege. As of mid-2026, routine service visits average between $100 and $250 per visit. If you have them out once a month on top of your own basic maintenance, this can easily add $1,200 to $3,000 to your annual pool budget.

Water top-ups and other maintenance

Monthly cost: $30 to $60

• Replacing lost water. Bureau of Meteorology climate statistics for Sydney Airport show an average of 7.4mm of evaporation a day in December. In a 6m x 4m pool, you could lose up to 5,300L to evaporation over a 30-day month, which you'll need to top up from the tap at your local water rates. You'll lose even more water when the humidity drops, the wind picks up, or the kids splash half the pool onto the paving.
• Equipment repairs. A lot goes into keeping a pool functioning, and nothing lasts forever. It's smart to budget an extra $300 to $600 a year to build a sinking fund. This covers minor fixes, like a $20 skimmer basket, all the way up to replacing a dead chlorinator cell or pump after 5 to 10 years.

Concrete vs fibreglass: Does pool type affect running costs?

It absolutely does. When you're budgeting for long-term running costs, the shell of your pool plays a surprisingly big role.

• Fibreglass pools are widely considered the cheapest and easiest to maintain. The smooth gelcoat surface is naturally resistant to algae, meaning you'll spend less time scrubbing and less money dumping harsh chemicals into the water.
• Concrete pools are incredibly customisable, but they are also highly porous. Algae and bacteria love to cling to concrete, requiring heavier chemical use and more rigorous cleaning. Plus, concrete pools usually require a costly resurfacing or acid wash every 10 to 15 years, which adds a massive long-term expense that fibreglass pools generally avoid.

Can I save with a solar pool heater?

If you're relying heavily on gas or electric heat pumps to keep your pool warm, installing a solar system can yield massive savings.

Solar water heaters work by pumping water up into tubes on your roof, transferring heat from the sun into the water, and pumping it back down. Because the sun provides the heat for free, you only pay for the minimal electricity used to run the pump.

While they aren't the cheapest to install (setting you back thousands of dollars upfront), solar heaters cost a fraction to run and generally last over a decade with proper care.

How to reduce your pool running costs

Beyond investing in solar heating, here are the smartest ways to shrink your pool's footprint without sacrificing a single drop of clean water:

• Cover it up. A high-quality pool cover is your best friend. It can slash water evaporation by up to 97%, meaning fewer top-ups and less chemical loss. It also traps heat, which can cut your heating bills by half.
• Run your pump during off-peak hours. If you're on a time-of-use energy tariff, set a timer so your pool pump runs overnight or during off-peak windows when electricity rates are at their cheapest.
• Upgrade your pump. If your pump is on its last legs, don't replace it with a basic single-speed model. A 9-star variable-speed pump uses significantly less energy than a 6-star or 3-star pump, paying for itself in electricity savings over just a few years.
• Stay on top of maintenance. Keep trees trimmed back to stop leaves clogging your filter, and backwash your system regularly. A clogged filter forces your pump to work overtime, chewing through electricity.

Frequently asked questions

• Is a saltwater pool cheaper to maintain than a chlorine pool?

  Yes, saltwater pools are generally cheaper to maintain over the long run. While you pay more upfront to install the salt chlorinator unit, you only need to buy relatively cheap bags of salt a few times a year, compared to the constant, expensive purchasing of manual chlorine treatments.

• What is the biggest ongoing cost of owning a pool?

  Your pool pump's electricity usage is typically the biggest ongoing expense, and it costs even more to run if you have an older, single-speed model. Heating your pool with gas or electricity during cooler months can also become a massive drain on your budget.

• Do pool running costs change between summer and winter?

  Absolutely. Your pool costs will be significantly lower in winter. During the colder months, you can generally halve your pump's running time and drastically cut back on chemical use because the pool isn't fighting off heavy swimmer use and intense summer sun.

• How long does a pool pump usually last?

  A high-quality pool pump will generally last between 8 and 12 years if it is well maintained. You can extend its lifespan by regularly emptying the skimmer and pump baskets, which prevents the motor from straining to pull water through blockages.

Written by

Sam Baran

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Sam Baran is a writer for Finder, covering topics across the tech, telco and utilities sectors. They enjoy decrypting technical jargon and helping people compare complex products easily. When they aren't writing, you'll find Sam's head buried in a book or working on their latest short story. Sam has a Bachelor of Advanced Science from the University of Sydney. See full bio