Guide to Buying a Swim Spa
Buying a swim spa: what to sort out before the crane arrives
A swim spa arrives in one piece and is usually lifted into the garden. Choose the model by how you will use it, then make sure the space, the base and the power supply are ready, and budget for delivery and running costs as well as the price.
New swim spas on our site run from 13ft to 19ft, from £9,899 for the Outdoor Living Active. This guide uses our own Outdoor Living range for every measurement, so you can plan with real numbers.
1. Start with how you will use it
Every swim spa gives you a current to swim against, so even a short one is an endless lane. What changes between models is the length of that lane, the seating and the depth.
Adults are advised to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week, and swimming is one of the vigorous examples.1 A swim spa puts that in the garden, heated all year, with massage seats to recover in afterwards.
Swimming in a smaller garden
The 13ft Active: a 3.9 m lane, three swim jets, a lounger and seats for four, on a 32 amp supply.
A longer lane and more seats
The 15ft Active Pro: a 4.5 m lane and six massage seats, for swimming and relaxing as a family.
Family play and swimming
The 18ft Mini Pool: 5.5 m long and 1.53 m deep, with over 9,000 litres of open water and wide steps in.
Swim in one zone, soak in the other
The 19ft Active Pro Plus: a swim zone and a separate hot tub zone, each at its own temperature.
See every model side by side, including the Jacuzzi®, Sun & Soul™ and Platinum Spas ranges, on our swim spas for sale page.
2. Measure the space and the way in
Allow at least 50 cm clear on every side, so the equipment can be reached for servicing.
| Model | Length x width x height | Space to allow | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active, 13ft | 390 x 224 x 117 cm | 490 x 324 cm | 4,780 litres |
| Active Pro, 15ft | 450 x 220 x 136 cm | 550 x 320 cm | 5,853 litres |
| Mini Pool, 18ft | 550 x 225 x 153 cm | 650 x 325 cm | 9,159 litres |
| Active Pro Plus, 19ft | 590 x 235 x 140 cm | 690 x 335 cm | 7,162 litres |
Then walk the route from the road to the spot. A swim spa is delivered in one piece, and because of the size a crane is almost always needed to lift it over the house or a wall into the garden. We check the route with you at the site survey and agree the crane then.
3. Prepare a base for the filled weight
10.4tonnes
That is the Mini Pool once it is full. The Active weighs 5.6 tonnes filled, the Active Pro 6.8 and the Active Pro Plus 8.6, and the base has to carry that plus the people in it.
A level concrete base is the usual choice. A swim spa can sit on your patio or be set into the ground, as long as the base under it is strong and level and the ground around it matches. Have the base finished and cured before delivery day.
If you plan a raised deck or platform around the swim spa, permitted development allows up to 30 cm above the ground, and decking, platforms and outbuildings together can cover no more than half the garden.2 These allowances apply to houses; flats, listed buildings and some protected areas have their own rules. Your local planning authority can confirm what applies to your address before you build.
4. Book the electrician early
Every swim spa needs its own dedicated supply, hard-wired by a qualified electrician, protected by an RCD, with an isolator switch close by.
- 32 ampActive and Mini Pool
- 40 ampActive Pro, and the Jacuzzi®, Sun & Soul™ and Platinum Spas swim spas
- 40 + 32 ampActive Pro Plus, one supply for each zone
In England, installing a new circuit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, so ask your electrician to take care of the notification.3 Have the supply in place and tested before delivery day, so the swim spa can be filled and switched on as soon as it is in position.
5. Budget for the price, delivery and running
New swim spas on our site start at £9,899 for the Active and go up to £38,499 for the Jacuzzi® PowerPro™ J-19™ (October 2026).
Delivery is a choice of four: free click and collect if you have heavy-duty transport; kerbside delivery for £499 if you have your own crane or Hiab; delivery and positioning for £899; or delivery, installation, setup and guidance for £1,299. Crane hire is extra and agreed at the site survey. The full details are on our delivery page.
| Model | Price | Electricity a day | With a heat pump | Water care a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | £9,899 | about £4.60 | about £3.00 | about £0.90 |
| Mini Pool | £14,999 | about £6.60 | about £4.20 | about £1.40 |
| Active Pro | £16,999 | about £5.30 | about £3.40 | about £1.10 |
| Active Pro Plus | £19,999 | about £6.40 | about £3.80 | about £1.20 |
Our estimates, averaged across a typical UK year with the insulated cover on and about an hour of swimming a day, at the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh.4 Your own costs depend on your tariff, the weather and how warm you keep the water.
An air source heat pump heats the water using much less electricity, which is why it brings the daily figure down. Our 12kW air source heat pump (£2,199) is sized for swim spas.
6. Check the warranty, then see one in person
Outdoor Living swim spas come with a care plan covering parts and labour: 2 years on the Active and the Mini Pool, and 3 years on the Active Pro and the Active Pro Plus.
Jacuzzi® swim spas carry the Jacuzzi domestic warranty: 10 years on the structure, 5 years on the shell surface and the cabinet, 3 years on the pumps, heater, controls and plumbing, and 1 year on other parts.5 Sun & Soul™ and Platinum Spas swim spas come with a 1-year warranty.
Swim spas are on display at our Hull, Carlisle and Garforth showrooms. If you cannot visit, book a video tour and we will show you the swim spa live and answer your questions.
Questions about buying a swim spa
Open a question to read the answer.
How much does a swim spa cost in the UK?
New swim spas on our site start at £9,899 for the 13ft Outdoor Living Active and go up to £38,499 for the Jacuzzi® PowerPro™ J-19™. Add delivery, from free click and collect to £1,299 for delivery, installation, setup and guidance, plus crane hire where it is needed.
How much space do I need for a swim spa?
Take the swim spa's length and width and add at least 50 cm on every side for servicing. For the 13ft Active that is 490 x 324 cm, and for the 19ft Active Pro Plus 690 x 335 cm.
Do I need planning permission for a swim spa?
Your local planning authority can confirm what applies to your address. For a house, a raised deck or platform around the swim spa is allowed under permitted development up to 30 cm above the ground, with decking, platforms and outbuildings covering no more than half the garden. Flats, listed buildings and some protected areas have their own rules.
What power supply does a swim spa need?
A dedicated supply hard-wired by a qualified electrician, with an RCD and an isolator switch close by. The Active and the Mini Pool need 32 amps, the Active Pro 40 amps, and the Active Pro Plus one 40 amp and one 32 amp supply.
Can I see a swim spa before I buy one?
Yes. Swim spas are on display at our Hull, Carlisle and Garforth showrooms. You can also book a video tour and we will show you the swim spa live.
Sources
- NHS, Physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64, reviewed 22 May 2024.
- Planning Portal, Decking: planning permission, accessed October 2026.
- The IET, Part P (England and Wales): frequently asked questions, accessed October 2026.
- Ofgem, Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026, 26 August 2026.
- Jacuzzi, Jacuzzi swim spa limited warranty, 2021.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
A swim spa is a big purchase and a big delivery. This guide puts the real measurements, weights and power figures for our range in one place, so your garden is ready on the day it arrives.