Hampstead · Wilmington · Surf City · Topsail Beach · Jacksonville NC Licensed Swimming Pool Contractor (S) · Insured  ·  (910) 277-5560

Swim spas

Swim spas: laps without the pool footprint.

A swim spa is a self-contained unit with a current to swim against at one end and hydrotherapy seating at the other — typically $35,000–70,000 installed in coastal NC. It is the answer when someone in the house swims for exercise but the lot will not take a lap pool, or when you want something usable in February.

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Where a swim spa makes sense

What it’s good at

  • Year-round. Heated to 85–92°F all winter at a running cost a full pool cannot match.
  • Small footprint. Roughly 7 by 14 to 8 by 19 feet — fits where a pool will not.
  • Two uses. Swim current one end, therapy jets the other.
  • Faster. Weeks, not months, and often no excavation at all.

What it isn’t

  • Not a pool. Nobody is playing in it. Two adults is comfortable; six is not.
  • Current takes practice. Swimming against a jet is a different stroke than swimming lengths.
  • Needs real power. Usually a dedicated 50–60 amp circuit.
  • Heavy. A filled unit needs an engineered pad, and often a crane to place it.

Step by step

How a swim spa goes in

  1. 01

    Confirm access & power

    Delivery path, crane clearance, and whether the panel will carry the circuit.

  2. 02

    Pad

    Reinforced slab sized to the filled weight, elevated to flood spec where required.

  3. 03

    Set & connect

    Craned into place, electrical tied in, filled and balanced.

  4. 04

    Surround

    Deck, steps and screening — optional, but it is what makes it look built-in.

Sizes & costs

Swim spa pricing

Installed prices for coastal NC, including pad and electrical.

Type Installed Size Notes
Compact swim spa$35,000–48,0007 × 14 ftSingle current jet, bench seating
Full swim spa$45,000–62,0008 × 16 ftMulti-jet current, therapy seats
Dual-zone swim spa$55,000–70,0008 × 19 ftSeparate swim and spa temperatures
Deck surround$6,000–25,000—Partial or full recess into decking

Recessing a swim spa into a deck costs more than setting it on a pad, but it is the difference between a unit in the yard and something that looks built.

Comparing options?

Plunge pools

Similar footprint, more like a pool, no current.

Plunge pools

Spas & hot tubs

Therapy only, at a third of the price.

Hot tubs

Fiberglass pools

If the yard will take a full pool after all.

Fiberglass pools

Common questions

Swim spa questions

Can you really swim in a swim spa?

Yes, though it takes a session or two to get used to swimming in place against a current.

Most units let you tune the current speed. Competitive swimmers generally like them; casual swimmers sometimes find the fixed position odd at first.

What does a swim spa cost to run?

Typically $60–140 a month in coastal NC, depending on temperature and cover quality.

Keeping it at 92°F year-round costs noticeably more than 85°F. The cover matters more than the heater.

Do I need a permit for a swim spa?

The electrical does, and a barrier is required the same as for a pool if it holds more than 24 inches of water.

Pender, New Hanover and Onslow all enforce the barrier requirement. We check it before delivery, not after.

Can a swim spa go on an existing deck?

Almost never without reinforcement — a filled unit can run 8,000 to 12,000 pounds.

We look at the framing before anything is ordered. Usually the answer is a new pad beside the deck.

Next step

Tell us about the space

Send dimensions and a photo of the access path and we’ll tell you what will fit.

Phone(910) 277-5560
Emailsales@sunrisepoolsinc.com
HoursMon-Fri 8:00-5:00 · Sat by appointment

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