Updated
May 31, 2023 Swimming pools are a popular home addition for fitness, entertainment, and relaxation.
But they can be expensive. The average in-ground pool costs between $25,700 and $29,600 to install. Various types of swimming pool loans and other financing options can help you cover the costs.
On this page:
- Personal loans for swimming pools
- Home equity products for swimming pools
- Swimming pool dealer financing
- Pros & cons of swimming pool loans
Personal loans for swimming pools
Compare financing options for your pool
- Fixed-rate loans from 4.99% APR with autopay and excellent credit
- Funds available as soon as the same day
- Rates are typically between 8.41% and 35.99% APR
- Get funds as fast as 1 business day
- Minimum credit score of 600 in most states
Personal loans are typically unsecured products (meaning they require no collateral) offered by banks, credit unions, and other lenders. They are often a good choice to finance a swimming pool because of their low rates, range of loan amounts, and predictable repayment schedule.
To qualify, you’ll often need a consistent income and a solid credit score. The higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you can expect.
Typical loan terms range from two to seven years, and rates are often fixed.
Check out our best personal loans or best home improvement loans guides to see our top choices and learn more.
Home equity loans & HELOCs for swimming pools
Home equity products, as you might guess, are secured by the equity in your home. They offer you the opportunity to borrow money at a lower rate than most personal loans or credit cards and come with longer terms for repayment. However, your home acts as collateral, so we only recommend these options if you’re confident you can repay them.
Home equity loans
Home equity loans are fantastic if you know how much you need upfront and are confident you won’t exceed your budget.
A home equity loan works like other loans: Apply, and get the loan proceeds in a lump sum if approved. Payments start the next month, and you’ll make monthly payments until you repay the loan.
Interest rates vary by lender. Compare our top choices for home equity loans and find out more on our Best Home Equity Loans page.
Home equity lines of credit
With a home equity line of credit (HELOC), you can borrow money up to a limit and repay it as often as you’d like during the draw period, often five to 10 years.
Interest rates tend to be far lower than credit cards. If you’re worried about going over budget or don’t want to take out more than you need, a HELOC allows you to take only what you need when you need it.
Compare our top choices and find out more on our Best HELOC Rates & Lenders page.
Swimming pool dealer financing
Swimming pool dealers often offer in-house pool financing, which is often the most expensive of the three major options.
Be aware of specials where 12 or 18 months are “same as cash” with a “pay no interest” period: If you can’t pay off the pool during that time, you’re often stuck with a high interest rate.
They may even add on the interest that accrued during the introductory period, which can be substantial.
Pros & cons of swimming pool loans
Before getting a swimming pool loan, it’s important to consider the benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Space cost of the pool out over multiple years
- Those with good credit can qualify for low rates
- Many lenders charge no or low fees
- You can often pay off your loan early with no penalty
Cons
- Like with all loans, interest will increase the total cost of the pool
- Damage your credit if you fail to repay an unsecured loan such as a personal loan
- Damage your credit and lose your house if you fail to repay a home equity loan or HELOC
Can you afford a pool loan?
Look at your budget. How much can you spend on pool-related expenses in a month? How much equity will it add to your home, and is the expense worth it? Can you consider alternative options before financing? You may decide to get a smaller pool than you envisioned or even put off financing until you can afford the pool you want out-of-pocket.
Depending on where you live, you may decide the limited use doesn’t justify the expense. Building a swimming pool is a major investment. Before you leap, have a solid financial plan to afford it, and ensure you find the most affordable way to pay for it.
Once it’s installed, you can relax poolside knowing you have a repayment plan and nothing to worry about with your swimming pool loan.
Ready to finance your pool? Check out our top-rated personal loan partner, LightStream.
- Rates (APR): 7.49% – 20.24%
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
- Credit score: 660+