How much does a Living Pool cost?

A Living Pool from us – including excavation, basin, waterproofing, biological filtration and installation – usually costs between €130,000 and €210,000 gross. If the basin is built during the shell construction to our specifications, our share is usually between €40,000 and €70,000.

As of 2026, including 19% VAT, excluding the design of the surrounding garden. The range shows the middle half: a quarter of our ponds came in below it, a quarter above.

Where the figures come from

We analysed 22 Living Pools that we completed and invoiced between 2021 and 2025. Older projects have been adjusted to 2026 prices – using the unit prices we charged for the same work over the years. Hotel projects are not included. So you can see what a Living Pool in Upper Bavaria really costs, and not what a brochure promises.

Save with the shell construction: build the basin at the same time

If you are building new, you can save a lot of money. If the basin is built during the shell construction to our specifications, the excavator, formwork and concrete are on site anyway. We then take over waterproofing, filtration and installation. In this case you pay the shell builder for the basin – it is not included in our share. It is important that we are involved early: the specifications for the basin must be settled before the concrete is poured.

If the pool is built later on an open lawn, on the other hand, excavation and basin construction are part of our job – that is the complete range above.

What determines the price within the range

• Size and depth: They determine the excavation, the basin area and the scale of the filtration – the biggest factor.
• Level or sloping: On a slope, it matters how the pool sits. If it is built into the slope, the excavation grows and the wall on the uphill side has to withstand the earth pressure. If it stands out on the downhill side, the basin wall becomes visible and needs cladding. If it has to go deep into the terrain, excavation and disposal costs rise.
• Access and ground: Can an excavator reach the basin, or is the work done by hand? And is the ground stable, or does it need extra work?
• Features: Cover, counter-current unit, lighting and steps are added as components.

What individual components cost

These figures come from the same pools, gross and rounded. The biological filtration is included in the complete range.

Why we don't cut corners on the liner, cover and counter-current unit

Every component can be bought more cheaply: thinner liners, simpler roller covers, cheaper counter-current units. In our experience, this has not proved its worth. What is saved during construction comes back later as repairs, breakdowns or early replacement – and that is no pleasure for you or for us. That is why we only install what has lasted for years in our pools, even if it means our quote is not the cheapest.

A quote is much cheaper? What to look out for

• Complete or only part: Are excavation, disposal, basin, waterproofing, filtration, installation and commissioning included in the price – or only the filtration package?
• Gross or net: Our ranges include 19% VAT. A net price therefore looks around 16% cheaper.
• Which products exactly: Liner, cover, pumps and filters should be listed with manufacturer and model in the quote, not just as “liner” or “cover”.
• What is not included: Items charged “at cost” or missing groundworks become expensive extras later on.
• Experience: How many Living Pools has the provider built themselves? Ask to see completed pools.

A teaser price that grows with extras and repairs is not cheaper in the end.

And running costs?

A Living Pool is inexpensive to run: it needs no chemicals, and the pump works efficiently. How it compares with a swimming pond and a chlorinated pool is explained on our Living Pool page. What drives the cost of a whole garden is explained in our garden guide What does a garden cost?

We calculate your exact price after a site visit – as a reliable quote in which every component is listed.