How Deep is a Swim Spa?

You’ve heard of a swim spa and you’re interested but … can it work? Is it deep enough to hold you so you can actually get in a workout?

The quick answer is yes. The average model is 3.5 feet deep (just over a metre). You can get models up to six feet deep, which is in line with a traditional swimming pool but by far the bulk of them are in the 3.5 foot range.

We are asked about depth (and width and length) of swim spas early and often in conversations with shoppers at our retail outlets. There are two reasons why: People want to know how they fit in backyards or they want to know if they can use them to work out or relax in them.

As backyards are shrinking, gyms with pool memberships are getting more expensive and people’s daily schedules get more hectic, having a way to get a challenging swim workout without having to leave home is an incredibly appealing option.

Swim spas sizes are developed for workouts and to fit into backyards. So in this article, we will go through the different sizes of common swim spa sizes – their depth, length and width and explain how each works and who each is for. And if you’re looking for the deepest models, we’ll point you at a few of those.

• How deep is the average swim spa?
• How wide is a swim spa?
• How long is a swim spa?
• What are the deepest swim spas?

Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a strong sense of what you’re looking for when it comes to a swim spa’s size and a solid sense of swim spa dimensions.

 

 

How Deep is a Swim Spa?

Most swim spas are 3.5 feet deep (all of Hydropool’s swim spas are this depth).

Why this depth? This depth is deep enough for people to swim in without their fingers dragging the bottom, for example, but short enough to stand in or use as a hot tub as well as a pool or allow children to use safely.

Many modern pools are increasingly this depth because it requires less water to heat but still allows you to swim in or use recreationally. It’s simply a more user-friendly depth.

That depth is about the depth of a shallow end of a pool. A pool with a diving board generally requires an 8-foot depth, while many deep ends are 5 feet deep.

How Wide is a Swim Spa?

A swim spa is generally about eight feet wide. This is for a couple of reasons:  

• You need that width to swim in or use recreationally. Whether you have seats on the side of the swim spa or not, you need a large enough area in a swim spa to ensure you’re not hitting the sides (or standing or sitting on top of each other if you’re using it for recreation).
• An eight-feet wide swim spa is easily portable and fits into most backyards (or even on patios)

How Long is a Swim Spa?

A swim spa can range in length. For example, at Hydropool:

The AquaPlay: The AquaPlay is 13-feet long.

The Aquatic: Available in 14, 17 and 19 feet, the Aquatic collection provides a range of sizes so that you can make the most of your space. The 19-foot model contains a separate hot tub and swim spa, joined into one unit (often called a dual-temperature swim spa). The swim area includes seating, as it is designed for both recreational and swimming.  

The Executive: Comes in 16 and 19-foot versions. These models have no seating in the swim tank so they have the largest possible area to swim in as well as elite swimming capability.

Who Makes the Deepest Swim Spa?

You can find models classified as “deep” models at Master Spa or TidalFit. These are 60” deep swim spas. Hydropool doesn’t make one that deep, because we have found that you’re paying to heat water you don’t need in most cases, as both swimming and workouts can be done in a swim spa 3.5 feet deep.  

What Size of Swim Spa is Right for You?

Here are the swim spa size guidelines:

• If you’re looking for depth, most are 3.5 feet, but you can get some up to 5 feet deep.
• Most are about eight feet wide.
• The length ranges from 12-feet in most cases to around 20. There are some giant models out there, but we have found that needing lengths beyond 20 are unusual situations.

We understand that people have specific depths and sizes in mind when looking at swim spas. And we hope this article answered all your questions about sizing and the amount of space they need. If we missed anything though, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our local dealers for answers. You can find them here.