A new concrete spa in Sydney costs about the same whether it stands on its own or is built with a pool: the price comes down to the spa’s size and shape, how it is finished, and the equipment that heats and runs it. Renovating an existing spa costs much less, because the shell is already there.
Standalone or built with the pool
A standalone spa needs its own excavation, shell, filter, pump and heater. A spa built with a new pool shares the excavation, the filter and the plumbing, so it adds less than a separate spa would, though it still needs its own jets and heating. A spillover spa sits higher than the pool and spills over a tiled edge into it, which takes more formwork and tiling. Adding a spa to an existing pool depends on the room beside the pool and whether its structure and equipment can take the extra load.
A pool and attached spa built together, beside the house
The finish and the features
A rendered pebble or quartz interior costs less than full glass mosaic tiling, which is the usual premium finish. More jets, a bench seat around the inside, water blades from a feature wall and lighting each add to the price. Stone or tiled coping around the top finishes the edge and is priced by the metre.
Spa jets and water blades in a concrete spa
Heating
A spa is only as good as its heating. Electric heaters cost the least to buy, gas heats fastest for occasional use, and a heat pump costs the most to buy but the least to run for regular use. Heating is usually priced separately and runs from about $1,500 to $6,000 installed.
Approval, access and the block
A new in-ground spa usually needs approval, either as complying development or through council, and it needs a compliant barrier, the same as a pool. We arrange the approval as part of the job. Rock under the yard, a sloping block and tight access all add to the cost of the excavation, the same as for a pool.
How long it takes
Most new spas take about 4 to 8 weeks on site once the approval is through: about 4 to 6 for a standalone spa and 6 to 8 for one built with a pool. Wet weather and rock can add time.
Renovating an existing spa
A spa renovation usually costs between $5,000 and $15,000 for a new interior and minor repairs, and $15,000 to $25,000 with new jets and lighting. A complete renovation with structural work can reach $25,000 to $40,000 or more. Most take one to three weeks. Our spa renovations page shows each range.
Getting an accurate price
Building a pool as well? Our guide to what a pool costs in Sydney prices every kind of pool and the rest of the backyard. Photos of the yard or the old spa and a few measurements give a first idea; we confirm the price after seeing the site. More about our spa construction, or see one of our jobs: the glass mosaic pool and spa in Epping.
