Cocktail Plunge pool
A small, deep-enough-to-cool-off pool with bench seating. It fits tract-home yards, heats up quickly, and costs noticeably less to build and run than a full-size pool.
$31k – $39k
- Size14 × 8 ft (adjustable)
- Water surfaceabout 111 sq ft
- Volumeapprox. 3,834 gal
- Example monthly~$357/mo
- Default finishTropical
- Default deck & copingTravertine pavers · Bullnose
- Shown withColor LED lighting
*Planning estimates from our 3D designer for the pool itself (design, permits, excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, plaster, coping and a narrow deck), including a safety margin. Spas, water features and bigger decks are extra. Example monthly payment is an illustration only (8.99% APR, 15 years), not a loan offer. A licensed builder confirms your price in writing after a site visit.
Small yards, couples, and anyone who mostly wants to cool off and sit in the water.
Options like spas, water features and outdoor kitchens are priced on your free consultation, where a licensed partner builder confirms everything in writing.
Is the Cocktail Plunge right for you?
Made for the person who does not need to swim laps and mostly wants to sink into cool water after work. Couples, empty nesters and renters-turned-owners in tract neighborhoods often find a plunge does everything they actually wanted from a big pool.
It fits townhome-style lots, side yards and newer subdivisions where the backyard is only a few strides deep. With a heater, many owners use it like a large spa in winter and a cold soak in August.
How much yard it needs
At 14 by 8 ft, the arithmetic is friendly: 8 ft of water, a few feet of deck on each side and the 5 ft rear setback put you around 21 ft of depth, plus about 24 ft of width with side setbacks. Equipment still needs a spot along a side yard. Narrow gates can limit excavator access, which a builder sorts out on site. More options are on our plunge pools page.
Spa, shelf and seating options
Bench seating along one or both long walls is the default, and it turns the plunge into a place to sit with a drink. Add jets to the bench and it works like a spa. A small tanning ledge at the entry end is possible but takes a big share of the water, so most people keep full-width steps instead.
Looking after it
Less water means less chemical use and quicker heating, but small volumes also swing faster, so test more often during heat waves and after parties. The Tropical quartz finish hides dirt well. A cover keeps leaves out and holds heat, and it doubles as one of the two drowning-prevention features California requires for new residential pools.
What the build involves
Small footprint, small dig, but tight lots raise their own issues: walls close to the house foundation may need engineering, and spoil often has to leave by wheelbarrow or a mini excavator. Some owners also look at precast or fiberglass shells for speed, while gunite allows any size and bench layout. Your builder will explain which suits the access and soil on your lot.
Cocktail Plunge questions.
Didn't find yours? Send us a message or email [email protected]. A real person answers.
How deep is a cocktail plunge pool?
Can a plunge pool be heated year-round?
Can I add a plunge pool later if I already have a patio?
See your pool before anyone digs.
Type your address. We model your yard in 3D, you pick a design, and you see an estimate before you give us your number.