Swimming Pool and Spa Retailers

The 10,000 swimming pool and spa retailers in the US sell above ground pools, hot tubs, and related equipment, supplies, and merchandise. Other merchandise categories include backyard and patio furniture, grills, and saunas. Firms may also offer pool and hot tub maintenance, repair, construction, or renovation services.

Seasonal Demand

Demand for pool and spa supplies is highly seasonal and dependent on climate and weather conditions in a particular geographical area.

Energy Efficiency

Interest in cost savings and energy conservation has encouraged pool owners to investigate more efficient equipment.

Sep 28, 2026 - Pool Retail Sales Grow Modestly

• US swimming pool and supplies retailers posted moderate growth in Q2 2026, but the outlook remains cautious as consumers become more price sensitive, according to PHTA's Quarterly Pulse Survey. According to the survey, average retailer revenue rose 3.3% year over year and profits increased 2.8%; 56% reported higher sales and 63% reported profit growth. Portable hot tub and swim spa revenue was nearly flat, up 0.9%. Margin pressure was the leading challenge, cited by 92% of respondents, as tariffs on imported equipment and chemicals, higher vendor costs, online competition, and direct-to-consumer sales weighed on retailers. Looking ahead, average revenue growth is expected to slow to 1.8%, although 77% of retailers said they were at least somewhat well positioned to adapt, suggesting continued resilience despite a demanding competitive environment.
• Retail Trade expanded in August 2026, but its performance was more mixed than the broader US services sector, where the ISM Services PMI rose to 55.4 from 54.1 and marked a 26th straight month of growth. Retail ranked seventh among 12 expanding service industries. Within the indexes, the retail sector reported higher business activity, new orders, employment, prices paid, and new export orders. However, order backlogs declined, while supplier deliveries, inventories, imports, and inventory sentiment showed no reported directional change. Overall, retail demand improved, but rising costs and weaker backlogs point to a less uniformly strong expansion than the broader services economy.
• Cold plunge tubs are shifting from a fast-growing trend to a niche wellness category, requiring US swimming pool and spa retailers to focus more on education and bundled wellness solutions than impulse sales, according to Spa Retailer magazine. Retailers report that interest remains strong, but high prices, particularly for models over $5,000, have slowed purchases as consumers become more value-conscious. Instead of stand-alone products, cold tubs are increasingly being marketed alongside hot tubs and saunas as part of a broader contrast therapy and home wellness experience. Retailers are responding with hands-on demonstrations, financing options, partnerships with local gyms, and experiential showroom displays to convert curiosity into sales. While social media continues to generate awareness, sustained growth will depend on convincing consumers of the long-term wellness benefits and making premium products more affordable.
• Nearly three-quarters of pool and spa retailers reported increased customer price sensitivity, highlighting growing consumer caution and margin pressure across the US pool and spa supplies retailer industry, according to Aqua Magazine's 2026 State of the Industry Retail Report. Nearly half of retailers reported revenue growth in 2025, while a sizable share experienced declines, underscoring uneven market conditions. Inflation, tariffs, interest rates, and supplier cost increases continue to influence pricing decisions, with more than 80% of retailers planning additional price increases in 2026. At the same time, customers are becoming more deliberate in their purchasing decisions, placing greater emphasis on practical benefits and financing options. Retailers are responding by emphasizing core categories such as chemicals, equipment, and hot tubs while selectively expanding into wellness products like saunas and cold plunges. Despite ongoing challenges, most retailers remain optimistic about 2026.

Industry size & Structure

The average swimming pool and spa retailer employs 32 workers and generates about $500,000 in annual revenue.

• The swimming pool and spa retail industry generates approximately $5 billion in annual revenue. An estimated 4,500 retailers sell spas, according to PK Data. The swimming pool equipment and supply retail industry consists of an estimated 5,500 stores, although the degree of overlap between swimming pool and spa retailing is unknown.
• The industry is highly fragmented and dominated by independent operators and franchisees that operate within a limited geographical market.
• The pool and spa industry's installation base in the US consists of 5.5 million residential pools and 3.3 million above-the-ground pools, according to the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. There are 7.3 million hot tubs, according to a study by Pool and Spa Marketing.
• About 60% of consumer spending in the pool industry is for maintenance and minor repair of existing swimming pools. The average in-ground pool owner spends $900 annually on chemicals, equipment, parts, and accessories needed for pool maintenance. The average revenue per transaction for pool supplies retailers is $171, per the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance.
• The top product categories by sales for pool supplies retailers include chemicals/salt/filter media (47.8%), equipment (21.2%), and parts and maintenance equipment (18%), according to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance.
• Leslie's Poolmart is the largest retailer of pool supplies and has over 1,000 stores in the US. Pinch a Penny is the largest franchised pool and spa care company over 300 stores located primarily in the Southeast.