How Much Can You Make Renting Out Your Pool by the Hour?

You can absolutely rent your pool by the hour and start earning extra money right away. Pool owners across the US, Canada, and Australia do this every day through peer-to-peer platforms like Swimply.

If your pool sits empty while you keep paying for cleaning, chemicals, and repairs, hourly rentals can easily offset those costs. Most hosts cover all their maintenance cost, and many even make much more.

Learn how much you can make, how to boost your earnings, and what the process looks like so you can decide if renting out your pool is right for you.

Can I Rent My Pool by the Hour? The Basics

Here’s how hourly pool rentals work. Peer-to-peer marketplaces connect you with guests who want a private place to swim.

Swimply is the biggest name here, with more than 15,000 hosts in over 150 cities.

The steps are simple:

List your pool with clear photos.
Set your price per hour.
Pick when you’re available.

Guests search listings, choose a date and time, then send you a request. You decide if you want to accept. If you confirm, they pay upfront through a secure system. Swimply uses Stripe for payments, so you don’t worry about checks or red tape.

Your pool is totally private for their booking, no random people allowed. After their swim, you get paid within 48 hours, minus Swimply’s service fee.

Most bookings are about two hours long. Groups are usually five to eight guests. Families book about 70% of these visits, while others are for puppy pool parties or birthdays with close friends. You choose what kinds of bookings you accept, so you control how your space will be used.

Typical Hourly Rates and Earning Potential

On average, you can charge $25 to $100 per hour, with most hosts landing around $45 an hour. Rates depend on a few big factors:

Location: Big cities like Miami or Los Angeles let you charge more.
Timing: Weekends, evenings, and summer months see peak prices and more bookings.
Amenities: Perks like a hot tub, pool toys, outdoor kitchen, or a shaded patio can bump your rate.

One huge tip: If you offer guests a restroom, you’re way more likely to book up and can charge extra too. Hosts with restrooms in their listing see 80% more bookings.

How much can you really earn? Here’s what real people have made hosting on Swimply:

Most hosts pull in about $1,000 per month just listing a few days a week.
If you go all in, optimize your space, and earn great reviews, you can make much more during busy seasons. One couple made over $30,000 in a year by standing out from the crowd.
Swimply hosts take home between 70% and 85% of each booking after the service fee.

That fee (15% to 20%) covers things like secure payments, customer support, and Swimply’s guarantee protection.

Why Rent Out Your Pool on a Peer-to-Peer Platform

Going with a platform instead of doing things yourself brings real advantages:

Smooth payments: Guests pay up front with credit cards. You get your payout directly 48 hours after their visit.
Built-in guest protection: Swimply covers you automatically with up to $1,000,000 in liability and $10,000 in property damage protection.
No need to advertise: Swimply markets your space so guests can find you.
Full control: Set your price, house rules, and choose who to accept. Decline requests that don’t feel right for you.

Swimply’s review system also helps you stand out. Happy guests leave feedback that draws in others. You stay in charge by setting your own schedule and deciding who swims in your backyard.

Tips to Maximize Your Pool’s Value

Want to get more bookings and charge higher rates? Just a few tweaks can make your listing shine. Here’s how to boost your earnings:

Keep your pool extra clean and safe: Make sure everything is tidy before each booking. Test water often, clear walkways, and remove anything guests could trip on.
Add special amenities: Sunscreen, towels, water bottles, pool toys, and yard games attract more families. Premium extras like an outdoor kitchen or catering can be listed for an upcharge.
Allow guests to use your bathroom: Guests' number one question is whether there will be a bathroom. By providing bathroom access, you can see 80% more bookings.
Take great photos: Shoot your pool in natural light, clean up backgrounds, and show off every corner and extra feature. Include seating areas and shade.
Be smart about pricing: Start with a lower rate to rack up initial bookings and reviews. Once you’re established, adjust your rate based on demand or guest feedback.
Promote your listing outside Swimply: Hosts see up to 45% more bookings by sharing their pools on Facebook Marketplace and by listing on Google Places.

Even tiny changes, like fresh towels or fun pool floats, help you stand out and get better reviews.

The Host Experience: Setting Your Own Rules and Availability

You’re in charge of who uses your pool and when. During listing, you set all the rules up front.

Set the maximum number of guests you’re comfortable with.
Choose whether to allow kids, infants, or pets.
Decide about alcohol, smoking, parties, music, and vendors.
Lay out your pool-specific ground rules.

You can turn on instant booking for easy reservations, or stick with requests so you can review each one first. Swimply automatically blocks off your calendar during requests so you don’t get double-booked.

Need cleaning time? There’s an optional 30-minute buffer between bookings to keep things smooth and stress-free.

Before accepting a guest, clarify their plans and guest count if you have any doubts. Say up front if you don’t allow large parties or want family swims only. That way, everyone’s on the same page and you keep your ratings high.

Handling Guest Interactions Smoothly

Great communication brings better reviews and more repeat guests. Here’s how to make every visit easy for you and your guests:

Reply quickly when guests ask questions. After you accept a booking, send a friendly confirmation with access and parking instructions. Give a quick rundown of your house rules, too.
Let guests know if you'll be home or if they’ll have the place to themselves. Even if you're home, g ive them privacy during their booking. Don’t hover or interrupt their pool time.
Prep your space before they arrive. Heat the hot tub if you have one, uncover the grill, and leave out towels and floats. Little extras go a long way.
Follow up 24 hours later. Send a thank-you message and ask for a review. Ask what they loved and how you could make the experience even better next time.
Keep all messages and payments on the Swimply platform. Avoid sharing phone numbers or going off-platform. That way, you’re protected by Swimply’s guarantees.

Common Concerns and How Swimply Handles Them

Most folks worry about liability or getting paid. Swimply’s got your back on both fronts, so you can relax.

Liability protection: Swimply gives you up to $1 million in Host Protection Guarantee and $10,000 in property damage coverage. There’s a clear process to submit claims and get help if needed.
If you want even more coverage, Proper Insurance offers comprehensive home insurance for hosts. It can replace your standard homeowners policy for complete peace of mind.
Payment is secure: Guests pay when they book, funds are locked in, and your payout is automatic after each reservation. Any add-ons or last-minute changes happen through the app.
Disputes are pretty rare. If something comes up, talk it out openly with your guest. If that’s not enough, reach out to Swimply Customer Care for help. Respond promptly to avoid any payout delays.

Take the Plunge: Start Earning with Your Pool

Ready to turn your pool from an expensive hobby into easy income? Renting by the hour is quick, safe, and pays off fast.

Here’s all you need to do:

Create your listing with clear photos and a detailed description.
Set your hourly rate and choose your available days.
Connect your bank account for payouts.
Start accepting bookings and let Swimply handle the rest!

You stay in charge of rates, rules, and booking times. Want the pool to yourself some weekends? Just block out your calendar.

Swimply handles discovery, bookings, payments, and protection. You get to be the amazing host without the stress.

Ready to dive in? Visit the Become a Host page to set up your listing. Join the Swimply Host Facebook Community for smart tips and support. Your pool can start earning for you in days.