Key Points

A tanning ledge is a shallow shelf built into the pool's entry steps, usually 6 to 15 inches deep, meant for sitting in the water rather than swimming.
The space for a tanning ledge comes out of the swimmable part of the pool, so a 12' x 5' ledge is 60 square feet that's no longer at swimming depth.
A tanning ledge adds to your build costs depending on the size of the pool, since a bigger pool needs a bigger ledge.
Read FAQs

The Best Seat in the Pool

Is a tanning ledge actually worth what it adds to the price, or is it a shelf you’ll walk past on your way into the water?

And does it eat swim space you can’t spare in a normal-sized backyard in Garner?

In this post, you’ll learn how deep Prestige Pools builds our tanning ledges, what one does to your pool’s price, how we build a ledge into a vinyl liner pool, and how to tell whether your yard has room for one.

What Is a Tanning Ledge, and Is It Worth Adding to a Pool?

A tanning ledge is a shallow shelf built into the pool at a depth you can sit in but not swim in, so you can be in the water and still be out of it.

Most of ours run 6 inches to 15 inches deep depending on the shape of the pool.

It’s worth adding to your vinyl pool installation project if you want a place to sit in the water without swimming in it, which is great if you have young kids in your family and/or if you love to tan and be in the water.

How Families Actually Use a Tanning Ledge

Families can use tanning ledges to:

  1. Tan in the water.
  2. Play with small children.
  3. Cool off feet on a hot day.
  4. Get into and out of the pool.

They help dogs, too.

What a Tanning Ledge Takes From Your Swim Space

A tanning ledge takes square footage out of the swimmable part of the pool.

We usually split a pool into thirds: one third shallow end, one third transition, one third deep end.

A tanning ledge changes that split.

Because the ledge is built into the transition, the space it needs comes out of the entry end of the pool.

On our Garner build, the ledge ran 12′ x 5′. That’s 60 square feet of 6 to 15 inches of water instead of swimming depth.

If you swim laps, that’s 60 square feet you can’t use.

If you mostly sit in the water and watch kids, it’s the most-used part of the pool.

How to choose the right swimming pool size.

What a Tanning Ledge Does to the Price

A tanning ledge can add $10,000 or more to the cost of your vinyl pool, depending on the size of the pool and thus the size of the ledge.

Bigger pools need bigger ledges, and that means more material and labor.

How a Tanning Ledge Is Built Into a Vinyl Liner Pool

A tanning ledge in a vinyl liner pool is built out of concrete and cinderblock, covered with a layer of wall foam, and then covered again by the liner itself.

The ledge is built into the 2nd step, so the entry and the ledge are one piece of the pool instead of two separate features.

Ready to Claim the Best Seat in Your Pool? Talk to Prestige Pools

Picture the chair in the water, kids playing where they can stand, and you close enough to reach them without ever swimming a stroke.

That’s what 6 to 15 inches buys you, and for a lot of families it turns into the most-used part of the pool.

If that sounds like what you want for your backyard, fill out our contact form or give us a call today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you build a beach entry instead of a tanning ledge?

No, we don't build beach entries in vinyl liner pools, because the water in the pool is what holds the liner in place. A beach entry keeps getting shallower until there isn't enough water left to do that job, and the wrinkles and bubbles that follow make the liner easier to tear.

Can I replace the liner on a pool that already has a tanning ledge?

Yes, we replace liners on pools with vinyl-covered steps, benches, and tanning ledges. A standard liner replacement currently runs $6,000 to $8,000, and where you land in that range depends on things like vinyl covered steps, benches, and the condition of your pool. We'd give you an exact number after seeing it.

How much decking do I need around the pool for lounge chairs?

Plan on 6 to 8 feet of decking on two sides of the pool for lounge chairs and tables, and 1 to 3 feet on the other two sides for walking around. How much coping and decking you end up with depends on your preference, your impervious surface limit, and the space your yard has to give.

Read More From Prestige Pools