A pool safety net is a tensioned mesh stretched across the water and pegged into anchors in the surround, so a small child who falls onto it cannot reach the water. At the time of writing (October 2026), a standard net installed in Cape Town costs from around R85 per m2, or roughly R2,720 to R4,160 for an 8m x 4m pool. It is the cheapest solid layer of child pool safety you can add.
This guide covers pool safety net price, how installation works, care, and how a net compares with a fence and a safety cover. For supply and fitting, see our pool safety nets and fencing service.
Pool safety net price in Cape Town
Nets are priced per square metre of pool, installed. That rate covers the mesh, the edge rope, the anchors and the labour to drill and fit them. Here are market figures from Cape Town and national suppliers at the time of writing (October 2026). They are not Kwik Pools prices.
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard mesh net, installed | R85 to R110 per m2 | Cape Town supplier rate |
| Heavy-duty net, installed | R110 to R130 per m2 | Thicker cord, longer life |
| Net for an 8m x 4m pool | R2,720 to R4,160 | Installed, standard mesh |
| Western Cape quotes | R3,200 to R7,000 | Includes stronger anchors for wind |
| National range | R2,500 to R7,000 | Size and shape dependent |
What pushes the pool safety net price up
- Shape. Freeform and kidney pools need a net cut to a template and more anchors than a rectangle.
- Mesh grade. Heavy-duty cord costs more per square metre but stands up better to sun and wear.
- Surround. Timber decks, stone and loose paving may need special anchors or repairs first.
- Wind exposure. Windy sites need more anchors and firmer tensioning, which is why Western Cape quotes run higher.
- Features. Raised walls, rock features and steps that stick out add cutting and fitting time.
If you are also weighing up covers, our pool cover prices guide lists solar, safety and slatted options side by side. Ask our team for a current quote measured to your pool.
How a pool net is installed
A pool net is only as good as its anchors. A loosely draped net with gaps at the edge does not protect a child. This is how a typical installation runs:
- The pool and surround are measured, and odd shapes are templated.
- The net is made up to size with a reinforced edge rope.
- Anchor positions are marked a short distance back from the coping, spaced evenly around the pool.
- Holes are drilled into solid paving or concrete and flush anchors are set so they sit level and do not trip anyone.
- The net is laid out, hooked to the anchors and tensioned so it sits above the water without sagging.
- The tension is checked across the whole pool and the owner is shown how to take it off and put it back.
The anchors need solid ground. If your coping rocks or pavers move underfoot, they must be fixed first or the anchors will pull out. Our pool paving and coping team can re-bed loose slabs, and our pool coping guide explains the options if the edge needs replacing.
Tension is the safety feature. A properly tensioned net should hold above the water when pressed in the middle. If it sags into the water, ask for it to be re-tensioned before you rely on it.
Need a net measured for your pool?
Send us the shape and rough size of your pool with a photo of the surround. Our team will measure, check the anchor points and quote the net installed.
Pool safety net vs pool safety cover vs pool fencing
Each barrier does a different job. Many Cape Town homes end up with two of them.
| Barrier | Price guide | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool safety net | R2,720 to R4,160 for 8m x 4m | Lowest cost, rain drains through, quick on and off | Leaves still get in, no help with evaporation |
| Manual PVC pool safety cover | R6,500 to R14,000 for 8m x 4m | Keeps leaves out, cuts evaporation | Heavier to handle, water must not pool on top |
| Automatic cover | From around R120,000 (vinyl), R150,000 (slatted) | Opens and closes at the push of a button | Highest cost, needs space for the mechanism |
| Pool fencing with self-closing gate | R800 to R1,500 per metre | Always in place, no daily effort | Gate must be kept shut, does not stop a child already inside |
Pool safety cover or net?
A pool safety cover is a better fit if you also want less cleaning and less water lost to the summer south-easter. A net suits families who swim often, because it comes off and goes back on in a few minutes. Our pool cover installation page covers the cover side in more detail.
Where pool fencing fits
Pool fencing is the layer that does not depend on anyone remembering to put the net on. The NSRI summarises SANS 10134 as calling for a child-proof fence or wall at least 1.2m high, with gates that are hard for children to open, plus a net or cover over the water. Our pool safety barrier checklist walks through what to check on an existing fence.
Child pool safety: layers that work together
No barrier replaces an adult watching. Child pool safety works best in layers, so that if one fails, another is still there:
- A fence or wall with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- A pool safety net or safety cover that goes back on every time swimming ends.
- An adult actively watching whenever children are in or near the water.
- A pole or leaf scoop kept beside the pool to reach someone in trouble.
- Emergency numbers on hand, including 112 from a cellphone.
Keep chairs, pot plants and pool toys away from the fence so they cannot be used to climb over. Talk to visiting grandparents and helpers about the routine so the net goes back on even when you are out.
Looking after your pool safety net
A net lasts longer when it spends less time baking in the sun with nobody swimming. Cape Town summers are harsh on mesh and cord, and coastal salt air works on the anchor fittings. Wind also blows leaves and sand across the net, so clear it often. Our post on wind-blown debris in the pool has tips for windy weeks.
- Brush or blow leaves off the net so their weight does not stretch it towards the water.
- Rinse the net with fresh water now and then, and let it dry before folding.
- Store it in a bag in the shade when it is off for a long swim day.
- Check every anchor for looseness and every hook for cracks at the start of summer.
- Re-tension the net if it has started to sag.
If anchors keep pulling loose, the problem is usually the surround rather than the net. That is often a sign that paving or coping is due for repair, which our pool renovation cost guide helps you budget for. When you are ready, our pool safety net installation team can measure and fit.
Common questions about pool safety nets
How much does a pool safety net cost?
At the time of writing (October 2026), a standard mesh pool safety net installed in Cape Town costs from around R85 to R110 per m2. For an 8m x 4m pool that works out from around R2,720 to R4,160 installed. Western Cape quotes with stronger anchors for wind run R3,200 to R7,000.
Is a pool safety net or a pool safety cover better?
A net is cheaper, quicker to take on and off and lets rain drain through. A solid safety cover also cuts evaporation and keeps leaves out, but costs more and must be kept clear of standing water. For child safety both work when properly tensioned and anchored.
Do I need a pool fence if I have a safety net?
The NSRI’s summary of SANS 10134 says a pool should have both a child-proof fence or wall and a net or cover. A net only protects while it is on, and a fence with a self-closing gate covers the times it is off. Check your own municipality’s requirements too.
How long does a pool net last in the Cape Town sun?
It depends on the mesh quality, UV stabilising and how it is stored. Rinse the net, let it dry and keep it out of the sun when it is off the pool. Check the cords, edging and anchors every few months and replace worn parts early.
Can a pool net be installed on any paving?
Most surrounds can take anchors, but loose pavers, thin coping or crumbling grout will not hold them. The anchors must go into solid material a short distance back from the edge. Loose coping or paving should be repaired first.
Make your pool safer this summer
We supply and fit pool safety nets, covers and fencing across Cape Town. Ask our team for a current quote measured to your pool.
