78-82°F is the sweet spot for lap swimming.

Yes, that’s the range. If you’re swimming laps for fitness, you want the water cool enough to keep your body from overheating during sustained effort, but not so cold that you seize up or can’t breathe.

Warmer than 84°F and you’ll start feeling sluggish after a few laps—your body can’t dump heat fast enough. Colder than 76°F and your muscles tighten, your stroke feels choppy, and it’s just not pleasant for a long session.

If you’re stuck with a hotel or community pool that’s in the low 70s, that’s fine for a quick workout—just don’t plan on hanging around. And if the pool feels like bathwater? That’s for water aerobics, not lap swimming.

78-82°F is where you get the best balance of performance and comfort.