How Much Does a Pool Cost?

Total cost to install a pool ranges from $3,500 to $65,000. Addons can push the top-end price above $100,000. Above-ground or freestanding installs range from $3,500 to $15,000 on average. In-ground varieties run $20,000 to $65,000 not including fencing, patios or other extras. Adding a sauna to your home runs $3,000 to $6,000, while a hot tub contributes $5,000 to $20,000.

In addition to the basic install prices you see above, you’ll probably need one or more of the following:

Pool deck or patio costs: $3,000-$12,000
Cover or Enclosure: $1,500-$20,000
Retaining wall cost: $3,000-$8,000
Basic maintenance, such as cleaning and winterizing: $1,200-$1,800 per year
Utilities and repairs: $1,800-$3,200 every year

New Swimming Pool Prices & Factors

A new swimming pool build costs anywhere from $3,500 to $100,000. Understand the variety of swimming pool options available and consider several factors to find one that fits in your budget.

Above-ground vs. in-ground determines your largest cost difference.
Material choice, like concrete, marble, tile lined, vinyl lined or fiberglass.
Size and shape play obvious roles. The larger the project, the more materials and time needed to complete it.
Add-ons like hot tubs, saunas, water features, decorative tile, heaters, lights and enclosures all add to the price.
Maintenance costs homeowners $80 to $350 per month.

Type	Installation with decking and addons
Above-ground	$5,000 – $25,000
In-ground Concrete/Gunite	$55,000 – $100,000
In-ground Fiberglass	$45,000 – $85,000
In-ground Vinyl	$35,000 – $65,000

Above Ground vs. Inground Swimming Pool Costs

Materials + Installation	$3,500 – $15,000	$20,000 – $65,000
Yearly Maintenance	$1,000 – $1,200	$1,000 – $4,000
Yearly Energy Costs	$600 – $1,500	$600 – $1,500
Material Choices	Coated Steel, Aluminum, Resin	Concrete/Gunite & Tile, Fiberglass, Vinyl lined
Expected Lifespan	6-10 years	10-100 years

Adding a deck: $3,000-$12,000.
Adding a patio to in-ground types: $3-$40 per square foot.

In-Ground Pool Material Costs

In-ground pools cost $20,000 to $100,000. That range breaks down further depending on which material you chose, from vinyl-lined units to more expensive gunite. Visit our Inground Pool Cost Guide for more on prices by type.

Indoor vs. Outdoor, Backyard Pool Costs

Building an indoor vs. outdoor type can add $150,000 or more to the project. Consider the additional costs and pros and cons of building indoors.

Installation	$40,000 – $60,000	$20,000 – $65,000
Winterization	Not needed	$150 – $700
Build a pool house	$120,000 on average	None
Add a dehumidifier	$10,000 – $30,000	Not needed
Pros	Year-round useEasy accessLess cleaningGood for northern states	Less expensiveGreat for southern states
Cons	Very expensive	No winter useMore cleaning if you don’t have a cover

Average Pool Cost Per Square Foot

The average pool costs $30 to $70 per square foot, not including decking or other options. The type of material you use plays a large role.

Concrete, like shotcrete, gunite or structural concrete: $55-$70 per square foot.
Fiberglass and vinyl lined: $30-$40 per square foot.

Saltwater vs. Chlorinated Pool Estimates

Saltwater pools cost $1,000 to $2,500 more than a typical chlorinated variety. The only difference is the upfront price of the saltwater chlorination system. Before deciding which type to get, explore the differences between saltwater vs. chlorine pools.

Pool Designs & Prices

Different swimming pool designs mean a wide range of pricing from $15,000 to $150,000 or more. These designs range from fiberglass, kidney-shaped kits to highly-customized, lagoon style with added features.

Kidney-Shaped Fiberglass	$15,000 – $35,000
Kidney-Shaped Concrete	$30,000 – $70,000
Lap	$40,000 – $60,000
Endless	$23,000 – $40,000
Plunge	$20,000 – $25,000
Lagoon	$50,000 – $150,000

Kidney-Shaped Pool Prices

Kidney shaped fiberglass pools cost $5,000 to $25,000 for a kit and an additional $10,000 or more for installation. A custom concrete type costs twice as much.

Lap Pools vs. Endless

Lap pools cost anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000. They take up large amounts of space and require 2 to 4 months to install.

Endless pools run $23,000 to $40,000 or more with upgrades such as decking. They work in small spaces by pushing a current against you in an endless cycle. This allows you to swim without moving. They are also self-contained units suitable for small spaces and above ground installation.

Plunge Pool

Plunge designs cost about half that of a standard size or between $20,000 and $25,000. The smaller size creates the price difference.

Lagoon Pools

Lagoon styles range from $50,000 to $150,000 or more. This highly-customized style uses a freeform shape with added features like a waterfall and grotto.

Swimming Pool with Hot Tub Combo Prices

When combining a hot tub, also called a spa or whirlpool tub, with a swimming pool, expect pay an additional $8,000 to $15,000. You have multiple pool design options:

Above ground next to the pool. An excellent option for creating a waterfall feature to join the two.
In-ground and joined. Excellent for quickly transitioning between them.
As a swim out. The spa is actually part of the overall structure so you can swim between them.

Hot Tub & Sauna Installation or Repair

You’ll spend anywhere from $1,700 to $35,000 or more on buying and installing a spa, sauna or steam bath. If you already own a unit or kit, you’ll still need to pay for labor.

For labor alone (we’ll discuss material pricing in the next section):

Hot tub installation costs $150-$500.
Hot tub repair costs $600-$4,200.
Steam Bath or Sauna installation costs $700-$3,000.

A few other charges you’ll need to consider:

Delivery charges: $100-$500
Electrical panel upgrades cost: $500-$1,500
Hiring a plumber costs: $45-$200 per hour

Hot Tub Prices

Hot tubs cost anywhere from $500 to $36,000. Most residential varieties fall in the $3,500 to $15,000 range. The cheapest are simple inflatable hot tubs for either outdoor or indoor use. High-end acrylic tubs easily top $20,000.

Building an enclosure for a hot tub runs anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000. You can purchase enclosure kits for $2,300 to $15,000. Because of the small size, they make excellent indoor additions, so long as you have a dehumidifier system installed.

Sauna Prices

You’ll pay $1,000 to $10,000 for the kit and labor. The 20-year cost of owning a sauna ranges from $10,000 to $22,000 including the initial install. These units are available as both interior built-ins and freestanding exterior models to fit any home configuration.

Pool Features, Options and Addon Costs

Features and addons run anywhere from $600 to $20,000+. In addition to the initial budget, you’ll want to include a few other features for comfort and safety.

Waterfall	$1,500 – $10,000
Spa	$3,500 – $15,000+
Infinity Edges	$15,000 – $20,000
Heater	$1,600 – $3,800
Vinyl Liner	$1,000 – $3,200
Screens & Enclosures	$4,800 – $14,300
Covers	$600 – $2,200

Inground Pool with Spa and Waterfall Costs

Water features cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000+. Save money by adding a hot tub or spa with a waterfall effect during the initial pool installation rather than later on.

Adding a rock waterfall feature costs anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 or more.
Water fountain installation costs $1,000 to $4,500.
Add on lighting for another $700 to $2,000.

Infinity Edges

Infinity pools cost $55,000 to $130,000. As an addon, it contributes an additional $15,000 to $20,000 to your project. These high-end designs have one or more sides that allow the water to flow over the edge into a catch. It’s then pumped back in to the pool. This creates the illusion of having no edge. Designers install these to merge the water seamlessly with cityscapes, larger bodies of water and the sky.

Pool Heaters

Swimming pool heater installation costs $1,600 to $3,800 on average. It’ll also run you an additional $100 to $500 monthly for electricity.

Vinyl Pool Liners

Vinyl pool liners cost $1,000 to $3,200 with some installs hitting $5,000. You’ll need to replace liners about every 10 years. Make sure to get yearly inspection from a vinyl installation professional near you.

Pool Screens or Enclosures

Swimming pool enclosures cost $4,800 to $14,300 with some reaching $20,000 or more. You can choose between permanent and portable with varying degrees of quality.

Covers & Other Accessories

Installing a pool cover costs $600 to $2,200.

Winter covers run $30 to $350.
Safety covers range from $400 to $2,000 and protect your family and pets.

How Much Does It Cost to Have a Pool?

Maintaining the chlorine levels, debris, and keeping the liner clean and crack-free all adds up to pool monthly maintenance fees of $80 to $350. You’ll also need to buy a pool vacuum for $50 to $200.

Type	Yearly Maintenance
Above-ground	$1,000 – $1,200*
In-ground Concrete	$2,700 – $4,000
In-ground Fiberglass	$1,000 – $1,500
In-ground Vinyl	$1,100 – $1,700
Hot Tub or Spa	$500 – $1,200

Why Are Pools So Expensive?

With average pools costing $50,000 and high-end customized ones topping $100,000, it’s understandable to wonder why the high price tag. The project takes an average of 3 months of labor and an amazing amount of materials.

Pool Utility Costs

You’ll spend between $500 and $2,000 per year on increased utilities. Size, heated or non-heated, and features like waterfalls and lights add to utility bills.

When talking to an installation professional, ask about estimated day-to-day energy costs so you can get a better picture of the full price of your new pool.

New Pool Costs vs. Remodeling

Pool remodeling costs $4,600 to $12,000. This is about half what a new one would run. However, you could spend up to $100,000 or more on a complete backyard upgrade. Fees depend on the type of upgrade.

Aesthetic upgrades: $1,000-$5,000. These include custom tile or artwork, landscaping and rock features.
New filter and pump: $500-$2,000
New vinyl liner costs: $1,000-$5,000
Concrete pool resurfacing costs: $2,250-$15,000

Replacement vs. Repair

Pool repairs cost $230 to $5,000 or more. Removing a pool costs $9,000 to $19,000 with new installation running an additional $20,000 to $65,000.

Pool Prices Near You

Installing a pool costs more in areas with a higher cost of living. Northern climates may require extra care for winterization. In southern cities where they are prevalent, like Los Angeles, Phoenix and Orlando, you might find prices higher due to demand.

Los Angeles, California	$1,500-$160,000
Miami, Florida	$3,000 – $80,000
Orlando, Florida	$3,000 – $60,000
Houston, Texas	$2,000 – $75,000
Dallas, Texas	$3,500 – $25,000
Las Vegas, Nevada	$2,000 – $65,000
Phoenix, Arizona	$8,000 – $80,000

Is a Swimming Pool Worth the Investment in My Area?

Adding a pool can increase your home’s value by up to 7%. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll recoup the installation costs. For example, if your home appraises at $400,000, 7 percent of that is $28,000. With a patio and other options, your project is likely to come in at $50,000 or more. So, in this case, it’s not worth it just for the value increase.

Other factors to consider:

Southern states have more homebuyers who welcome the upkeep for year-round use.
Neighborhood prevalence: The more neighbors you have with pools, the more likely adding one to your home will generate a higher ROI.

Building a Pool on a Budget

Building one on a budget often means sacrificing some of the addons, features and amenities. Here are three options depending on its main use.

Cheapest: $1,500-$15,000. For family and relaxation, go with an above-ground, freestanding type. An avid DIYer can install one of these for as little as $500-$1,500. Have a professional pool installer near you put it in for as little as an additional $1,000.
Inexpensive Lap Pool: $23,000+. If you’re looking for one of these on a budget, try an endless pool. They’re freestanding and take up little space.
Budget friendly in-ground pool: $20,000-$30,000 for a prefabricated fiberglass shell. Once in, you can add on pricey amenities over time.