How Much Does An Inground Pool Cost?

Inground Pool Cost By Pool Type

If you’re looking at inground pools for your backyard, you are probably aware that three main types exist, and you are likely trying to decide what type of inground pool is best for you. Purchasing an inground pool is a significant investment—often an individual or couple’s second-largest behind their home—so, naturally, you want to know how much each type of inground pool costs. The short answer follows, but we’ll show you other variables you should consider in subsequent sections.

Vinyl Liner Pools

Vinyl liner inground pools can range from  $25,000 to $65,000 or more but are typically the cheapest inground pool option for initial installation costs. Replacing the vinyl liner every five to 15 years may cost another  $3,000 to $7,500.

Fiberglass Pools

Fiberglass pools can range between  $30,000 to $85,000 or more, depending on the design, delivery costs for the preconstructed pool shell, and other factors we’ll explore further. Fiberglass pool buyers can enjoy quicker installation over other pool types and lower long-term maintenance costs and responsibilities.

Gunite Pools

Concrete or gunite pools can range drastically between  $50,000 to $120,000 or more. This wide range of price tags matches concrete’s unique versatility and customization possibilities, with gunite pool designs often only limited by imagination or budget.

Inground Pool Cost Considerations

Within each pool type, there are many unique factors and variables to consider. Some may impact certain homeowners more for one reason or another, while others will apply to every pool project. Aside from costs, some considerations that may influence your first big decision—pool type—include the following: 

Pool Builder

Not all pool builders are built the same. Some companies use specialized crews for different installation stages, while others employ a small team to handle the entire process. Your choice of local pool dealer and installer will determine the timeline and overall quality of the project. Meeting and consulting with several pool builders, checking their references, and verifying credentials are wise efforts to avoid costly mistakes.

Geographic Location

Actual inground pool installation costs can vary drastically by geographic location and region of the country. For example, pouring a concrete pool in a Sun Belt state may be much less expensive than one in an area with a significant freeze-thaw cycle to account for.

Environmental Impact

Each pool type comes with different environmental footprint impacts. Necessary vinyl liner replacements contribute to landfill waste and can leach chemicals, for example, while gunite pools require heavy water and chemical use for maintenance. By comparison, fiberglass pools have the most negligible environmental impact without a need for resurfacing and fewer chemical or water usage issues.

How Do Shape & Size Affect Inground Pool Costs?

Maybe you already have a specific size in mind and just want to know  how much a 12×24 inground pool costs? Or, if you have a slightly larger backyard, researching  16×32 inground pool costs may be your starting point when considering possible pool designs. Pool size and shape are significant factors for inground pool costs. A pool’s size impacts everything from how much earth builders must displace and how much material goes into the pool shell to how much water you’ll have to use, filter, and maintain. Let’s discuss how shape and size affect pool cost based on the pool type.

Vinyl Liner Pools

Pool installers build vinyl liner pools on-site, beginning with interconnected galvanized steel, aluminum, or plastic panels. Builders may offer customization and variety in shapes and sizes, but many unique features, such as tanning ledges, require expert-level framing work with challenging vinyl seams. Complexities in a vinyl liner pool design can add significant costs and installation time. Generally, the larger the pool, the more it costs.

Gunite Pools

Like vinyl, gunite pools are custom-built in each backyard. Installers use concrete blocks and steel rebar to frame gunite pools, injecting (“gunning”) concrete through a high-pressure nozzle onto the frame. Gunite pools can be as large, deep, and extravagant as you desire, although creating a large or one-of-a-kind masterpiece can add considerable costs. Additionally, more complex pool shapes may necessitate intricate landscaping and custom decking to blend with the surrounding environment, raising the overall project cost.

Fiberglass Pools

Fiberglass pools differ from the other pool types in that manufacturers mold and finish the one-piece pool shells at an off-site manufacturing facility. While fiberglass pools are not technically customizable, manufacturers today offer increasingly more sizes, shapes, colors, and other desirable features like built-in benches, tanning ledges, or beach entries. You’ll have to work within the parameters and choices available from your independent pool dealer’s manufacturer partners, but this efficiency helps reduce overall costs.

Because they are transported in one piece, there are limits to how large fiberglass inground pools can be to remain safe for delivery to your home. However, at around 16 feet wide and 40 feet long, larger fiberglass pools are often more than large enough for most large backyard pools. Similar to the other pool types, smaller fiberglass pools are less expensive than larger ones.

Beyond the Basics: How Add-On & High-End Features Impact Inground Pool Costs

From pool heaters and built-in steps to tanning ledges and beach entries, add-ons can greatly affect your inground pool cost. Consider which features you want and compare pool types. In some instances, your cost will elevate significantly based on pool type. Your local pool dealer can help assemble a cost plan so there aren’t any surprises.

Pool Heaters

Pool heaters can extend the swim season in less temperate climates. Their heat source includes gas, propane, heat pump, electric resistance, and solar. Gas and propane heaters heat quickly but can be costly to operate. Heat pumps are energy-efficient but slower, relying on warm air temperatures. Electric resistance heaters provide consistent heating regardless of the weather but are expensive to run. Solar heaters offer long-term savings and eco-friendliness but require ample sunlight. Location, climate, and energy availability play key roles in selecting the right pool heater. 

Fiberglass pools heat faster and retain heat better than other pool types due to their smooth, non-porous surface, which minimizes heat loss. Concrete pools take longer to heat because of their dense material, which absorbs and retains heat within the pool walls, resulting in slower heating. Vinyl pools, while slightly better than concrete in terms of heat retention, don’t hold heat as effectively as fiberglass due to the thinness of the vinyl liner. 

Built-In Steps

Gunite pools include custom built-in steps at no extra cost, although intricate designs may increase the price. Fiberglass pools come with built-in steps, but upgrades like tiling can add to the base price. Vinyl liner pools require separate step installations, often made of plastic or fiberglass, and typically add between  $200 and $2,500 to the overall cost, depending on design and materials.

Beach Entry

A beach-entry (or “zero-entry”) inground swimming pool features a slight sloping ramp into the pool, providing a longer, slower, gradual entry mimicking a beach experience. Fiberglass pool manufacturers conveniently mold pool shells featuring a built-in combination of a beach entry and then a few steps into the rest of the pool. While beach entries will be built into the price of your fiberglass pool shell, adding one to a vinyl or gunite design can cost up to an additional  $50 to $125 per square foot. Theoretically, builders can create a beach entry for a vinyl liner pool, but most will likely steer you toward concrete or fiberglass. Primarily, that’s because vinyl liners need weight from water to remain securely in place, and vinyl can pose a slipping hazard.

Tanning Ledges

An inground pool with a tanning ledge is a unique luxury once reserved for high-end resorts. A tanning ledge is a shallow shelf or patio type of area near the pool entryway with about 8 to 12 inches of water. As the name suggests, homeowners often opt for a comfy lounger to lay and relax on the ledge while tanning. However, it’s also an ideal space for young children to splash, play, and safely enjoy their first swimming experiences. 

Tanning ledges come built-in with specific fiberglass pool designs, so there is no additional cost. Costs for tanning ledges average around  $2,000 to $4,000 in gunite pools but can be more depending on the complexity, finishes (like tile or stone), and additional features such as bubblers​. Adding a ledge to a vinyl liner pool is possible but will add to a project’s cost and labor timeline. Pool builders generally advise against tanning ledges in vinyl liner pools because they can be slippery and could easily tear if you aren’t careful when putting pool furniture on the vinyl surface.

Waterline Tiles

Waterline tiles add a refined aesthetic to your pool, creating a clean and polished look around the water’s edge. Typically 6 inches wide, they can be installed around the perimeter of gunite or fiberglass pools, costing around  $25 per linear foot. Waterline tiles are often included in gunite pools to hide pool yellowing at the waterline. In fiberglass pools, they are considered upgrades or custom installations. Additional installation costs may vary depending on the pool material, tile type, and any custom design elements you choose.

What About Yard Conditions & Pool Landscaping Costs?

Your pool builder will include and account for unique geographic site conditions when estimating costs, but post-installation pool landscaping is not always a part of every dealer’s offerings. Adding a custom patio or decking in the area surrounding your pool is something to plan for, and you can weigh budgeting for it in your initial installation vs. spreading the work and cost out across future years. 

Installers must thoroughly assess your inground pool site before the dig phase to account for geography and topography factors such as soil conditions. Yard elevation, surrounding trees, lot size, or local HOA regulations can impact equipment access to the pool site, with additional permits or solutions for difficult access potentially adding to installation costs.

Local pool builders should be familiar with the soil conditions common to your region. Many installers consider loam soil—with a balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay—the ideal soil type for inground pool installations. Sandy soil is much easier to excavate than clay-rich or rocky soils, but each type presents unique challenges that may cost between a few hundred and several thousand dollars to address. 

After digging the hole and putting your inground pool in place, surrounding it with a spacious outdoor living space and lush landscaping can elevate the final product to another luxurious level. 

Decking and patio costs vary based on your materials, finishing choices, and other features. The cost of an approximately 900-square-foot patio can range from  $4,500 to $31,500, depending on materials. Many pool buyers opt for a standard poured concrete deck, which averages  $5 to $15 per square foot. Stamped concrete jumps to between  $8 and $19 per square foot. With options ranging from standard stone materials to more expensive and lavish travertine, pavers often range from  $8 to $50 per square foot. 

Including retaining walls brings some built-in seating and dimension to otherwise flat areas, ranging from $40 to $300 per linear foot. Beyond the pool’s immediate surroundings, adding landscaping rocks for a pop of color and texture or foliage with shrubs, trees, and other plantings can cost between $9 and $12 per square foot.

Other Inground Pool Installation Cost Variables

While some inground pool installation costs are apparent, you may still stumble across others you weren’t anticipating or assumed would be included. Your local municipality may require an additional flat-cost permitting fee, or your homesite may require renting a crane to get materials into the backyard. Knowing what to look for in your estimate beyond typical upfront installation activity can help prevent unexpected costs.

Permits & Variances

Your dealer should be familiar with local ordinances, including pool permits and safety inspection regulations. Permits and inspections may run from  $100 to $1,000, and electrical and plumbing work may require separate licenses.

Water

Water is an essential part of any pool! However, it may not come standard with your inground pool installation, so check with your dealer.

Fencing

In some areas, fencing around a residential pool is a law-mandated requirement. Your pool dealer should be familiar with any local applicable guidelines, which may require fences to include specific materials, heights, and other design standards. Cheaper chain-link fences can range from $1,000 to $5,000, while more aesthetically pleasing and expensive materials like wrought iron can cost as much as $12,000 or more. The average cost of installing a standard pool fence is approximately  $15 to $25 per foot.

Pool Cover

Winter pool covers are the most cumbersome and difficult to use, with options available between  $75 and $250. Mesh or solid safety covers range from  $1,000 to $3,600. Manual, retractable covers on a track and reel system can range from  $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the materials and safety ratings. Automatic pool covers are easily the most convenient option, but they require an electrical hookup and typically cost between  $8,000 and $20,000.

Electrical Work

A reliable electrical system is essential, impacting pool filtration, lighting, and consistent operations. Your pool dealer or a local electrical contractor should be able to assess your property and advise on adding or upgrading a backyard breaker box or other solutions.

Dirt Hauling

The excavation of your inground pool site can require removing enough dirt to fill an entire two-car garage. You and your pool builders can consider using some of that dirt for landscaping or lawn leveling, or hauling it away could cost up to  $800 to rent a dumpster holding up to 80 cubic yards.

Backfill

Vinyl liner and gunite pools don’t use backfill, but it is essential in supporting fiberglass pools and setting the shell in place. Most fiberglass pool installations will include backfill, but consult with your dealer to be sure. Backfill is usually crushed stone, but your dealer can specify optimal materials for your site’s geography and ground characteristics. Innovative  backfill eliminators can also help installers create a level and sturdy pool with proper groundwater flow.

Restoration

Installing an inground pool is a significant construction project regardless of your pool type, size, or surrounding details. For at least several weeks, your backyard could host heavy-duty trucks, cranes, jackhammers, and more construction equipment. Clean-up is an integral part of the installation process, and costs can vary depending on your site and project details.

Often-Overlooked Inground Pool Installation Costs

Installing an inground pool is a significant investment, even without unforeseen expenses. These hidden costs can add up quickly, so it’s essential to be aware of them when planning your pool project. Some factors that may raise the price of your pool project include:

Access

Are there trees or overhead power lines that may impede access? Do you have enough room for heavy equipment and concrete trucks to reach the backyard? Most heavy equipment needs 8 to 10 feet of width to pass through. You’ll face additional costs if gaining access requires temporarily or permanently removing structures.

Elevations & Slopes

What is the change in elevation across your yard? Will you need a retaining wall? Variances in the upward or downward slope of the site may factor into your inground pool cost.

Unmapped Utilities

Sometimes, water, gas, electric, sewage, septic, cable, and phone lines are not mapped accurately, especially in older neighborhoods. Discovering any of these during excavation can increase costs and add delays.

Septic Systems

Does your home have a septic system? Rerouting septic systems or adjusting your inground pool location can add to your project costs.

Plumbing

Where do you want your pool equipment? How far will the plumbing lines have to run? Some plumbing is factored in, but the possibility exists for extra plumbing costs with more complex pool designs or unique situations.

How Much Will Maintenance Impact The Lifetime Costs of an Inground Pool?

It’s a common miscalculation for homeowners to account for many inground pool installation costs but forget to budget for annual and ongoing maintenance. It’s wise to evaluate how much your inground pool will cost over time and how much work it will require. 

With all inground pools, you’ll have to stay on top of skimming the surface, balancing your water chemistry, and vacuuming debris. Other factors, namely the type of pool you choose, will determine your amount of regular maintenance. 

Vinyl Liner Pools

Vinyl pool liners can puncture or tear from pet claws, fallen tree limbs, or other sharp objects. Even with proper care, pools will need a new liner every five to 15 years, with replacements costing between  $3,000 and $7,500. Liner replacements require draining and refilling the pool, often with days-long downtime, and expenses can be higher for freeform shapes and custom features.

Gunite Pools

Concrete has a well-earned reputation as a solid and durable building material. It is also porous and permeable, however, making it susceptible to cracking and inviting algae, calcium, and other hard minerals to make their way into concrete’s nooks and crannies. Homeowners will need to purchase more chemicals over the life of a gunite pool to balance pH levels and keep algae and minerals at bay. Gunite pools also require resurfacing every 10 to 15 years, which can cost  $6,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the pool size and complexity.

Fiberglass Pool

Fiberglass pool shells are smooth, non-porous, non-reactive, and have a growing reputation for long-term durability. Fiberglass inground pools can last 50 years without major repairs or replacement with proper installation and maintenance. While annual maintenance can total thousands of dollars with vinyl and gunite pools, fiberglass alternatives are the most cost-effective inground pools with relatively minimal maintenance costs and labor demands.