There are plenty of charming and alluring inground pool designs online, choosing the one you like is not a problem, but how much does it cost?
Knowing the price of your pool, its installation costs and annual maintenance fees is one of the most important things, so let’s find out.
3 Key Takeaways
- The average price of an inground pool is $50,000, but there are so many elements that affect this price.
- The three most popular pool construction materials are concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass. We will advise you how to save on each of them.
- Each material has its own pros and cons, knowing them will help you make a better and more informed decision. We will discuss this in this article.
How much does an inground pool cost?
As you can see in the chart above, prices of inground pools vary from almost $200,000 to around $14,500. The cost will depend on the material that you choose, pool size and everything else that you may want to include in your final design. But what is the average cost of an inground pool?
Average cost of inground pool
The average cost of an inground pool is $50,000. But there are other elements that can and will affect the final price. Some of them are:
- Landscaping – If you have a specific landscaping design in mind, this can increase the price significantly. The average price range of landscaping is between $150 up to $48,000. This is the difference between laying grass or installing fountains, creating custom patios and having an overall more elaborate design.
- Rock blasting – This will depend on the type of the terrain on your plot. If there are lots of rocks under the surface, you will need to blast rocky terrain. The average cost is between $650 and $7,500.
- Decking – The average cost to build a deck is between $20 and $50 per square foot. The national average is $8,000. This will increase the price of your pool, but decks provide a non-slippery area around it and protect your landscaping.
- Finishing – Finishing will give you that all rounded appearance. It consists of finishing coats on the surface for concrete pools, adding ladders or steps, pool lighting and different details that will enhance your design. The best way to know if each element you’ve envisioned works and to make sure you have enough space for them is to have an accurate site plan. The average cost of finishing ranges between $5,000 and $35,000.
Now let’s see the exact price of different sized swimming pools made from different materials.
Inground pool sizes and prices
In the table below you can see different price points for pools made of different materials, from the most expensive, to the least expensive ones.
Inground pool sizes, materials and cost:
| Pool Size | Concrete | Fiberglass | Vinyl |
| 30×50 | $195,000 | $175,500 | $136,510 |
| 32×16 | $66,560 | $59,900 | $46,600 |
| 30×15 | $58,510 | $52,650 | $40,950 |
| 25×45 | $146,250 | $131,620 | $102,380 |
| 20×40 | $104,000 | $93,600 | $72,800 |
| 18×40 | $93,600 | $84,250 | $65,500 |
| 18×36 | $84,240 | $75,820 | $58,970 |
| 18×30 | $70,200 | $63,200 | $49,140 |
| 16×36 | $74,880 | $67,400 | $52,420 |
| 16×32 | $66,560 | $59,910 | $46,600 |
| 15×30 | $58,500 | $52,650 | $40,950 |
| 15×20 | $39,000 | $35,100 | $27,300 |
| 14×30 | $54,600 | $49,140 | $38,220 |
| 14×28 | $50,960 | $45,860 | $35,670 |
| 14×20 | $36,400 | $32,760 | $25,480 |
| 12×30 | $46,810 | $42,120 | $32,760 |
| 12×24 | $37,440 | $33,700 | $26,208 |
| 12×20 | $31,200 | $28,080 | $21,840 |
| 12×16 | $24,960 | $22,460 | $17,470 |
| 10×30 | $39,000 | $35,100 | $27,300 |
| 10×20 | $26,000 | $23,400 | $18,200 |
| 10×16 | $20,810 | $18,700 | $14,600 |
Small inground pool cost
Small inground pools are those with 10×16 and 10×20 dimensions. The cost ranges between $14,600 and $26,000. The main factor is the material that is used. If you choose vinyl lining instead of concrete, the price will be lower.
If you decide to add a pool deck, pool covers, furniture and privacy fence, the price will be affected.
Inground pool cost estimator
Lots of thing affect the price of your swimming pool, the main ones are:
- Material
- Size
- Depth
- Location
- Design
On average, you will spend around $100 per square foot if you want to build a standard 14×28 pool. If you want a bigger and deeper pool, the average price per square foot is $150.
Cost to build inground pool
On average, pool owners spend between $30,000 and $50,000 on building an inground pool, where around 30% of the pool’s cost is the total labor.
The above ground pools are much cheaper, their price range is between $2,000 and $5,000.
Keep in mind that, if you live in a HOA community, there is a chance that you will have to obtain a HOA approval or permit. And in most cases you will have to have a building permit before you start with your project.
But what about inground pool installation? Let’s find out.
Installing a pool cost
The national average of installing an inground pool is $35,000. Inground pool installation costs will also be determined by the material that you choose. In the table below you can see the average price range for different materials and their longevity.
Inground pool installation cost:
| MATERIAL | COST TO INSTALL | LASTINGNESS |
| Vinyl | $25,000 – $50,000 | More than 25 years |
| Concrete | $30,000 – $60,000 | More than 50 years |
| Fiberglass | $20,000 – $65,000 | Liner has to be replaced every 6-9 years |
But being a swimming pool owner also means having to spend some money on yearly maintenance, so let’s see the cost of that.
Inground pool maintenance
The average cost of yearly maintenance of an inground swimming pool is between $1,000 and $2,000. Same as with everything else, the cost will depend on the material of your pool. In the table below, you can see the cost of yearly maintenance for different materials. Please note, this is basic maintenance, it does not include repair of any major damage.
Inground pool maintenance cost:
| MATERIAL | COST OF YEARLY MAINTENANCE |
| Vinyl | $1,500+ |
| Concrete | $3,000+ |
| Fiberglass | $400+ |
Cost to remove inground pool
There are 2 different ways you can remove your inground swimming pool, and they all come with different price tags:
- Partial pool fill-in
- Remove and fill-in
The average price of partial pool fill-in is between $4,700 and $6,500. Partial pool fill-in is the process where the pool is collapsed in on itself and then the remaining cavity is filled with dirt. In order to prevent settling the ground is then compacted.
This process is cheaper than the full removal, but it has some downsides. This area of your plot will always be at risk of sinking or improper drainage. Also, you will have to disclose partial pool fill-in if you are planning to sell your house. This can potentially lower your property’s value.
The average price of full pool removal and fill-in is between $4,500 and $16,000, national average is $9,100. As you can see, this is the more expensive way, but it is also safer. This process consists of pool demolition, proper disposing of materials, filling-in and compacting.
Full removal is more time consuming than partial. While partial removal can be done in 3 days or less, full pool removal takes between 3 and 7 days. Keep in mind that you will probably need a demolition permit for a full pool removal.
Now that you’re familiar with the costs of installing, maintaining, and removing inground pools, let’s take a look at all the different types and their specific costs.
Swimming pool types and costs
There are 7 main types of inground swimming pools:
- Fiberglass inground pool
- Concrete inground pool
- Vinyl inground pool
- Semi inground pool
- Gunite pool
- Inground saltwater pool
- Inground hot tub
Now, let’s check the price of each of them.
Fiberglass inground pool cost
As you saw in the first table, the cost of a fiberglass inground pool ranges between $18,700 for a 10×16 pool and $175,500 for a 30×50 pool. The national average for fiberglass pools is $54,000.
If you choose a fiberglass swimming pool with a smaller shell, you might be able to install it on your own. That will lower the final price and can be a better budget-friendly option.
Let’s see what are the downsides and benefits of a fiberglass inground pool.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✅ Quicker to install than other types of pools | ❌ No customization, shells are pre-made |
| ✅ Better heat conserver | ❌ Gel coating may need resurfacing |
| ✅ Smooth surface | ❌ Surface can be slippery |
| ✅ No algae | ❌ Shells are usually not bigger than 16 feet |
Concrete inground pool cost
The cost of concrete inground pool ranges between $20,810 for a 10×16 pool and $195,000 for a 30×50 pool. The national average is $80,000.
What will affect the price the most is the square footage or size of your concrete pool. If you’re looking for a way to cut costs, the best thing to do is to downsize your pool.
Same as every other material, concrete pools have pros and cons, let’s see them.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✅ Long lasting, up to 50 years | ❌ Expensive |
| ✅ Very durable | ❌ Prone to growing algae |
| ✅ Customizable shape and size | ❌ Abrasive surface |
| ✅ Visually appealing | ❌ It takes a long time to install |
Vinyl inground pool cost
The cost of a vinyl inground pool ranges between 14,600 for a 10×16 pool and $136,510 for a 30×50 pool. The national average for vinyl pools is $45,000.
With inground vinyl pools the price will be mostly affected with the shape that you choose. The budget-friendly option is a rectangular pool. The reason is that it is the easiest shape to cut out of the vinyl lining. Curvier shapes will be more expensive.
Let’s compare the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl inground swimming pools.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✅ The most affordable inground pool material | ❌ Not recommended for saltwater |
| ✅ Customizable shape | ❌ Not as visually appealing |
| ✅ Maintenance is moderate | ❌ Not durable |
| ✅ Surface is non-abrasive | ❌ Liner has to be replaced every 6-9 years |
Inground pool liner cost
The average range of pool liner is between $750 and $1,550 just for material. But of course, the price will depend on the size and shape of your vinyl liner pool, as well as the thickness of the material that you choose.
Inground pool liner replacement cost
Once you’ve chosen your new liner, it’s time for installation. The average cost is between $1,200 and $2,800. The process of replacing a pool liner takes between 1 and 4 days. Keep an eye on the weather, because if it starts raining, your project will take a lot longer.
Total cost of pool liner replacement:
| COST OF NEW LINER | $750 – $1,550 |
| COST OF LABOUR | $1,200 – $2,800 |
| TOTAL | $1,950 – $4,350 |
Semi inground pool cost
The cost to install a semi inground pool ranges between $8,000 and $23,000 and the national average is $12,000.
This is a great option if you are not sure whether to install an above ground or inground pool. Semi inground pools are much deeper than above ground ones, and cheaper than inground pools.
Gunite pool cost
Gunite pools are very similar to concrete inground pools. The difference is that gunite is made from small particles and it comes as a dry mix where you have to add water. Concrete consists of small and large particles and it comes already mixed with water.
This means that building a gunite pool is more time-consuming than concrete one, because you will have to do all the mixing at the site.
When it comes to cost, gunite pools cost the same as concrete ones, so that means on average around $80,000.
Cost of inground saltwater pool
The cost of saltwater pool installation ranges between $30,000 and $60,000. The national average is $37,000.
The price of saltwater pool:
| Average range | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| Minimal cost | $19,000 |
| Maximal cost | $200,000 |
| Average cost | $37,000 |
The other option is to convert an existing swimming pool into a saltwater pool. The price for conversion is between $700 and $2,500.
Inground hot tub cost
As with swimming pools, inground hot tubs are more expensive than above ground ones. The cost of an inground hot tub ranges between $8,000 and $25,000. This is the cost of the tub and the cost of labor to install it.
If you decide to add a hot tub to your inground pool and install them at the same time, the price will be lower. The cost of an inground hot tub is between $6,000 and $16,000 when added simultaneously with the pool.
One of the best ways to decide on the shape of your swimming pool, whether or not you want to add a hot tub, and where to place all the additional elements is with a site plan.
Additional cost for inground swimming pools
Weather you decided on concrete, vinyl or fiberglass pool, pool prices can be increased if you choose to add some elements, the most common ones are:
- Diving board
- Pool fence
- Inground pool lights
- Water features
Let’s break down the cost of each of these elements.
Diving board
The cost of a diving board varies between $400 and $800. This is for a surface level board. If you decide to put one that is higher, for deeper pools, the price will be higher.
Pool fence
In most cases, a pool fence is necessary. This is because it is considered to be a mandatory safety feature. The cost of a pool fence with installation has a huge range, it is between $600 and $4,500. The main reason is the material that you choose. Also, you should consider that you may have to apply for a fencing permit in order to install it.
Inground pool lights
The cost of inground pool lights is between $700 and $2,000. As you can imagine, there are so many options when it comes to LED lights for pools. But this feature can really change your design and bring it to the next level.
If you are considering adding lights, our advice is to do it while the pool is being installed or built, that is a more cost effective way.
Water features
When it comes to waterfalls and water features, the price range is huge, the average range is between $2,000 and $20,000. The reason for this is that you might have in mind a simple design, or you want a big waterfall with real stones. Of course, these things will affect the final price.
Site plans for the best inground pool design
A good site plan will not only show you the precise location of all existing structures on your lot, but also any proposed changes to it. This is a great time-saving and cost-effective way to determine what type of design you want.
Also, as we mentioned, if you live in an HOA community, you will need to get approval. You will probably need a building permit from your city. Our site plans for permits will help you with both. You’ll be approved in no time and be able to bring your dream design to life. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
