In-Ground Pool Pricing Guide

For clarity, the minimum cost of an in-ground pool is around USD 20,000 while the maximum cost can be over USD 200,000 with all the bells and whistles. This brings the average cost of an in-ground pool to around USD 37,000. If you add a saltwater feature, then you will have to pay an additional USD 2,500 and more than USD 3,000 if you want to install a waterfall feature. Adding a hot tub to the in-ground swimming pool can cost anywhere around USD 6,000. 

These are estimates and the cost can vary drastically, depending on several factors, such as the expertise of the pool builders, your location, pool size, etc. Let’s take a detailed look at the breakdown of in-ground swimming pool costs in the United States in 2022. 

Types of In-ground Pool and Pricing

Choosing a pool material may be one of the toughest things to decide when you plan to build an in-ground pool at home. The type of material you choose will not only influence the total cost of building a pool but also affect the maintenance and use for the next several years. Remember, some materials are easier to maintain than others while some may require more effort. Besides this, some materials are affordable initially but end up costing more in the long run, thanks to higher maintenance expenses. 

Here are the average costs of building an in-ground pool with different materials:

1. Concrete pool

The maximum cost of building a concrete in-ground pool is around USD 200,000 and it will cost you a minimum of USD 30,000. The average cost of building a 14-foot x 28-foot concrete in-ground pool is around USD 60,000. The average cost of maintaining a concrete in-ground pool is over USD 27,000. This cost will go even higher when you add more features to the pool. 

A concrete pool is the most expensive type of swimming pool to build. The up-front costs are high and concrete needs frequent care to maintain its integrity. Repairing damage to in-ground concrete pools is also costlier than others. However, it also provides your flexibility in design. 

Overall, concrete in-ground pools are recommended as you have complete control over its shape and design and because it adds intrinsic value to your home. On the other hand, concrete in-ground pools are difficult and expensive to maintain and also pose high risk of damage. 

2. Fiberglass pool

Fiberglass pools are more affordable and have low maintenance costs for the next 10 years from installation. You can expect to pay around USD 17,000 for a 10-foot x 16-foot pool and as much as USD 62,000 for an 18-foot x 30-foot pool. Fiberglass pools can last for up to 25 years and more, with annual maintenance costs at around USD 4,000. The average cost of building a fiberglass pool is around USD 30,000. 

Apart from this, GIY fiberglass pool kits can be bought for as less as USD 14,000 to as high as USD 32,000. The standard installation rates of professional pool-makers range between USD 23,000 to USD 47,000. If you are looking for turn-key installation, then the fiberglass pool is likely to cost anywhere between USD 48,000 to USD 80,000. 

Fiberglass has numerous benefits. The low-cost maintenance is one of the most attractive factors in favor of fiberglass. If you are looking to build a pool which is not going to be expensive to maintain, then you should choose fiberglass. You can cut down the total cost of installing these pools as many companies today sell fiberglass pool installation kits that halve the overall expenses. 

Overall, a fiberglass pool is recommended as it is the easiest pool material to maintain. It has smooth surfaces so it requires less chemical to maintain pH levels. The installation procedure for fiberglass pools is also faster and less expensive. However, you should not expect too many customization options with fiberglass. 

3. Vinyl pool

The total cost of building an in-ground vinyl pool is as low as USD 22,000 to as high as USD 50,000. The average cost of building an in-ground vinyl pool comes to around USD 33,500. The average cost of maintaining a vinyl in-ground pool over a period of 10 years can be around USD 13,000 or more. 

It is worth noting that vinyl in-ground pools are costlier to build and maintain too. The vinyl liners of the pool tend to get cracked or break and need to be replaced once every 10 years at least. It may cost you anywhere around USD 5,000 to replace the liner, which increases the average cost of maintaining the pool over the next several years. 

Overall, vinyl in-ground pools have a low up-front cost of building and are easy to maintain and clean. You can choose from a few different design options in vinyl. However, the cost of liner replacement increases the maintenance expenses significantly as you use the pool. 

Cost of additional features in in-ground pools

The best part about building an in-ground pool is the variety of options for add-on features. You can put anything, from a beautiful rock-formation to bright submersible lights to make the pool look more appealing. However, you should be ready to fork out significant sums of money for these additional features.  

Let’s take a quick look at the average cost of integrating different features in your in-ground pool:

• Hot Tub – USD 2,500 to USD 20,000 (based on features and quality)
• Pool Lights – USD 500 to USD 2,500
• Waterfalls and Water Features – USD 500 to USD 16,000 (depending on design) 
• Diving Board – USD 250 to USD 850 
• Slides – USD 600 to USD 19,000 (depending on individual situation) 
• Steps – USD 500 to USD 3,000 (based on pool style and step design)
• Pool Deck – USD 3,500 to USD 25,000 (depending on size of deck and materials) 
• Pool Heater – USD 500 to USD 11,000 (plus installation costs)
• Pool Cover – USD 1,000 to over USD 3,000 (for motorized covers)

Conclusion

Professional pool-builders, such as Eden, advise customers to have a clear vision when it comes to an in-ground pool design and plan. This makes it easier to calculate the different costs and get a more accurate figure of the total expenses for building an in-ground swimming pool at home.