For many people, an inground swimming pool is a far off dream. The cost of inground pools is staggering and unachievable in their minds.

What if we told you there was a way to have the customized inground pool of your dream? We believe that every family deserves a place where they can make memories and we've seen first hand how a pool can do just that. As an owner-builder, you can achieve your dream.

It can be hard to break down the cost of a pool on your own but it's important know what you're getting yourself into. Let's take a look so that you go into the process with an accurate idea of the cost of an inground pool.

How Much Does An Inground Pool Cost

There's a lot more consideration that comes with purchasing a pool than simply the inground pool installation cost but we're not breaking the price tag down until a little bit later. In general, you can expect the average cost for a standard pool to be around $80,000, with the bill starting at $65,000. As an owner-builder, however, the starting cost is $30,000 and the average amount spent is $45,000-$55,000.

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As you can see, there's a big difference in price depending on how you approach the building of your pool. Additionally, what you create your pool out of, what size it is, your style, location, whether it is a saltwater or chlorine pool and many other things are going to either raise or lower your expected cost. Concrete pools are usually more expensive than fiberglass pools, for example, but that price can technically be balanced out through other factors.

We know that can be intimidating to think of, especially if you're new to the idea. Luckily, we're here to break it down for you.

Inground Pool Cost Breakdown

Each family is different, so each set of needs is different. The pool that is right for you might not be the right pool for someone else. From lap pools to an infinity pool that stretches out toward the heavens, and vinyl and concrete pools with all their pros and cons, there are endless options. It's important to know how pricing is approached that way you can prioritize your own wants and needs.

Pool Size

One of the cool things about pools is that they can come in all sizes. That means that whatever the size of your yard, there's a pool that will suit your situation.

Typical inground pools are 12 feet by 28 feet and they're around 6 1/2 feet deep. Here are some standard sizes and average pricings for those sizes: 10x10 $30,000 12x24 $40,000 14x28 $45,000 15x30 $48,000 16x32 $50,000 18x36 $52,000 20x40 $55,000

These are standard industry sizes. When you go custom, you can do whatever size and shape you want as long as the budget allows. It's an incredible freeing feeling to be able to move outside the normal inground pool ranges.

Material

What material you choose is usually the biggest determiner of your price range. Higher quality materials will cost you more, but they'll provide a longer lifespan and a higher quality experience.

Vinyl pools are usually the least expensive option up front, but they also don't last very long. Vinyl liners have to be replaced every ten years which makes their lifetime cost more expensive than fiberglass pools. They are low maintenance, however, which is why they're still popular. They're smooth to the touch and, especially compared to other pool types, vinyl pools are very quick and easy to install. Your upfront cost for vinyl is, on average, going to be $50,000 working with a vinyl pool company. (40k as an owner builder)

Fiberglass pools are the balance between expense and longevity. A well-constructed fiberglass pool will give you 25 years of enjoyment. The material is flexible and easy on the skin but it comes with limited size and shape availability which means you can't customize it as fully as some other options. Also, it fades over time, but if that doesn't bother you, fiberglass is a good deal. The average price is around $65,000 working with a fiberglass installer.  (Around $50k as a owner builder) 

A concrete or gunite pool is a amazing option for durability, customizability, and beauty. A well-constructed gunite pool will last a century. That's a pool you can pass down to your children! Unfortunately, gunite pools are also more expensive due to their durability and longevity.These pools have a little bit higher average cost, ranging from around $70,000 to $80,000 from pool companies. (40k-60k as a homeowner builder)

Style 

Style will have an impact on what you're going to spend. A large hot tub is still going to cost less than a big, natural swimming pool. It all depends on what you're looking for.

It would take a very long time to list all the styles and their price differences, so, instead, just keep in mind that a simple pool in a standard shape is almost always going to cost less than a custom or specialty pool.

Location

Above ground pools aren't as complicated to place as inground pools. Inground pools require a lot of precision and thought behind their placement, especially when considering the cost. It matters where in the backyard you place it, as well as what area you're living in. Areas with a higher cost of living will generally mean a higher price point for pool installation. Excavation is an important part of why your price tag is what it is.

Labor

You can typically figure labor up as 33% of the total cost of the project. If you're looking at spending $55,000 on the average inground pool, around $19,000 of that is all for labor. Roughly, that's $55 an hour for labor. That's not per person, that's in all.

Cost of Common Pool Add-Ons

Any time you add a fancy feature to your pool, the cost will go up. That makes sense, of course, but not all features are going to break the bank. In fact, they might be well worth it to you to make space for.

Pool Lighting

Pool lighting is a great way to get more use out of your pool. Instead of being limited to times when the Sun is up, you can use your pool at all hours of the day. Typically, it's around $600 per light if you buy wholesale. There are other options for lighting your backyard besides pool lighting, if you're looking for less expensive alternatives.

Diving Board

A diving board will increase the versatility of your pool. It's a great way to encourage confidence in the water as well as weaving some more intense exercise into your pool fun. Costs are anywhere from $300 to $5,000 without including labor. Make sure diving boards are allowed in your jurisdiction, as most building departments don’t allow them. 

Pool Heater

A pool heater will allow you to use your pool for more of the year since it won't be chained to the season. We're not talking about a little hot tub, we're talking about heating entire inground swimming pools. Some people find heated pools more comfortable even in the summer. It's all about personal preference.

Pool heaters cost somewhere between $3,000 - $7,000 depending on what kind you get. Electric resistance heaters are usually $500-$5,000 but don’t work well and are a huge drain on energy, they are not worth the investment. Gas or propane heaters range from $3,000-$5,500, a heat pump will be $4,000-$7,500, and solar is usually $2,000-$7,500.

On top of that, you can safely expect anywhere from $500-$2,000 on labor when you get the heating installed.

Fencing

Sometimes this is less of a fancy feature and more of a requirement. Many local municipalities actually require homeowners to fence in their pools because of safety concerns. The cost of a pool fence is measured by linear foot, which is usually $15-$25 each. In the end, most homeowners end up spending between $1,500 to $10,000.

How to Save on Inground Pool Installation Costs

All those numbers might have you feeling a little concerned, but here's where we take it down a notch. Instead of looking at ways to spend money, let's spend some time looking at how to save money,

Simple Design

Keeping your design simple is a sure way to keep the cost down. You can skip out on all the extra features and custom pool tiles and go with something that is still beautiful, but more simplistic. A pre-made design is likely to save you time as well as funds. You also don't have to add everything right away. Some of those features you wanted such as slides or diving boards can always be added later when the budget has a little room.

Keep Long-Term Costs In Mind

We mentioned this a little bit when we covered some of the different pool materials. When a pool material is a fantastic upfront cost, always make sure to look into how long it will last and what kind of maintenance you're looking at. Some pools need yearly maintenance, others need something a little more intensive.

Choose Smaller and Shallower Inground Pools

Unless you're trying to fit a very specific need, you may not need a very deep or very long swimming pool such as someone practicing laps or diving. You can save quite a bit of money on excavation, pool materials, water maintaining, and energy simply by enjoying a smaller, shallower pool.

It doesn't loose you much entertainment if it looses you any, so consider going with something a little more low key if your budget is feeling tight.

Do Maintenance Tasks Yourself

It doesn't take much to do the maintenance yourself. You might spend a few hours every week tending to your pool, but by doing it yourself, you could save around $1,000 a year just on the maintenance costs.

A pool maintenance professional and/or pool cleaner will usually cost around $80 to $200 a week during swimming season. If you have room for that in your monthly expenses, that's fantastic. If you want/need to save that money for something else, know that you can easily do the maintenance yourself.

How Do You Choose the Best Company to Build Your Inground Pool?

Pool companies have a reputation in today's day and age. They're notorious for a lot of things that are less than positive. It's crucial, when thinking of hiring someone for a job as intricate and expensive as one such as this, that you consider all aspects of a company. Read up on their mission, vision for their company and their customers, and heavily consider the reputation of the company as well as individual employees if you're able.

You need a company that will work with you as well as for you. When you're putting down enough money to build an inground pool, you need it to be gotten right the first and only time.

Why Choose Us?

Those of us at DIY Pools and Spas have been in the pool industry for a long time. We started this business because we saw what kind of impact a pool could have on a family and we knew there had to be a way to make inground pools accessible to more than the rich. Our process makes it so that inground pools are as budget friendly as possible. In fact, we almost always save our customers upwards of $20,000 compared to their other bids!

We put you in charge of the project by equipping you with everything that a project manager should have. You no longer have to work through a middle man that take a large percentage of the profits, because you can head it up yourself. The Homeowner Builder Program is the complete package with everything you need to be confident in your control over your pool project.

With this package, you will receive personal consulting and support every step of the way from financing to finding and securing your subcontractors. You don't have to do it alone. There is also a video guided program that walks you through every step of the process in such a detailed way that you'll feel completely sure of what's going on around you. Additionally, the construction check lists will keep you and your sub-contractors on time and on track.

You will be a part of designing your pool and landscaping, and then you will be the recipient of a 3D rendered design with a video walk through. You get permit ready construction plans so that you don't have to do the cumbersome work of making sure everything is up to par with all the many rules and regulations. In the states of CA, AZ, UT, CO, NM, OR, WA, NV, TX, MA, FL, AL, GA, TN, NC, and SC, we can provide plans that are worked on by licensed pool and spa engineers, and with the wholesale equipment costs at your disposal, you can feel sure that you're getting the best deal possible.

As you can see, everything you need so confidently and professionally complete your pool purchase, design, and installation is at your fingertips. All that's required of you is that you bravely step forward and finally realize the pool of your dreams.