How Much Does an Inground Pool Really Cost?

Picture this: summer sun, sparkling water, laughter echoing across your backyard, and an oasis built for family memories. That vision often begins with a single question: how much does an inground pool cost?

At first glance, the national average sits between $44,500 and $87,500. But the truth goes deeper. The real answer lies in something most homeowners overlook: the Total Cost of Ownership. This includes every dollar you’ll spend from excavation to weekly upkeep and even repairs years down the line.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand not just the upfront investment but what it truly means, financially and practically, to own and enjoy an inground pool.

Upfront Investment: Price of the Pool Itself

Wondering how much does an inground pool cost? The biggest variable in your initial cost is the type of material you choose. Each option offers different levels of durability, maintenance, and long-term savings.

1. Material Matters

In-ground vinyl pool liner pools are often the most economical. With prices for installation from $35,000 to $70,000, liners have to be replaced every five to ten years and run from $4,000 to $7,500 per replacement. It is a more inexpensive starting point but has a much more frequent maintenance cycle.

These pools are nonporous, preventing the growth of algae, so they will require less cleaning and fewer chemicals. Fiberglass pools are most likely to cost between $55,000 and $100,000.

Prices for gunite or concrete swimming pools begin around $60,000 and can easily exceed $120,000. This freedom of design comes at a price, however: these pools incur the highest long-term maintenance costs. Acid washing is required every few years, and resurfacing every decade can cost well over $20,000.

2. Size & Dimensions

It’s simple math: the larger your pool, the higher the construction cost. A bigger surface area also means more water, more chemicals, and greater energy use in the long term. Even a few extra feet in length or depth can noticeably impact your budget.

3. Shape & Complexity

Classic rectangular pools are the most cost-efficient. Custom shapes, which are mostly aesthetic, will increase price primarily due to the more complicated and one-of-a-kind labor and materials required to be combined with specialized extras such as custom pool covers. If you're contemplating curves, waterfalls, or tanning ledges, brace yourself because those enhancements will definitely add to the cost.

Installation & Landscaping Costs

Beyond the pool shell, there’s a suite of essential groundwork and finishing touches that significantly affect your total cost.

1. Site Prep and Installation

Excavating usually costs between $1,500 and $5,000. If you have rocky soil or underground utilities, expect to pay even more and spend time waiting. The second major factor involves permits, which can be a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, depending on your locality.

2. The Backyard Trinity: Decking, Fencing, and Landscaping

A well-designed pool is only part of the equation. Surrounding elements matter just as much for function and beauty.

• Pool decking is around $3,000 for simple concrete but quite easily heads over $26,000 for high-end pavers or even wood finishes. 
• Safety fencing, a must for any family with toddlers or animals, usually costs $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the material and layout.
• Landscaping can be minimal at $1,000 or rival resort-level designs that cost $50,000 or more. 

Where the Real Costs of Pool Ownership Hide

The meter keeps running once the ribbon is cut and the water is filled. Ongoing expenses are where the true weight of ownership reveals itself.

1. The Time Tax: Your Weekend Job

Unless you have an automated system, plan on dedicating one to three hours each week to brushing, vacuuming, skimming, and chemical balancing. This hidden cost, the time you trade for pool upkeep, can quickly become a burden. If you don’t have smart tools like robotic pool cleaners, you’ll feel it more intensely as weeks pass.

2. The Money Drain: Monthly Operating Costs

Expect to spend around $240 to $360 annually on chemicals alone. More leaves, debris, and algae mean more sanitizer and shock treatments. Then there’s the electricity. Your pool pump works hard and long, potentially adding $480 to $840 to your yearly utility bill.

Professional maintenance is another option, but it comes at a price. Weekly service can cost between $1,200 and $2,400 per year.

Investing in Automation to Lower Your TCO

This is where smart technology transforms cost into value. A robotic pool cleaner isn’t a luxury; it’s an investment that can dramatically reduce long-term expenses.

1. How a Robotic Cleaner Pays You Back

A robotic cleaner automates those weekly maintenance chores, freeing up your weekends. Set it, let it run, and enjoy a crystal-clear pool with minimal effort.

It also keeps your pool water cleaner for longer. By catching debris before decomposing and helping maintain balanced water chemistry.

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit is energy savings. A robotic cleaner operates on low-voltage power, about the same as a household light bulb, while your main pool pump can use thousands of watts. Homeowners can slash pool-related energy costs by up to 80 percent by running the robot and reducing reliance on the pump.

The robot also protects your investment. It reduces the workload on your primary pump and filter, extending the life of your most expensive pool equipment.

Curious about the financials? See our pool cleaner cost comparison to understand how robotic pool cleaners stack up against traditional options in both upfront and long-term cost.

2. Making the Smart Choice:

Cleaners like the Dreame Z1 Pro use advanced filtration and smart navigation to ensure complete, efficient cleaning. They offer one of the best returns on investment in modern pool care by reducing chemical usage, cutting electricity costs, and reclaiming your time.

Optional Upgrades (A Quick Look)

Add-ons can elevate your experience but also affect your budget over time.

Pool heaters, for instance, vary in efficiency. Gas models cost less to install but are the most expensive to operate. Electric heat pumps are more efficient and have moderate ongoing costs. Solar heaters require the highest upfront spending but offer almost zero operational expenses.

Automatic pool covers are another powerful upgrade. These may be quite expensive, typically between $10,000 and $20,000, and pay for themselves in heat loss, evaporation, and debris reduction, where they work together with a robotic cleaner to minimize daily upkeep. 

Conclusion

A truly smart pool budget doesn’t stop at the sticker price. It encompasses the structure, system, and upkeep, and changes in the present environment are evaluated with respect to short-term costs and long-term obligations. 

The understanding of Total Cost of Ownership will help in making decisions to fit your dream backyard, lifestyle as well as the budget. Smart technologies such as robotic pool cleaners will save you money, time and ultimately enjoy your pool as it should be enjoyed.