Pool costs

The headline number in a pool quote is rarely the number you pay. This Old House puts installed cost at $180–$350 per square foot, split roughly as vinyl $130–$240, fiberglass $175–$330, and concrete $200–$350 per square foot. Thursday Pools' 2026 figures land in the same territory: vinyl $35,000–$80,000 and concrete $50,000–$120,000 or more.

The extras are where budgets break. Thursday Pools lists permits at $100–$1,000 or more, excavation at $1,000–$5,000, electrical at $2,000–$10,000, and fencing at $10–$45 per linear foot (commonly $2,000–$13,500). A heater adds $1,200–$6,000, and an automatic safety cover $8,000–$20,000. None of that is optional if your local code requires a barrier — and most jurisdictions do.

Then there is the bill that never stops. This Old House estimates monthly upkeep at $90–$270, and ten-year maintenance of $5,000–$15,000 for fiberglass, $11,000–$17,000 for vinyl, and $27,000–$40,000 for concrete. If a ten-year running cost of that size would strain you, the install quote is the wrong thing to be arguing about.

How to choose

Get the scope in writing, line by line

Ask each bidder to price excavation, decking, fencing, electrical, permits and startup chemicals as separate lines. Quotes that bundle everything into one number are impossible to compare and easy to change later.

Compare total cost of ownership, not install price

Concrete is the most expensive to build and, per This Old House, by far the most expensive to keep — $27,000–$40,000 over ten years versus $5,000–$15,000 for fiberglass.

Budget for the barrier from day one

Fencing at $10–$45 per linear foot is a real cost, not an accessory. Price it before you sign, because your building department will require it.

Beware allowances

An "allowance" for decking or tile is a placeholder, not a price. Ask what happens to your contract price if you pick anything above it.

Three bids minimum

Pool pricing varies enormously by region and by how busy a builder is. One bid tells you nothing about whether you are being overcharged.