How Much Does An Above Ground Pool Installation Cost?

how much does an above ground pool installation costA few years back when we first arrived at the pool store looking to buy an above ground pool, we were presented with a whole bunch of options, many of which were end of season closeouts and what appeared to be great deals. But outside of the sweet deals they were giving us we had one pressing question that can make or break the deal and that is what does an above ground pool installation cost?

Most buyers first entering the pool market do not realize that there are a lot of costs associated with purchasing a pool that aren’t listed on the shiny SALE sticker or the advertisements in the paper. And it’s the pool installation costs that can really make a good deal bad if you don’t pay attention. So, I’m here to tell you what I went through when I purchased my 24′ round above ground pool and all of the little costs that went into finally getting that thing installed and running in my backyard. You’ll be surprised at just how much more you may need to spend to install that pool.

So the price was $2,399 for 0ur 24′ round, 52″ high brand new Sharkline Lyric pool which included a sand filter, swimming pool pump and accessory package (chlorine/chemicals, skimmer, ladder, and liner.) That price sounded great. For less than $2,500 I would have a brand new pool for the kids and wife to enjoy and all would be happy happy! But wait, there’s more.

So I forgot that the pool just doesn’t mysteriously show up in your backyard and you will actually have some work to do in order to have this summer-land oasis that you’ve been dreaming about. So when we sat down to go over the paperwork, that’s when it hit me that this pool was going to cost a lot more than I had thought. So let’s go through some of those things now and I think when we’re done you’ll have a pretty good idea of how much it costs to install a pool.

POOL INSTALLATION COST BREAKDOWN

#1: The actual pool INSTALLATION cost – In most cases, the pool supplier will either install the pool themselves or provide you a list of installers in your area. In my case, we were provided a list and they circled a few they recommended. For a 24′ round above ground pool like this the cost was going to be:

Pool Install Cost: $860.00

pool construction permit#2: Local town, city permits – Unless you are a law breaker (which I hope you are not), you will need to obtain permits in order to install your above ground pool. You may also have to go through an pretty extensive process of submitting drawings, construction plans and paperwork and numerous site visits to confirm everything that is being done. The code inspector will probably stop by at least once in the beginning and once at the end of the installation and you may also require some sort of surveying if you have underground cabling to make sure there is no digging near the wires.

Permits Cost: $159.00 (your town/city permit fees may vary…please check with your local office)

pool electrical outlet#3: Electrical costs – Unless you are replacing a pool in your yard and already have electric run, you will probably need a certified electrician to run the electric to the appropriate spot where your pool pump will be located. In addition, your local code may also call for a convenience receptacle (GFCI) placed a certain amount of feet away from the pool. And, chances are these electrical lines will need to be placed underground so the electrician will need to dig a trench out to the location of the pool pump. How much did all of that cost us?

Electrical Cost: $800.00

pool installation sand#4: You need SAND too? – Who would have thought I would need sand! Apparently they can’t just drop your pool in your yard and all is good. They actually need to dig out an area (possibly with a backhoe) and level it out so the pool will be situated correctly. That part is included in your pool installation cost above. What is not included is the base of sand that will need to be placed under your pool. In our case they needed 5-tons of pool liner sand.

Sand Cost: $230.00

pool water delivery#5: Water, H20, wet stuff to swim in! – Yes, you need to eventually fill your pool with water and that will cost you money. You basically have two options to fill your pool. First you can run a hose from your home to the pool and let it run, and run, and run, and run…you get the picture. It takes a while and ultimately you will see something in the mail from your local water company in the form of a HUGE bill. Or you can do it the way we did which is we ordered enough water to fill our pool from a water transport company who brought it out in a huge tanker truck. Our size pool required 13,000 gallons!

Water Cost: $520.00

pool fence#6: Fence around top of pool or perimeter fence around yard if required by law – In our situation, we didn’t have a fenced in yard so we were required to put a barrier or fence on the top of the pool because the distance from the ground to the top of the pool (at least in some areas) was less than the code requirements. For safety and insurance purposes, it made sense as well. So we ended up going with a 24″ Tall Universal Resin Fence around the entire pool that I think looks awesome, was easy to install and has definitely stood the test of time at least over the last 5-6 years we’ve owned it. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Fence Cost: $560.00

TOTAL ABOVE GROUND POOL INSTALLATION COST: $3,129.00

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OTHER RELATED POOL INSTALLATION COSTS

When it’s all said and done, you will probably end up spending well more than this for your pool as there are many things you don’t include in ‘basic’ pool installation costs that you simply will end up buying over time. Some of those include:

  • Ornamental rocks or stones for the perimeter of the pool.
  • Shrubs, bushes or other landscaping plants to pretty things up after the yard has been dug up.
  • Pool toys, floats, etc.
  • Pool Chemicals for ongoing maintenance (i.e. Chlorine, Algae Control, PH Up or Down, Alkalinity Control, etc.)
  • Pool Vacuum, especially if you live in an area with lots of trees or where debris like dirt or sand tends to blow around.
  • A pool timer so that your pool will turn on and off automatically.
  • A good seasonal pool cover if you live in an area where you close the pool down during the off months.
  • A pump to remove water from your seasonal pool cover.
  • A wood deck for around your pool. This one could cost as much as your pool!
  • Lights for around your pool or even floating lights for those evenings when you want to swim in the dark.
  • Pool chemical testing kits. We HIGHLY recommend the Taylor K-2006 Test kit.
  • This list could probably keep going on and on….

CONCLUSION

Let me first say that your personal costs may not be the same as mine. I live in Pennsylvania and the costs here may differ from other parts of the country for sure. However, it will at least get you in the ballpark and possibly open your eyes to some of the things you may not have thought of before you purchased a pool. For sure, I think most will know they have to pay installation costs and water, but the electrical, fencing, sand, etc may not be something you considered so hopefully that helps you understand the other aspects of installing a pool.

If you have any questions about my personal experience installing an above ground pool, I would be happy to answer any/all questions to the best of my ability. Make sure you visit our CONTACT page or feel free to leave a comment below.

Thanks and good luck to you on your pool installation!