In-Ground Pool Cost: Vinyl vs Fiberglass vs Concrete (3 References)

An in-ground pool costs $25,000 to $100,000 installed, with national averages of $62,500 to $65,909.¹² Vinyl-liner pools start around $35,000 to $40,000; concrete tops out near $120,000 (Angi, HomeGuide).¹² Prices below are national averages* for 2026.

*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on size, material, site access, soil, decking, and features like heating, lighting, and waterfalls.

$65,909

in-ground average, Angi

$80 – $250

per sq ft, HomeGuide

$44,688

all-pool average, Fixr

$55 – $150

per hour contractor, Angi

Quick math: a 20×40 pool (800 sq ft) at HomeGuide’s $80 to $250 per square foot = $64,000 to $200,000, exactly its size-table row, our arithmetic.² Fixr’s $44,688 average looks cheap next to Angi’s $65,909 because Fixr blends above-ground pools (from $200) into its pool average, while Angi and HomeGuide count in-ground only, our reading.¹²³

Cost by material

Material	Angi installed	HomeGuide installed	Annual upkeep (Angi)	Lifespan notes (HomeGuide)
Vinyl liner	$40,000 – $75,000	$35,000 – $80,000	$1,100 – $1,700	Liner replaced every ~10 years
Fiberglass	$55,000 – $100,000	$45,000 – $100,000	$500 – $1,500	Lasts 25+ years, lowest upkeep
Concrete / gunite	$65,000 – $120,000	$50,000 – $120,000	$2,700 – $4,000	Lasts 50+ years, highest upkeep

Vinyl is cheapest to build but the liner is a recurring cost; fiberglass flips that — higher install, lowest maintenance; concrete is the most expensive on both axes but fully customizable (Angi, HomeGuide).¹² Concrete also needs an acid wash every 3 to 5 years at $300 to $1,000 (HomeGuide).²

Cost by size (HomeGuide)

Size	Cost installed
10×20	$16,000 – $50,000
12×24	$23,000 – $72,000
14×28	$31,400 – $98,000
15×30	$36,000 – $112,500
16×32	$41,000 – $128,000
18×36	$51,800 – $162,000
20×40	$64,000 – $200,000

Angi’s per-size figures run higher (its 12×24 is $25,200 against HomeGuide’s $23,000 low) because its project pool skews to custom jobs, our reading.¹²

Cost by style (Angi)

Style	Average cost
Spool (spa-pool)	$22,650
Lap pool	$44,000
In-ground pool + hot tub	$44,000 – $120,000
Beach entry	$55,000
Infinity edge	$80,000
Lagoon style	$100,000+

Above-ground alternatives (Fixr)

Not ready for six figures of excavation? An inflatable-ring vinyl pool costs under $200; a hard-sided above-ground kit with pump and ladder runs under $7,000 (Fixr).³ Most families spend $45,000 to $85,000 on a full in-ground leisure pool (Fixr), consistent with Angi’s range.¹³

Worked examples

Example 1 — 12×24 vinyl-liner, standard lot. $35,000 to $80,000 (material band) inside the $23,000 to $72,000 size band (HomeGuide), call it $40,000 to $60,000 typical, our judgment.²

Example 2 — 15×30 fiberglass. $45,000 to $100,000 installed (HomeGuide), + $500 to $1,500 per year upkeep (Angi) = roughly $55,000 to $115,000 over 10 years, our arithmetic.¹²

Example 3 — 20×40 concrete with features. $64,000 to $200,000 (HomeGuide); Angi’s concrete band tops at $120,000 before custom features, our reading.¹²

FAQ

Cheapest in-ground pool? Vinyl liner at $35,000 to $40,000 to start (Angi, HomeGuide) — but budget a liner swap around year 10 (HomeGuide).¹²

Which material is cheapest to own? Fiberglass: $500 to $1,500 a year in upkeep versus $2,700 to $4,000 for concrete (Angi).¹

How long does installation take? Weeks to months depending on material — fiberglass shells drop in fastest; concrete cures longest, our judgment.

Can I add a hot tub later? Bundling at build time saves money: an in-ground spa added during the pool build runs $6,000 to $15,000 versus up to $25,000 standalone, per our hot tub cost guide.

Is an above-ground pool worth it? As a trial, yes — under $200 for an inflatable ring or under $7,000 for a hard-sided kit (Fixr), versus $35,000+ in-ground.³

DIY shopping: above-ground pools (plain link, no affiliate relationship) — hard-sided kits under $7,000 are the genuine DIY alternative to a $40k+ in-ground build.

Sources

Angi, How Much Does an In-Ground Pool Cost? (2026 data, 1,467 projects).
HomeGuide, How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost? (2026).
Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Build a Swimming Pool?