Natural Swimming Pool Cost Breakdown: How to Plan Your Project

The typical natural swimming pool cost ranges from $60,000 to $80,000 for a pool with a 30’ by 20’ swimming area. The cost average is around $70,000 across the U.S., but it can vary greatly depending on the material of your choice. It is common to pay between $0.25 to $113 per square foot of your natural pool.

Key Points:

• The average cost of a natural swimming pool is $70,000, noticeably higher than the cost of a similarly-sized in- or above-ground pool.
• The material, size, shape, and additional features of your pool will greatly affect the total pool installation cost. Your geographic location also plays a role.
• You can minimize the pool installation costs by ordering in advance, focusing on the basics, and opting for a smaller-sized pool.
• Pool financing options include home equity loans and lines of credit, home improvement loans, and regular lines of credit. You can also take out a personal or a dedicated “pool loan.”

Natural Swimming Pool Costs by Size

Natural pond swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes, depending on your geographic location, backyard layout, and simply personal preference. As such, common natural pool sizes can start from small backyard pools and reach the size of large Olympic pools.

While every natural pool is unique, having a larger surface area is especially important for this type of pool: natural pools with a surface area of under 500 sq. ft. are at an increased risk of algae growth. On average, a natural pool with a swimming area of 30’ by 20’ will cost you $60,000 to $70,000, depending on the pool materials of your choice and any additional features.

Whatever size of natural pool you choose, it is important to remember that you will still end up paying at least $50,000 - even if the pool is no larger than a hot tub. This is because you would still need to invest in excavating the landscape, as well as purchasing biofilters and plant life. 

Natural Swimming Pool Costs by Material

Most natural pools are built with a combination of concrete, crushed gravel, and bentonite clay. While the sides of the pool can be lined with either concrete or bentonite clay, there is usually no way to avoid using crushed gravel for the base. 

Here are the typical material costs you can expect when building a natural swimming pool:

• Concrete: $55 to $70/sq. ft. Concrete is the most durable and most common material option for a natural swimming pool. While a concrete natural pool might not look completely “natural,” concrete is a great choice for adding a deck and stairs.
• Crushed gravel: $1 to $2/sq. ft. Most natural pools have crushed gravel covering their bases in order to protect pipes and tubing. Crushed gravel is fairly cheap but might not be a good option for people with sensitive feet.
• Bentonite clay: $0.50 to $1.50/sq. ft. Bentonite clay is much cheaper than concrete and looks and feels much more “natural.” However, it comes with limited design and construction options.
• Natural pool liner: $0.25 to $1.20/sq. ft. Pool liners are the cheapest material option for natural swimming pools. While the price is attractive, remember that you will need to replace the liner every 10 years or so.
• Fiberglass: $100 to $113/sq. ft. Fiberglass natural pools are beautiful, easy to maintain, and less prone to algae growth. Unfortunately, fiberglass is the most expensive material option.

Natural Swimming Pool Installation Costs

The national average cost of installing a natural swimming pool ranges from $60,000 to $80,000. As such, a $70,000 investment will get you an average-sized concrete-lined natural pool with stairs and a small deck. 

A lower-end bentonite-clay-lined pool with no additional features will set you back $50,000. On the other hand, a natural swimming pool with a deck, stairs, a waterfall, an infinity edge, a retaining wall, and boulders will cost you about $100,000.

Overall, depending on the material, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0.25 to $113 per square foot of your natural pool.

Site Preparation and Labor Costs

While each natural pool project is unique, there are some typical site preparation and labor costs you can expect to incur.

Labor and Machinery: $40,000+

The labor costs associated with building a typical natural swimming pool can range from $27,000 to $38,000. While the exact rate can vary from contractor to contractor, most pool professionals charge no less than $20 an hour. Since natural pools take two to three months to complete, the total labor plus equipment and machinery costs can quickly add up to $40,000 or more.

Excavation: $500 to $3,500 or Blasting: $600 to $7,200

The costs of excavating your inground natural pool can range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the type of terrain in your yard. If your backyard is difficult to dig or contains large rocks, the ground might need to be blasted, setting you back another $600 to $7,200.

Permits: $200 to $300

In addition, it is a good idea to set aside around $300 for costs associated with obtaining a pool permit. To find out the exact permit fees for your state, you can either contact a permit official or talk to the contractor you plan on hiring.

Is It Recommended to DIY a Natural Pool Installation?

Of course, installing a natural pool by yourself can save you a few bucks, but it is not a simple endeavor. A natural swimming pool presents not only a recreational pool but a complex ecosystem, which should be handled by a professional.

Instead, it is recommended to work with a professional pool installer that specializes in natural pool construction. This way, you will save yourself a lot of headaches related to inspections and permits and a lot of money related to potential future repairs.

Natural Swimming Pool Costs by Location

While the exact natural pool or swim pond costs can vary even within the same state, your geographic location does play an important role in determining labor and material costs. Here are some factors that will affect the cost of building a swimming pool in your area:

• Which state you live in. If you live in the Northern states, you can expect to pay 15% to 25% more for your swimming pool project than if you lived in Arizona, Texas, or Florida.
• Cost of living. Overall, a higher cost of living translates into higher labor rates and, therefore, higher total costs associated with installing a pool. For example, installing a swimming pool in a densely-populated urban area will cost you more as compared to suburban or rural areas. Similarly, you will pay more in states like New York or California, which are known for their high costs of living.
• Seasonal temperatures. Finally, installing a natural pool in a colder climate can cost you more due to additional expenses associated with purchasing water heaters, building an enclosure, and keeping the water temperature at the right level on an ongoing basis.

Natural Swimming Pool Landscaping Costs

Similarly to other inground pools, you can expect to pay between $3,000 to $5,000 on typical landscaping expenses. However, if you wish to splurge and invest in additional landscaping enhancements, you will be faced with the following costs:

• Waterfall: $1000 to $1,500. Installing a tiny waterfall is an excellent way to add appeal to your swimming pond, but it comes with a price tag of $1,000 to $1,500.
• Sand: $1/sq. ft. Using sand around the border of your pool is a great way to create your own backyard beach. Depending on where you purchase it from, sand can cost around $1 per square foot.
• Lighting: $2000+.  Even if you don’t plan on taking a midnight swim, adding lighting to your natural pool is essential to prevent a safety hazard. You can choose to disguise traditional pool lights within shrubs or greenery, but it will cost no less than $2,000.
• Border wall: $5,000+. If your backyard slopes down, it is a good idea to invest in a border or retaining wall. While it can cost $5,000 or more, a border wall will allow you to increase the swimming area of your pool.

Additional Costs to Consider

Other must-have pool features and optional enhancements include decking, fencing, aquatic plants and wildlife, and more. Here is a breakdown of additional costs associated with building a natural pool:

• Fencing: $600 to $4,400. Installing a fence around your pool might be required by local safety regulations. Depending on the material of your fence and its perimeter, expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $4,400.
• Enclosure: $4,800 to $14,300. Unlike a fence, a pool enclosure encases the pool completely. Naturally, it is more expensive, with a price tag of $4,800 to $14,300.
• Decking: $5,000 to $20,000. Pool decks come in a variety of materials, such as wood, concrete, stone, and pavers. Depending on the size of the deck and the material of your choice, a pool deck will end up costing you an additional $5,000 to $20,000.
• Pool house: $150 to $600/sq. ft. A pool house can be an expensive addition to your natural pool, but it is an incredibly convenient way to store pool equipment out of sight. Depending on the material and labor costs, you can expect to pay $150 to $600 per square foot of the final pool house.
• Aquatic plants: cost varies. Some essential plants include water lilies, which cost around $10 for a single lily, and zooplankton, which will cost you around $100. In addition, many homeowners choose to purchase plants like perennial grass for aesthetic reasons alone, spending from $10 to $20 for a single plant.
• Fish: $100 to $300. Adding regular fish, like Betta fish or goldfish, can cost you $10 to $30 per fish. So, if you choose to add ten goldfish to your pool, it can cost you anywhere from $100 to $300.
• Additional upgrades: cost varies. If you wish to install a water slide, be prepared to pay between $1,000 and $20,000, depending on the slide’s complexity. A diving board will set you back $300 to $5,000, while a fountain will cost you between $600 and $20,000 or more.

Natural Swimming Pool Maintenance Costs

While maintenance of a natural swimming pool is relatively simple and you don’t need to purchase chemicals, you still need some equipment to get your pool up and running.

• Heater: $200 to $1,000. If you live in a cooler climate, you might need to purchase a pool heater to maintain the water temperature in your natural pool. Electric heaters are typically more expensive than gas-powered ones, while solar-powered heaters will cost you the most.
• Cleaning equipment: $10 to $100. While your natural swimming pool might be able to deal with algae and bacteria, you will still need to manually remove debris or dirt. A cheaper net skimmer can cost as little as $10, while a large parachute skimmer will set you back $100.
• Pump filter: $1,500 to $2,000. In addition to the natural pool filtration process, you might want to install a pump filter to clean the water more effectively. Such filters typically cost between $1,500 and $2,000.

The good news is that once you install all the necessary equipment, maintaining your pool will be relatively cost-effective. You might need to add more zooplankton to your pool or replace floating plants from time to time, but you won’t have to purchase chemicals like you would with a regular pool. All-in-all, natural pool maintenance boils down to an increased energy bill of around $300 per year.

Swimming Pond vs. Pool - Cost Comparison

A natural swimming pool or a swimming pond typically costs between $60,000 to $80,000. This is considerably higher than the cost of an above-ground pool ($1,850 to $20,000) and even a traditional inground pool ($28,000 to $55,000).

Both swimming ponds and traditional pools can be used for athletic or recreational swimming and can be built in various sizes, shapes, and depths. However, a natural pool must have a regeneration zone, equal in size to the swimming area. This means that a natural swimming pool will take up more space than a traditional pool and leads to higher site preparation and installation costs.

While the installation of a natural pool might cost you more, it is a more sustainable option in the long run. Not only can you avoid using harmful (and expensive!) chemicals, but you won’t need to spend time covering, draining, and refilling your natural pool in different seasons.

When it comes to obtaining a pool permit, a swimming pond is still considered a residential pool, - so the process and fees will be similar for both types of swimming pools.

Can You Turn a Regular Pool into a Natural Pool?

If you already have an existing pool in your yard, you could convert it into a natural swimming pool. However, the process is not straightforward and requires a custom conversion plan developed by your pool contractor. Most of the time, the easiest option would be to take out the existing pool and use the hole left in its place to install a natural pool instead. 

The cost of such conversion will vary greatly, depending on the size and type of pool you have in place and the specifics of the natural pool you wish to install.

Tips for Keeping Costs Down

While natural pools are among the more expensive swimming pool types, there are certain steps you can take to keep your project costs low:

• Choose cheaper materials. Pool liner is the cheapest material available for natural pools. Concrete and fiberglass pools, on the other hand, are the most expensive materials.
• Focus on the basics. When designing your natural pool, focus on the main features and avoid nice-to-haves like water slides, fancy lights, and beautiful fountains.
• Build a smaller pool. A smaller pool size means less labor and material costs for both the pool itself and the surrounding landscaping. However, there is a point where “smaller” no longer means “cheaper.” Make sure to discuss your options with your pool contractor.
• Order in advance. Most pool contractors increase their rates on a yearly basis. Ordering your pool off-season one year ahead will end up costing you less.

Natural Swimming Pool Financing Options

Installing a natural swimming pool is a significant, yet worthwhile, investment. If you don’t have the necessary cash laying in your bank account, don’t worry! There are other options available:

• Home equity loan or line of credit. With a home equity loan or line of credit, you can borrow funds against your accumulated home equity. With a loan, you will receive a lump sum upfront, while a home equity line of credit gives you access to the funds on an as-needed basis.
• Home improvement loan. With a home improvement loan, you can increase your mortgage to take out more equity. You can then use the funds for home improvements, - like installing a swimming pool, for example.
• Line of credit. A traditional line of credit allows you to borrow up to the pre-approved limit. You can repay the borrowed funds over time in regular minimum payments.
• Personal loan or “pool loan.” Some lenders offer dedicated “pool loans” or personal loans that can be used as you see fit. Some great lenders to consider include LightStream, Best Egg, and Upstart.

Before finalizing the financing option of your choice, make sure to carefully review the offered rates and terms, repayment conditions, and possible additional fees.

Final Word

Natural swimming pools are not “one size fits all,” - of course, the associated pool installation costs can vary greatly as well. Starting from $50,000 on the lower end and reaching well above $100,000, the natural swimming pool cost averages at around $70,000 in the U.S. The good news is that there are many financing options available to choose from. Plus, you can reduce the costs if you select pool features wisely.