Make the utmost use of your backyard space by installing a new inground pool. A backyard pool will turn your home into a summer paradise and significantly increase your property’s value. It is an investment in your quality of life and financial future both!
How Much Does a New Inground Pool Cost in 2025
On average, a well-built new inground pool constructed by a professional pool company should cost you $50,000 to $1500,000 in 2025. This number is more than reasonable if you take the amount of time, effort, labor, and skills that go into the project into account.
If you’re looking to refurbish or restore an existing inground pool, the cost would be much lower. For example, resurfacing an inground pool costs $4,500 to $12,000 on average. Miscellaneous renovation tasks such as retiling, upgrading the chlorination system, or adding lights cost around $2,000 to $5,000.
Cost of a New Inground Pool by Material
Material is the most important factor impacting the cost of your new pool. Common materials for pools include concrete, fiberglass, and vinyl.
Concrete
A concrete inground pool costs about $80,000 on the low end and $100,000 on average. For larger, more complex concrete pools, the cost can easily exceed $125,000. To make the investment worth, concrete pools add the most value to your home.
Concrete pools are the most dynamic, allowing irregular shapes and forms. However, concrete pools require regular maintenance and can therefore be expensive to maintain.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass inground pools cost about $60,000 – $80,000 on average, making them slightly more affordable than concrete pools. Fiberglass is extremely low-maintenance, and the smooth surface makes it easier to maintain the water’s pH level. If you are not too particular about shape and design, a prefabricated installation kit might allow you to do some of the work yourself.
Vinyl
Vinyl inground pools are a good choice for those with a modest budget, as these usually cost as low as $50,000. However, the more affordable installation comes with a higher maintenance cost because the liners can crack and break easily. Meanwhile, vinyl is definitely easier to clean since you can easily wipe off most residues. You also don’t need too many chemicals to maintain the water’s pH level.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Other Factors Affecting the Cost of a New Pool
In addition to materials, other factors can affect the cost of your new inground pool, including size, shape and design, additional features, labor required, permit needs, and surrounding landscape needs.
Size
Size is the second primary basic factor affecting the cost of your new inground pool. A small, 10-by-16 inground pool may only cost around $30,000, whereas a 15-by-30 pool can easily exceed $70,000.
Shape
Irrergular-shaped pools might significantly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your landscape. However, they can cost significantly more compared to standard, rectangular pools. Depending on the shape, you may also have more limited material choices. For example, concrete allows the most customization when it comes to shape and design.
Additional Features
Additional features cost extra to install. Here is a list of popular features and their associated average costs:
Water features: $5,000 to $15,000 based on size, complexity and design.
Pool lights: $1,000 to $3,500
Slides: A few thousands on the low end or over $10,000 on the high end, depending on material, size and design.
Hot tub: $8,000 or more on average.
Pool cover: $3,000 or up to $15,000 for a motorized cover.
Pool deck: Up to $30,000 or more based on deck size and materials.
Labor
Labor cost may vary depending on where you live, as well as the scope of the project. For example, are you replacing an old inground pool with a new one? Or are you digging from ground zero? Some companies also charge labor differently depending on the skill level required for different tasks, such as drafting, building, and site cleanup.
Landscaping Cost
Thoughtful landscaping can ensure your new pool blends into your existing landscape and maintains a consistent aesthetic. Landscaping cost can vary depending on the scope of the project. For example, you might only need some minor plant rearrangement to surround the pool. Other times, you might need to install some type of walkway for easy access.
Permits
In-ground pools usually require a permit to be built. Your best bet is to work with an architectural landscaping company for a smooth permitting process.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Why Hire a Pro to Build an Inground Pool
A new inground pool is a major project that comes with many nuances. From permitting, utility mapping, to the actual building process, there are many challenges a regular homeowner may not be familiar with. Plus, the construction process can also be dangerous for those without industry experience. A professional pool contractor can handle everything from design to build, and can even work as a project manager to help you coordinate with other contractors. Professional builders are also insured, giving you an extra layer of protection.
Another May, another graduation season. Before diving into your next chapter, make sure to spend some time celebrating all the hard work you’ve put into completing your degree program. Here are 10 backyard graduation party ideas for Kansas City Grads to make some unforgettable memories:
1. Graduation Cookout
A backyard graduation cookout is probably the most iconic graduation party idea for summer grads, especially in a city that loves its BBQ. After all, part of growing up is being able to man the grill yourself.
Prepare a balanced mixture of meat, veggies, and pre-made sides like salads and cheesy corn. Combine it with some cold beer or canned cocktails; you’re sure to remember your last party with classmates before diving into your futures.
2. Add Some Sporting Flare
For the athletic grads, embrace your school’s sporting team one last time. Decorate your deck with school colors. Don’t forget the mascot, too! If you’ve won a couple of trophies and medals during your time on the team, this is the perfect time to put them on the table as a centerpiece to highlight your accomplishments.
Not an athlete yourself? No worries. Chief’s and Royal’s themes never get old.
Photo from Unsplash
3. Build a Memory Board
We all get sentimental after a few drinks, especially during graduation. Bring your notebooks, old textbooks, and other memorable objects. While this can be easily done digitally, putting together a memory board physically is different. After all, this could be your last time doing a group assignment with your classmates for a long time.
Prepare some Post-it notes, scrapbook papers, markers, and highlighters. You are ready to build a one-of-a-kind memory board. If you want to make it more special, get a Polaroid camera and capture your backyard graduation party to add to the board.
4. Graduation Picnic or Potluck
Bring your own picnic basket, or prepare one dish per person for a fun graduation potluck. This can be done in the backyard or inside the dining area. To add more challenge, you can require everybody to bring something inspired by their time at the school. For example, a charcuterie board spelling out the year of graduation.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
5. Graduation Pool Party
You can easily put on a graduation pool party with college color pool floaties. Pool parties always bring out the inner child, so it’s the perfect choice for recent grads transitioning into the more serious grown-up world. Don’t forget to add some college-themed floaties, balloons, towels, and other decorations.
6. Backyard Mixer
A simple backyard mixer is a quick, easy graduation party idea for Kansas City. Hang some string lights, bring in some of Kansas City’s talented local caterers. You can even rent a smart selfie station and create your own hashtag to document every moment on social media. Backyard mixers can also turn into a great networking opportunity sometimes, so make sure you get the contact information from your peers before you part ways.
7. Hollywood Night
For reasons unknown, a Hollywood-themed party is considered a must for the graduation season. Maybe it’s about having one last crazy hurrah? Either way, we’ve got the perfect checklist for you.
For a graduation Hollywood night, you’ll need solid outdoor lighting and audio: a lighted sign is the minimum. Colorful, changing lights and a powerful sound system would be even better. You can even turn this into a Hollywood masquerade with glittering paper masks.
8. Dream Destination Travel Party
Graduation parties are the best time to dream wildly, so what’s more fitting than a travel-themed party? Maybe you won’t get to travel together this year, but you can plan everything and decorate your patio with a Tuscany seaside vibe or eloquent French artistry.
9. Movie Under the Stars
An outdoor movie would be perfect for the nerdy friends who are not into the party scene, especially with Kansas City’s cool and nice evening weather in late May and early June. A portable projector with a basic screen would work, or you can connect your movie audio to Bluetooth speakers for a more elevated experience.
Love browsing through colorful garden designs, but limited by the space available at home? Here are 8 flower garden designs for small spaces that will brighten up your yard without taking up too much room.
Photo from Unsplash
Raised Flower Beds
Raised flower beds can be built in areas where a regular, in-ground flower bed may not be feasible. You can determine the sizes and shapes of these boxes. Raised garden beds also add some rustic charm to your landscape. In addition to raised flower beds, you can also use stock tanks to create a mini flower or vegetable garden.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Sloped Designs
If you have existing stairs and slopes in your landscape, you can add a mini flower garden at the bottom of each slope. This will bring some color to the plain stairs. You can also build flower beds utilizing retaining walls if your home sits on a hilly top with steps leading down to the sidewalk.
Photo from Unsplash
Curved Gardens
Curved flower gardens are flexible and pleasing to the eye. They can be installed along paver walkways or stepping stones and work great for smaller spaces with a more compact landscape layout.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Container Gardens
The biggest advantage of container gardens is convenience. You don’t have to worry about planting flowers into the soil, which means you can place containers on paved grounds. You can use practically anything you want as a container, as long as you add drainage holes to the bo
If you can’t find any dedicated areas to build a flower bed, look under trees. All you need to do is remove any grass or weeds, add new mulch, and then add some sort of edging. Voila, you have a perfect flower bed for plants that will thrive in partial to full shade.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Focus on One Centerpiece
When it comes to garden design for small spaces, often, less is more. Focus on one centerpiece: a dwarf fruit tree, a clipped hedge with a unique geometrical shape, or a small water feature. Then, build your flower garden around to compensate for the view.
Photo from Unsplash
Vertical Designs
Vertical flower gardens can significantly compensate for the space restriction in your yard. Utilize railings and decorative arches to grow ivy, wisteria, rose vines, and grapes. You can also lead various vines, such as decorative ivy, up your exterior wall.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Immersive Flower Gardens
If you have a small yard, why not turn the whole area into a flower garden? That way, you don’t need to worry about separating flowers from the rest of your landscape. You can also add picnic chairs and other outdoor furniture for a more dynamic design.
Photo: Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping
Maintaining Your Flower Garden
Regular and proper maintenance is key to keeping your flower garden vibrant and healthy. Some easy maintenance tasks you can do yourself include pulling out weeds, removing debris, regular watering, and fertilizing. For seasonal landscaping tasks like bush trimming, cutting back perennials before spring, or overall plant care, it’s best to hire a property care professional.
Are you ready? Try one of theses flower garden designs for small spaces and let us know which one is your favorite!