Home / Pool Cost Checklist: 12 Items Quotes Often Leave Out

Pool Cost Checklist: 12 Items Quotes Often Leave Out

The pool shell is only part of the bill. Use this checklist when you compare quotes line by line.

ItemPublished range
Permits$450 to $1,800 (Angi)
Decking$3,000 to $12,000 (Angi)
Fence$1,500 to $10,000 (Angi)
Heater$1,830 to $4,210 (Angi)
Cover$870 to $2,800 (Angi)
Saltwater system$500 to $3,300 (Angi)
Lighting$450 to $1,200 (This Old House)
Screen enclosure$8 to $15 per sq ft (Angi)

Items with no reliable national number

We could not find trustworthy national figures for these, so get them quoted: electrical work and a panel upgrade, soil or rock removal, access (removing a fence or crossing a driveway), landscaping and sod repair, drainage, and the first chemical startup. Ask every builder whether each is included.

Add the items you need in the inground pool calculator to see a full range.

Common questions

What is the most commonly missed pool cost?

Decking and fencing are often quoted separately and can add thousands.

By James J. Updated October 2026. Figures are estimates for planning, not quotes. See methodology.