Pool removal cost
Pool removal cost calculator
What kind of pool is it?
Not sure? Touch the wall: soft and pressable is vinyl, slick and glossy is fiberglass, rough is concrete.
Last question
Fill it in, or take it all out?
- Typical US range; high‑wage states can pass $20,000
- $475–$16,000
- Typical pool removal
- About $6,000
- Time the crew is at your home
- 1–7 days
- Permit and inspection
- About $200
US figures from the Angi 2026 pool removal cost guides.
Pool removal cost mostly comes down to three things: what the pool's walls and floor are made of, how big the pool is, and whether the crew fills the hole or hauls every piece away.
Swimming pool demolition cost by pool type
A contractor usually checks the shell, the pool's walls and floor, first, since some materials break up fast and others call for days of hard labor.
| Pool type | How it's handled | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Above ground | Taken apart and hauled away | $475 to $2,500 |
| Concrete or gunite | Filled in place | $2,500 to $10,000 |
| Concrete or gunite | Fully removed | $4,000 to $16,000 |
| Fiberglass | Removed | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Vinyl liner | Removed | $3,000 to $10,000 |
Gunite is concrete sprayed through a hose onto a steel frame, so crews charge the same for it as for any concrete pool. The 2026 price ranges here come from Angi, and Angi's above ground guide puts the typical above ground job near $900.
What does removal cost for your pool's size?
Bigger pools cost more to remove: there is more to break apart and more soil to bring in. A pool twice as big costs about twice as much. Angi puts the average near $13.50 for each square foot of pool surface.
| Pool dimensions | Surface area | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 12 ft x 20 ft | 240 sq ft | About $3,200 |
| 16 ft x 32 ft | 512 sq ft | About $6,900 |
| 18 ft x 36 ft | 648 sq ft | About $8,700 |
| 20 ft x 40 ft | 800 sq ft | About $10,800 |
Prices by state
Labor makes up the biggest part of the bill, so the same job is cheaper in states where construction crews earn less. The ranges below are for a concrete pool. Each one is set to what building workers are paid in that state (government wage data, May 2025).
| State | Fill-in | Full removal |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,900–$7,800 | $3,100–$12,400 |
| Texas | $2,100–$8,600 | $3,400–$13,700 |
| California | $3,000–$12,000 | $4,800–$19,200 |
| Massachusetts | $3,200–$13,000 | $5,200–$20,700 |
| New Jersey | $3,200–$12,900 | $5,200–$20,600 |
| Hawaii | $3,300–$13,100 | $5,200–$20,900 |
See every state
| State | Filled in | Taken out |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,900–$7,800 | $3,100–$12,400 |
| Alaska | $2,800–$11,100 | $4,500–$17,800 |
| Arizona | $2,300–$9,300 | $3,700–$15,000 |
| Arkansas | $2,000–$8,000 | $3,200–$12,800 |
| California | $3,000–$12,000 | $4,800–$19,200 |
| Colorado | $2,400–$9,700 | $3,900–$15,400 |
| Connecticut | $2,800–$11,100 | $4,500–$17,800 |
| Delaware | $2,300–$9,400 | $3,700–$15,000 |
| Washington, DC | $2,500–$10,000 | $4,000–$16,100 |
| Florida | $2,200–$8,800 | $3,500–$14,100 |
| Georgia | $2,100–$8,300 | $3,300–$13,300 |
| Hawaii | $3,300–$13,100 | $5,200–$20,900 |
| Idaho | $2,400–$9,500 | $3,800–$15,100 |
| Illinois | $3,100–$12,500 | $5,000–$19,900 |
| Indiana | $2,600–$10,300 | $4,100–$16,500 |
| Iowa | $2,500–$9,900 | $4,000–$15,900 |
| Kansas | $2,200–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,400 |
| Kentucky | $2,300–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,400 |
| Louisiana | $2,100–$8,500 | $3,400–$13,500 |
| Maine | $2,300–$9,300 | $3,700–$14,900 |
| Maryland | $2,400–$9,400 | $3,800–$15,100 |
| Massachusetts | $3,200–$13,000 | $5,200–$20,700 |
| Michigan | $2,500–$10,200 | $4,100–$16,300 |
| Minnesota | $3,000–$12,000 | $4,800–$19,200 |
| Mississippi | $2,000–$8,200 | $3,300–$13,000 |
| Missouri | $2,800–$11,400 | $4,600–$18,200 |
| Montana | $2,500–$9,900 | $4,000–$15,900 |
| Nebraska | $2,400–$9,400 | $3,800–$15,100 |
| Nevada | $2,600–$10,300 | $4,100–$16,500 |
| New Hampshire | $2,500–$10,000 | $4,000–$15,900 |
| New Jersey | $3,200–$12,900 | $5,200–$20,600 |
| New Mexico | $2,100–$8,300 | $3,300–$13,300 |
| New York | $2,900–$11,600 | $4,600–$18,600 |
| North Carolina | $2,200–$8,900 | $3,600–$14,300 |
| North Dakota | $2,500–$10,200 | $4,100–$16,300 |
| Ohio | $2,700–$11,000 | $4,400–$17,600 |
| Oklahoma | $2,200–$8,600 | $3,400–$13,800 |
| Oregon | $2,600–$10,600 | $4,200–$16,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,600–$10,400 | $4,100–$16,600 |
| Rhode Island | $2,900–$11,500 | $4,600–$18,500 |
| South Carolina | $2,200–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,300 |
| South Dakota | $2,200–$8,800 | $3,500–$14,000 |
| Tennessee | $2,300–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,500 |
| Texas | $2,100–$8,600 | $3,400–$13,700 |
| Utah | $2,400–$9,400 | $3,800–$15,100 |
| Vermont | $2,500–$9,800 | $3,900–$15,700 |
| Virginia | $2,200–$8,700 | $3,500–$13,900 |
| Washington | $2,900–$11,500 | $4,600–$18,300 |
| West Virginia | $2,200–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,400 |
| Wisconsin | $2,700–$10,900 | $4,400–$17,500 |
| Wyoming | $2,200–$9,000 | $3,600–$14,300 |
Across the US, taking out a whole concrete pool usually costs $4,000 to $16,000. Where crews earn the most, the top of the range is higher: about $19,200 in California and $20,600 to $20,900 in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
Pool removal in Illinois
Construction laborers in Illinois earn $32.51 an hour, against $25.02 for the US, so a concrete pool there costs about $3,100–$12,500 to fill in and $5,000–$19,900 to take all the way out. The permit comes from your village or city building department. Pool removal in Illinois covers Chicago's permit rules and the notice Illinois asks for before digging.
Partial fill-in vs full removal
With a partial fill-in, the crew breaks up the top of the pool's walls and buries what is left under gravel and soil. Prices for a concrete pool are from Angi.
A full removal lifts the whole pool out of the yard and carries every piece away. That costs more because of the added digging, hauling, and dump fees.
Fill it in
$2,500–$10,000
- Time in the yard
- 1–3 days
- Build there later?
- Usually not
- Tell a buyer?
- Yes: the bottom of the pool stays buried. Show the permit and the compaction report.
Take it all out
$4,000–$16,000
- Time in the yard
- 3–7 days
- Build there later?
- Usually, once the town approves the packed fill
- Tell a buyer?
- Show the permit and the compaction report.
Concrete pool removal cost
For a concrete or gunite pool, the final price depends on the pool's size and how much of its walls and floor get hauled off.
Removing a vinyl liner pool
A vinyl liner pool usually comes out completely: the plastic liner and the wall panels that hold it are both pulled out. That work runs $3,000 to $10,000, per Angi and HomeAdvisor.
Extra costs to keep in mind
Per Angi, draining the water takes about 24 hours and may cost as much as $175.
Your town may also ask for a structural engineer, someone who verifies the soil will remain stable after the pool is removed, and that expert bills $100 to $200 an hour. Expect about $200 for a permit with inspections, plus another $150 to $500 in dump fees.
If you have a concrete or paver deck, removing it adds $2 to $5 per square foot, while removing a fence or screened enclosure runs $800 to $2,000. Backfilling is the inexpensive step: Angi lists gravel at $5 to $8 per cubic yard, with dirt at $8 to $12.
What the big cost guides say
See three cost guides side by side. Each one shows a fill-in costing far less than full removal. This site bases prices on Angi's ranges for every pool type, meaning all figures come from one guide.
| Cost guide | Fill in (partial removal) | Full removal |
|---|---|---|
 | $2,500–$10,000 | $4,000–$16,000 |
 | $2,000–$7,000 | $9,000–$19,000 |
 | $5,000–$10,000 | $8,000–$20,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much will I probably pay?
Most in-ground removals cost several thousand dollars, and around $6,000 is typical nationally, per Angi. Your pool's material, and whether it's filled in or fully removed, decide where your price falls. For an exact figure, call the number on this page, and a local pool demolition company will visit and give you a written price.
How does the price tool work?
This site's tool first asks about your pool type, and if it is concrete or gunite, whether you prefer a fill-in or a complete removal. From there it gives you the range for your state, with local workers' pay included.
What does it cost in a lower wage state?
In Texas, where construction pay is below the national average, filling in a concrete pool runs about $2,100 to $8,600, and taking it all the way out runs $3,400 to $13,700. A written quote from a local contractor will allow for your pool's own size and deck.
Does removing a pool lower the value of a house?
Most often, no. Selling a house can be harder with a pool, Angi notes, while HomeAdvisor says full removal adds more value than partial removal. To show a buyer, keep the permit and fill or compaction report.
What is the cheapest way to fill in a pool?
The crew breaks off wall tops, punches floor holes, and fills the shell during a partial removal. For a concrete pool, a partial removal starts near $2,500, while taking every piece out runs about $4,000.
Do I need a permit to remove an above ground pool?
This varies by your town. Some require one even for above ground pools, especially if decks or wiring are removed, so contact your building department before work starts.
Get a crew to look at your yard
The ranges tell you what is usual. Once a crew sees your pool, the access, and the fill, they will give you a real written quote.