Thinking about adding a pool to your backyard and stumbled across the idea of an inground pool kit? These kits can seem like a straightforward way to get the pool of your dreams, but there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Whether you're just starting your research or seriously weighing your options, this guide will give you a clear, no-fluff look at what inground pool kits are, what they include (and don’t), how much they cost, and whether they’re the right fit for your home.
Full disclosure: At River Pools we specialize exclusively in manufacturing fiberglass pools, but our experience in the pool industry has taught us that pool construction is often messy and involves more than what’s included in any pool kit.
What are Inground Pool Kits?
Inground swimming pool kits are essentially a bundle of materials designed to help you build a pool in your yard. It includes many of the core components needed for the structure, but here’s the catch: installing an inground pool is not a DIY weekend project.
While kits are marketed as a more affordable or customizable solution, building a pool still requires permits, excavation, plumbing, and expert-level construction knowledge. In other words, this isn’t like putting together a bookshelf, it’s a full-scale backyard renovation.
Types of Inground Pool Kits
You'll have three main options when it comes to inground pool kits: vinyl liner, fiberglass, and concrete. If you’re looking to buy an inground pool kit because you want to DIY your inground pool installation, there are a few key questions that you first need to consider:
- What kind of warranty do you want your pool to have?
- Will you have someone experienced to help you with the installation?
- What does your overall pool budget look like?
Before we get into your inground pool kit options, we want to make you aware of some of the key pitfalls of DIY pool projects. Most importantly, the warranties are often extremely limited, and many people find that installing a pool is a lot harder than they expected.
Take some time to establish your pool budget and consider your other options. We will always recommend you hire a professional installer to perform the work. This will not only add peace of mind, but will also mean that the warranties related to your project will be much more comprehensive.
Be sure to download your free ebook for an in-depth comparison of fiberglass, concrete, and vinyl liner pools.
Now, let’s break down the most common types of pool kits that are available on the market today.
Vinyl Liner Pool Kits
When people search for inground pool kits, they’re most likely looking for a vinyl liner pool. These are the most common type of DIY inground pool kits on the market. While vinyl liner pools are commonly installed DIY, even folks with general construction experience may find the installation process challenging. And keep in mind you will likely still require some guidance from an experienced builder.
What’s included in a vinyl liner pool kit?
If you are looking to buy a vinyl liner inground pool kit (in-store or online), you’ll have many decisions to make. Specifically, you’ll need to choose:
- Your pool size and shape
- Liner thickness, color, and pattern
- Pool steps and entry points
- Wall height and material (metal or polymer)
- Corner radius
- Brace system
- Pool pump (suitable for the volume of your pool)
- Pool filter (sand filter, cartridge filter, etc.)
- Skimmer system
- Plumbing equipment
You might also have the option to add an automatic chlorinator or saltwater chlorinator to your liner pool kit. However, it's important to note that salt systems may not be compatible with vinyl liner pools that have metal walls (the salt can corrode the metal and lead to rust or holes in your pool walls).
Consult with the manufacturer of the kit you are considering to get their recommendation on compatible sanitation systems.
Keep in mind that each vinyl liner pool kit will vary by manufacturer or retailer. Many of the items are also optional, so the contents of the kit will depend on what you choose to add.
What's not included in a vinyl liner pool kit?
The liner pool kit should contain most of what you will need to construct the pool, but there are additional supplies you will need to complete the installation. These include:
- Crushed stone (backfilling the pool)
- Grout or vermiculite
- Shop-Vac for fitting the liner
- Water to fill the pool
- Trowels
- Basic hand tools
- Pipe, fittings and glue for plumbing
- Excavators for digging the hole
Installing a pool is a major construction project, so you’ll probably need many other supplies along the way. If you hire a contractor to do the installation for you, they should provide a list of the necessary materials and most likely source them for you.
How much does a vinyl liner pool kit cost?
Because vinyl liner pool kits can vary and many of the items and upgrades are optional, it’s hard to tell you exactly how much you will need to pay for one. However, we can give you a price range.
Overall, you can expect the cost of an inground pool kit to be between $10,000 and $20,000, with smaller pools on the lower end and larger pools falling on the upper end or beyond.
Custom liner pool shapes will likely cost $20,000 or more.
The filter, wall material, liner, and other options that you choose can also dramatically affect the price. For example, just the liner by itself can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars (for very small and cheap liners) to well over $5,000 for larger and thicker liners.
Side Note: The total cost to replace a liner is $4,500 or more on average. This includes the pool liner, replacement parts, but most likely does not include the cost to drain and refill your pool, repairing damage, chemicals, and the labor to replace the liner.
Accessories like slides, heaters, chillers, lights, and automatic cleaners will also increase the price of your pool kit.
Keep in mind that thicker liners, variable speed pumps, and polymer walls are more expensive and will increase the price of your pool kit. It’s also important to note that any necessary parts that you don’t add to your kit will still need to be purchased separately.
Fiberglass Pool Kits
Inground fiberglass pool kits have some popularity among DIYers, but it’s also common for people to hire a contractor to do the inground pool kit installation. All pool kits can vary widely by manufacturer and retailer, but these are the fiberglass pool kit basics that we can share based on our experience.
What’s included in a fiberglass pool kit?
All fiberglass pool kits will at least include the most important part...the fiberglass pool shell. In addition to the pool shell, a fiberglass pool kit may also include:
- The pump and filter system
- Some hardware (lights, faceplates, fittings, etc.)
- Dig sheet
- Instructions
- Plumbing equipment
- Sanitizing systems
- Chemicals
- Pool cover
- Shipping costs
Fiberglass pool kits will vary with some being very basic and others including all of the above and more.
NOTE: River Pools fiberglass pools are only available through independent installers and are not available for DIY installations.
What’s not included in a fiberglass pool kit?
Your fiberglass pool kit will most likely not include:
- The backfill material for your pool
- Concrete
- Heater or chiller
- Basic tools
- Water features
- Materials for your coping and patio
- Sanitizing systems (in many cases)
- Pool cover (in many cases)
How much does a fiberglass pool kit cost?
Fiberglass pool kit prices will all be unique, depending on the pool size that you select and any additional features that you add. Overall, the price of your pool shell plus your pump and filter system and shipping can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 and up.
The more items that are included in your pool kit and the more accessories that you tack on, the more you can expect to pay.
As with a vinyl liner pool kit, the necessary materials not included in your fiberglass pool kit will still need to be purchased separately.
Keep in mind that many fiberglass pool kits do not include the cost of shipping, which can add thousands of dollars to the price.
(Read next: Top 5 DIY Fiberglass Pool Kit Mistakes and Considerations)
Concrete Pool Kits
As you can probably imagine, it’s a little bit harder to package a concrete pool into a kit. Concrete pools are typically built with a web of rebar, concrete (shotcrete or gunite), and a plaster, aggregate, or tile finish.
Concrete pool construction requires a long list of tools and materials, and you will have to buy most of what you need on your own. So, what is included? Let’s take a look at this in detail.
What’s included in a concrete pool kit?
First and foremost, while most of what you get in a vinyl liner or fiberglass pool kit is the pool itself, with an inground concrete pool kit, you’ll probably get everything but the pool. However, your concrete pool kit might include things like:
-
- Pipes and plumbing materials
- Pump and filter system
- Skimmer and main drain
- Valves, fittings, and pool lights
- Plaster or other surface material
What’s not included in a concrete pool kit?
Your concrete pool kit may not include:
- Rebar
- Concrete
- Shotcrete/gunite
- Excavation machinery
- Hand tools
How much does a concrete pool kit cost?
Concrete pool kits are more uncommon than fiberglass and vinyl liner pool kits. Most people simply don’t DIY their concrete pool construction because of how extensive and messy it can get (concrete pools can take 3-6 months to build with a professional builder leading the project).
The cost of each kit will depend on what’s included, but in general, you can expect to pay $5,000 and up.
Keep in mind that you will still have to pay thousands of dollars for supplies, materials, equipment, and labor as your concrete pool kit will only provide a few basic items.
Are inground pool kits worth it?
They can be, depending on what you're looking for. Like most big projects, it comes down to how prepared you are. For some, inground pool kits offer a way to be more involved in the process, and possibly save some money. Others prefer to hand it off to the pros. Either way, having the full picture ahead of time makes all the difference.
Hopefully, this article helped clear up what these kits actually include, what they leave out, and how the different types stack up. With the right info in hand, you’re in a better spot to decide what works best for your space, your budget, and your comfort level.
Want to see about how much the cost will be with all your favorite pool accessories? Use our Design and Price Tool to walk through your options and approximate price!
Meet the Author: Marcus Sheridan
Hi, I’m Marcus Sheridan, Co-Founder of River Pools®. I’ve spent the past 20 years helping families make confident, well-informed decisions about inground pools.
If you’re considering an inground pool kit, my goal with this article wasn’t to tell you what to do, but to lay out the facts. There’s a lot of noise out there when it comes to DIY pool projects, and I believe people make their best decisions when they have all the right information in front of them.
Whether you’re the hands-on type or just weighing your options, I hope this breakdown helped you get a little closer to figuring out what’s right for your home, your budget, and your peace of mind.
Message from the River Pools Manufacturing Team:
Looking into inground pool kits is a smart way to explore your options and get a feel for what building a backyard pool might involve. From vinyl and fiberglass to concrete, each type of kit comes with its own set of considerations. Knowing what’s typically included—and what you’ll need to plan for separately, can make all the difference as you map out your project.
At River Pools, we manufacture world-class fiberglass pools for installations across North America. We strongly recommend that you work with an experienced pool builder on your inground pool project, regardless of what type of pool you choose. If you’re concerned about the price, be sure to shop around and check out our pool builder vetting checklist so that you can get the pool that you want and still stay within your budget.
If you're still figuring out what makes the most sense for your home, we’d love to help guide you in the right direction.
Ready to start the conversation?
Up Next:
The Pros and Cons of Fiberglass Pools
What’s the Best Small Fiberglass Pool for Your Needs? Costs, Sizes, Features
How Much Does it Cost to Remove a Concrete Pool?
Topics:
