Inground pool cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $37,700 – $118,000
- Per sq ft
- $83.50 – $261
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #96
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Denver, CO usually costs $37,700 to $118,000 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $83.50 to $261 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $3,350 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.44 an hour in the Denver area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$61,800 to $93,800
About $137 to $208 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $28,400 | $43,300 |
| Labor | $33,100 | $50,200 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $250 |
| Total | $61,800 | $93,800 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,300 | $35,900 | $54,500 | 46% |
| Labor | $20,400 | $41,700 | $63,000 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $210 | $320 | 0% |
| Total | $37,700 | $77,800 | $118,000 | 100% |
Where the Denver price comes from
Labor is 54% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (40%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), brickmasons and blockmasons (20%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Denver the blended ratio comes out at 1.08.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Denver is at 101.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $35,900 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.8: $110 to $320.
Planning more than one job in Denver?
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Denver wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+8%) and aluminum fence lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,200 | +4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,800 – $15,700 | +3% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +6% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,600 – $14,200 | +7% |
What local crews earn in Denver
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Denver the blend is 1.08.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $23.44 an hour, which is 3% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.44 an hour. BLS counts 9,650 of them working in the area, 60.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $30.81 an hour, 7% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.32 and $36.58 an hour. About 5,150 work in the metro. That is 32.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $36.12 an hour, which is 21% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $31.29 and $37.06 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 2.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.72 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.81 and $39.11 an hour. About 5,750 work in the metro. That is 35.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,750 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,350. That is a swing of roughly 1.7% to 3.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has 1,609,350 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 17th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.48 | $23.44 | $27.44 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.32 | $30.81 | $36.58 | $28.78 | 1.07 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $31.29 | $36.12 | $37.06 | $29.87 | 1.21 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $28.81 | $30.72 | $39.11 | $30.67 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Denver
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Denver. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$37,700 to $69,800
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$61,800 to $93,800
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$85,800 to $118,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $33,500 – $62,000 | $54,900 – $83,400 | $76,300 – $105,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $42,900 – $79,400 | $70,200 – $106,500 | $97,600 – $134,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $67,000 – $124,000 | $109,500 – $166,500 | $152,500 – $209,000 |
Why two Denver quotes can differ
Pool type
Vinyl pools are $25,000-$65,000, fiberglass $45,000-$100,000, and concrete or gunite $50,000-$120,000 (HomeGuide).
Maintenance
Pool maintenance is $80-$150 a month; concrete pools also need an acid wash every 3-5 years at $300-$1,000.
Permit
A building permit for a pool is $100-$300 and contractors often include it. Many cities add plumbing and electrical permits.
How Denver compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Denver. Greeley is the lowest at about $72,700 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $37,700 – $118,000 | $77,800 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | −6% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $36,800 – $115,000 | $76,000 | −2% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $35,300 – $110,000 | $72,700 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −4% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | −6% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | −3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Denver ranks #96 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Denver is 4% above the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | −6% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $36,800 – $115,000 | $76,000 | −2% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −4% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $35,300 – $110,000 | $72,700 | −6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $35,000 – $109,000 | $72,100 | −7% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $40,200 – $125,500 | $82,900 | +7% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $41,700 – $130,000 | $85,900 | +10% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $39,000 – $122,000 | $80,500 | +3% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | −12% |
Denver weather and the inground pool calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Denver-Stapleton (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Denver are May through June and August through September: 4 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Denver gets about 15 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, July and August (2.3 inches in May). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 1.7 and 1.5 inches. The station averages about 42 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 48 | 19 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 56 | 27 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 34 | 1.7 | Cold |
| May | 72 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 59 | 2.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 48 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 36 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Nov | 55 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 46 | 18 | 0.5 | Cold |
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Inground pool in Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Denver?
For 450 sq ft, expect $37,700 to $118,000 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $61,800 to $93,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Denver?
About $83.50 to $261 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $110 to $320 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $73,400, which is 6% less than Denver ($77,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $41,700 out of $77,800. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$42,900 to $134,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Denver?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $110 to $320 for fees in the Denver area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 4% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($75,100 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Denver?
The BLS median is $23.44 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.48 to $27.44.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Denver?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $37,700 to $69,800 and premium work $85,800 to $118,000. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+When is the best time to install an inground pool in Denver?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through June and August through September. June and September are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Inground pool near Denver
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does An Inground Pool Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split. It is a category average, not a pool-specific one, so read the pool materials line loosely.