Inground pool cost in Kentucky
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $34,800 – $109,000
- Per sq ft
- $77 – $241
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 3
What does it cost to install an inground pool in Kentucky? Plan on $34,800 to $109,000 for 450 sq ft. Wages (0.97x the US blend), materials (price index 96.0) and permit costs (90.2) put the state below the national midpoint by 3%.
Inside Kentucky, the metros we cover range from $71,200 (Bowling Green) to $74,100 (Louisville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your inground pool cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Kentucky (statewide), standard level
$57,100 to $86,700
About $126 to $192 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,000 | $41,200 |
| Labor | $29,900 | $45,300 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $220 |
| Total | $57,100 | $86,700 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Kentucky
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,400 | $34,100 | $51,800 | 47% |
| Labor | $18,300 | $37,600 | $56,800 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $34,800 | $71,900 | $109,000 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Kentucky
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Kentucky wages and prices. Against national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−1%) and wood deck lowest (−7%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,800 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,200 | −4% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,700 | −7% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $12,900 | −4% |
Kentucky against its neighbors
Kentucky ranks 33 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for inground pool, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $102,500 and the cheapest Arkansas at $64,300, both for 450 sq ft at the midpoint. Kentucky sits at $71,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | +11% |
| Tennessee | 170 miles away | $34,300 – $107,000 | $70,800 | −2% |
| Ohio | 210 miles away | $37,400 – $117,000 | $77,200 | +7% |
| West Virginia | 220 miles away | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | −6% |
| Illinois | 280 miles away | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | +30% |
Quality levels and sizes in Kentucky
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Kentucky wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$34,800 to $64,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$57,100 to $86,700
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$79,300 to $109,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $31,000 – $57,300 | $50,700 – $77,100 | $70,500 – $96,800 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $39,600 – $73,300 | $64,900 – $98,600 | $90,200 – $124,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $61,900 – $114,500 | $101,500 – $154,000 | $141,000 – $193,500 |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Kentucky
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 4 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.97 for Kentucky.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.13 and $24.06 an hour. About 13,280 work in the state. That is 66.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $27.78 an hour, which is 3% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.58 and $31.59 an hour. BLS counts 7,050 of them working in the state, 35.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.76 an hour, 4% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $21.66 and $33.08 an hour. About 780 work in the state. That is 3.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.04 and $40.79 an hour. BLS counts 6,360 of them working in the state, 31.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($24.06 an hour) would add about $1,400 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.13) would take off about $2,650. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,000,360 jobs across Kentucky (May 2025), which is 1.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.13 | $21.98 | $24.06 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.58 | $27.78 | $31.59 | $28.78 | 0.97 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $21.66 | $28.76 | $33.08 | $29.87 | 0.96 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.04 | $30.84 | $40.79 | $30.67 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Inground pool: what moves the price in Kentucky
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.
Inground pool cost by metro in Kentucky
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $71,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (450 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | $35,900 – $112,500 | $74,100 | +3% |
| Lexington, KY | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,100 | level |
| Bowling Green, KY | $34,500 – $108,000 | $71,200 | −1% |
Kentucky seasons and inground pool
Season matters for inground pool. For each Kentucky metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Louisville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Kentucky at 7 months (April through October); Bowling Green has the shortest at 6 (April through June and August through October). Rainfall runs from 48 inches a year in Louisville to 50 inches in Bowling Green.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 28 | 89 | 48 | 7: April through October |
| Lexington | 25 | 87 | 50 | 7: April through October |
| Bowling Green | 28 | 90 | 50 | 6: April through June and August through October |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $57,100 to $86,700 for Kentucky is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Kentucky, $9
The report lays out the inground pool numbers for Kentucky line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Inground pool in Kentucky: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Kentucky?
$34,800 to $109,000 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Kentucky can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Kentucky is cheapest for inground pool?
Bowling Green at about $71,200 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Louisville at $74,100.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Kentucky than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $71,900 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Kentucky?
About 52% ($37,600). Materials are 47%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Kentucky?
The BLS statewide median is $21.98 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.13 to $24.06.
+Where does Kentucky rank for inground pool costs?
33rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $71,900 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Kentucky?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $34,800 to $64,500 and premium work $79,300 to $109,000. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Kentucky?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Kentucky metros we cover, Louisville has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Inground pool by city in Kentucky
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.