Inground pool cost in Richmond, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,700 – $105,000
- Per sq ft
- $74.50 – $233
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #199
- 1 = most expensive
Richmond homeowners pay roughly $33,700 to $105,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $74.50 to $233 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Richmond is 7% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.39 an hour in the Richmond area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Richmond, VA, standard level
$55,100 to $83,700
About $122 to $186 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,300 | $41,500 |
| Labor | $27,700 | $42,000 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $230 |
| Total | $55,100 | $83,700 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Richmond, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,400 | $52,300 | 50% |
| Labor | $17,000 | $34,800 | $52,700 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $33,700 | $69,400 | $105,000 | 100% |
Why Richmond prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 20%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Richmond wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Richmond metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,400, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.9) and land at $100 to $290.
Is Richmond cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 450 sq ft range from $66,900 to $76,900 across Richmond and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VAthis page | $33,700 – $105,000 | $69,400 | |
| Virginia Beach, VA70 miles | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,400 | −3% |
| Charlottesville, VA75 miles | $34,400 – $107,500 | $71,000 | +2% |
| Lexington Park, MD80 miles | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | +5% |
| Lynchburg, VA95 miles | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | −4% |
| Washington, DC100 miles | $37,300 – $116,500 | $76,900 | +11% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $34,800 – $108,500 | $71,800 | +3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Richmond comes in at #199 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Richmond is 3% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,400 | −3% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | −5% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $34,400 – $107,500 | $71,000 | +2% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | −4% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,000 | −2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Richmond's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Richmond against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $31,900 – $99,800 | $65,900 | −5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $34,600 – $108,000 | $71,300 | +3% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $35,900 – $112,500 | $74,100 | +7% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | +21% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Richmond
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.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Richmond is 0.90 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $20.39 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.21 and $22.61 an hour. About 4,560 work in the metro. That is 69.1 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 $26.58 an hour, which is 8% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $29.75 an hour. BLS counts 2,220 of them working in the area, 33.6 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 $24.90 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.04 and $28.18 an hour. About 430 work in the metro. That is 6.5 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 $29.56 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.32 and $34.63 an hour. BLS counts 2,340 of them working in the area, 35.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.61 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,500. At the 25th percentile ($18.21) it shrinks by about $1,500. The total moves by 2.2% or 2.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 660,350 jobs in the Richmond area. That makes it the 45th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.42% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.21 | $20.39 | $22.61 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.08 | $26.58 | $29.75 | $28.78 | 0.92 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $22.04 | $24.90 | $28.18 | $29.87 | 0.83 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.32 | $29.56 | $34.63 | $30.67 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Richmond
Because every project leans on different trades, Richmond's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −5% and concrete patio −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $14,000 | −8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,400 – $12,500 | −8% |
When to schedule inground pool in Richmond
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Richmond Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through June and August through October are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Richmond (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; 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.
Richmond gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 9 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 45 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 30 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 60 | 37 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 78 | 56 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 61 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 52 | 32 | 3.5 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Richmond
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Richmond wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$33,700 to $62,300
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$55,100 to $83,700
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$76,600 to $105,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,900 – $55,400 | $49,000 – $74,500 | $68,100 – $93,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $38,300 – $70,800 | $62,700 – $95,200 | $87,100 – $119,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,800 – $110,500 | $97,900 – $148,500 | $136,000 – $187,000 |
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Multi-page report for Richmond, VA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Richmond: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Richmond?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,700 to $105,000 in the Richmond area. A standard-spec job lands at $55,100 to $83,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Richmond?
About $74.50 to $233 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Richmond or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $67,400, which is 3% less than Richmond ($69,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Richmond?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $34,800 out of $69,400. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Richmond?
$38,300 to $119,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Richmond?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $290 for fees in the Richmond area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Richmond expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Virginia?
Richmond is 3% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($71,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Richmond?
The BLS median is $20.39 an hour in the Richmond area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.21 to $22.61.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Richmond?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,700 to $62,300 and premium work $76,600 to $105,000. 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 Richmond?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through June and August through October. April and October 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 Richmond
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.