Get matched with top pool builders and installers in your area

Excavation generally takes four to eight hours, depending on site conditions, accessibility, and how far away from the pro you live. Excavation for natural pools carved into rock might take several days; it takes special equipment and explosives to carefully carve out the rock. Digging near a beach or other oceanfront property takes longer as well, due to added forms and supports needed to hold the sand back while digging and pumping out accumulating water from the pit.

Generally, you’ll remove anywhere from 64 to 178 cubic yards of dirt from your pool's hole. However, this can vary quite a bit depending on the pool size, how deep you dig it, and if you have an odd shape. Most oddly shaped pools tend to dig extra dirt from around the proposed structure.

To estimate the cost to excavate your pool, you’ll need to find its total volume. Multiply the width x depth x length of your pool to find the total volume (in cubic yards) and divide by 27. Multiply this number by the average cost of pool excavation ($8 to $27 per cubic yard) to get an estimate of the total cost. Remember that excavating rocky ground or in a hard-to-access location will add to this cost.