How Much Does a Natural Pool Cost to Build in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

On average, homeowners spend {AvgRange} to install a natural pool, with most investing between $75,000 and $150,000. In some cases, you might spend as little as $25,000, while costs per square foot range from $50 to $100. While it's a significant investment, careful budgeting and hiring a pool professional can ensure your project is completed efficiently and safely.

Natural Pool Cost Factors

The cost to build a pool of this type is split between materials, excavation, machinery use, and labor. It's important to budget for all aspects of the project, including potential unexpected expenses. For example, if the contractor encounters extremely tough rock while excavating, you'll need to budget for blasting to clear it.

Labor

Building a natural pool requires a lot of labor, which accounts for $8,000 to $10,000 or more of the total cost. You'll need several types of contractors, including pool builders, landscapers, and excavation contractors. 

Local pool builders charge an average of $50 to $70 per hour and oversee the construction and installation of the pool structure and filtration systems. Landscapers, charging around $50 to $100 per hour, handle the planting in the regeneration zone and the surrounding landscape design. Depending on your location, excavation contractors may charge $40 to $150 per hour to dig out the pool area. Their costs can vary based on soil conditions and how accessible your site is.

Permits

When installing a pool, building permits cost between $250 and $2,000, depending on your location. Make room in your budget, as local regulations may require specific permits before you can start construction.

Pump

Swimming pool pumps cost between $300 and $1,200, depending on the type and capacity. The pump circulates water between the swim and regeneration zones, which is essential for keeping your natural pool healthy and safe. By keeping the water moving, the pump helps prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms.

Retaining Wall

Retaining walls cost between $20 and $100 per square foot. If your pool design requires a retaining wall because of your yard's slope or for aesthetic reasons, this will add to your overall cost.

Pool Sand

Pool sand costs anywhere from $15 to $30 per ton and is a common addition to natural pools, creating a lakeside beach feel. It's also frequently used in the regeneration zone as part of the natural filtration system.

Waterfall

Adding a waterfall costs between $250 and $15,000, based on size and style. For this type of pool, a natural-looking waterfall cascading over rocks is a good option and costs $2,000.

Lighting

Pool lighting costs between $450 and $1,200. LED strip lighting is an affordable, eco-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing choice, and floating LED lights add a splash of magic to your pool after dark.

Landscaping

Landscaping can be a significant expense when installing a natural pool. It might be as simple as reseeding your lawn or as elaborate as adding an outdoor kitchen, building flowerbeds, rewilding the area around the pool, and adding walkways.

Maintenance

Maintenance costs are minimal once your natural pool is filled and the plants are established. You don't need to open and close the pool with the seasons. Instead, let it freeze and thaw naturally, then run the pump for a few weeks after the thaw before you start swimming. You'll need to vacuum occasionally to remove sediment and skim the surface to remove debris. The pump may need servicing occasionally to keep it running efficiently.

Monthly maintenance for a natural pool ranges from $150 to $260, and ongoing operating costs are lower than those for traditional pools.

Natural Pool Cost by Material

Natural pool materials vary widely in cost, starting at $0.25 per square foot for a thin, budget-friendly liner and up to $113 per square foot for a high-end fiberglass liner. Concrete is a popular choice because it's more affordable than fiberglass and more durable and attractive than a traditional liner.

Traditional Pool Liner

Pool liners cost $0.25 to $1.20 per square foot, so you'd be looking at a cost of $150 to $720 for the materials to line a 600-square-foot pool. They're not the most attractive, although black liners work well to conceal themselves and create a natural appearance once the pool is full of water.

Clay

Bentonite clay pool lining costs $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. Lining a 600-square-foot pool with bentonite clay will cost between $300 and $900 for materials only. You can choose a clay liner or apply it directly to the prepared and compacted soil to seal it, which is more affordable than purchasing a prefabricated clay liner. Applying clay directly to the soil creates a more unique, natural look and feel than a manufactured liner.

Gravel

Gravel costs $1 to $2 per square foot but isn't a lining material. However, it is an essential addition to the regeneration zone of your pool, as it's part of the natural filtration system. In the regeneration zone, the pool contractor adds a layer of gravel around six inches deep to help keep the water clean and healthy.

Concrete

A concrete pool costs $55 to $70 per square foot, putting the price of a 600-square-foot concrete pool at $33,000 to $42,000 for materials only. Concrete is robust and durable and is one of the most customizable options in size, shape, and depth. With a natural pool, homeowners often choose to have the concrete painted black, which makes the pool look more natural.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass natural pool costs $100 to $113 per square foot. Fiberglass pools are highly customizable and inhibit algae growth. They're also popular because of their beauty and easy maintenance.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.