What a Custom Pool Costs
A complete pool project in the North Metro Atlanta area generally runs $150,000 to $500,000, depending on your goals. A basic gunite pool starts around $85,000 to $150,000, with coping and often a small surrounding patio. Add custom features like a vanishing edge, knife edging, slot drains, water and fire features, and a larger spa, and the pool alone can reach $200,000 to $400,000. Once you add design, engineering, site planning, and permits, a full project lands in that range. Pricing is per project, because no two sites or wish lists are the same.
What drives pool cost
So much of a pool's price comes down to a handful of factors: the site conditions, the size of the pool, the features, the finishes, and the lighting. Of those, the site is usually the biggest swing. Grade, soil, and access to the backyard decide how difficult the excavation is, and a sloped or hard-to-reach lot can require retaining and engineering before the pool is even formed. This is why we price every pool from the actual survey here in North Metro Atlanta, rather than a flat per-pool number.
Where each type starts
Three ways to build, with different tradeoffs in shape, finish, and timeline.
The features that move the number
Beyond a basic pool, the features are where the budget grows. A vanishing or infinity edge, knife edging, a slot channel drain around the perimeter, water features, fire features, and larger spas each add real scope to the design and the build.
Add several custom features and the pool by itself can run $200,000 to $400,000, before the rest of the backyard is even considered.
Beyond the pool itself
The pool shell is only part of the budget. A complete pool project also carries conceptual design, engineering, and site planning to secure your pool permits, plus a survey and, depending on the site, a geotechnical or hydrology report. Permit fees are normally included in the build cost, and none of these are upsells. They are what keeps a pool accurate, permitted, and built on stable ground.
| Cost beyond the pool | Typical |
|---|---|
| Conceptual design | 3 to 6% of build |
| Construction documents | 3 to 10% of build |
| Survey | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Geotechnical or hydrology report | $2,500 to $7,500 each |
Wellness and water additions
How long a pool takes
Several months from design to completion. Longer as part of a larger backyard.
Be wary of anyone promising a finished custom pool in a couple of weeks. Permitting, coordination, and weather all factor in, especially when the pool is part of a larger outdoor living project. The carbon steel option is one of the few ways to meaningfully compress that timeline. The clearer the plan up front, the more predictable the build.
Frequently asked
How much does a pool cost in North Metro Atlanta?
What is the carbon steel pool option?
Is fiberglass cheaper than gunite?
What adds the most cost to a pool?
What do I need beyond the pool itself?
Planning a pool in the next six to twelve months?
The honest next step is a conversation about your yard, your goals, and a realistic budget. We price from the actual site here in North Metro Atlanta, so you get a number you can trust.
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