How Much Does It Cost to Fill a Pool With Water? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $90 - $270
Usually, homeowners spend $180 to fill an average-sized pool with water. The cost might be as high as $1,250, though, if your pool is large and depending on where you source your water—city water is the least expensive option.
The cost to fill up an average-sized pool depends on the source of the water. Most people spend $4 to $10 per 1,000 gallons from a garden hose or $30 to $100 per 1,000 gallons from a water delivery service. In total, most homeowners spend about $180—or between $90 to $270—to fill an average-sized swimming pool with water.
- Average
- $180
- Low end
- $60
- high end
- $1,250
Overall, your cost will depend on things like the size of your pool and whether you’re filling it all the way or just topping it off. Olympic-sized pools cost far more to fill than average, while a tiny hot tub costs much less. Learn more about how much it will cost you to float on your favorite inflatable swan all summer long with this helpful guide.
Cost Factors to Fill a Pool With Water
Water is an ongoing pool maintenance cost. Most people spend $20 to $500 per season replacing water that evaporates, but filling a totally empty pool will cost a lot more. To figure out the price, you have to weigh a number of different factors—mainly, the size of your pool, the source of the water, and the current level of water.
So, how much does it cost to fill a pool with water? Let’s break it down.
Pool Size
The size of your pool has the biggest impact on how much it costs to fill your pool with water.
Most of the time, inground pools cost more to fill because they’re larger and deeper. Aboveground pools tend to cost less, though circular aboveground pools can hold a deceptively large volume.
All in all, the average pool holds around 17,000 gallons. This costs $68 to $170 to fill from a garden hose or $30 to 1,700 to fill using a water delivery service.
| Pool Size | Gallons | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Hot tub | 300–500 | $1–$50 |
| Spool | 6,000–6,800 | $24–$680 |
| Cocktail pool | 8,000–10,000 | $32–$1,000 |
| Standard pool | 12,000–13,500 | $48–$1,300 |
| Lap Pool | 16,000–20,000 | $64–$2,000 |
| Diving pool | 23,000–28,000 | $92–$2,800 |
Pool Water Source Types
If you're using local municipal water, filling a swimming pool is pretty straightforward. But when you rely on a well or prefer a delivery service, the cost can get a bit more tricky to determine. Here's what to consider when choosing your pool's water source, along with some common costs.
| Water Source | Average Cost Range (Per Gallon) |
|---|---|
| City water | $0.004–$0.01 |
| Well water | $0 (pay for electricity only) |
| Water delivery service | $0.03–$0.10 |
City Water
At an average of $0.004 to $0.01 per gallon, city water is the most inexpensive and most popular option. For 15,000 to 30,000 gallons, you'll pay between $60 and $300. However, be sure to check with your municipality before turning the hose on full-throttle. Overuse fines go up to $100 in California.
Well Water
If you're using a well instead of city water, then you may not have any bills in the mail. However, your electricity bill will reflect the power the well pump uses to move water from below ground to your pool. Most homeowners spend $25 to $75 on electricity costs, though it depends on the pump’s wattage, manufacturer, age, and model. Chemically unstable well water may also need chemical treatments.
Water Delivery Service
Many pool owners consider hiring a local pool service to supply their pool with water. Consider the cost of the water supply, the type of water, and how many gallons you'll need. You’ll pay $0.03 to $0.10 per gallon for water from a pool water delivery service—or about $500 to $1,700 to fill the average 17,000-gallon pool. Keep in mind that you may spend more to fill a smaller pool since some companies only sell water by the truckload.
Partial Fills
Most homeowners spend $20 to $500 per season refilling their pool. To refill a pool, you should estimate how much water it contains to avoid overfilling. For every 20,000 gallons of water, expect to add 1,000 to 3,000 gallons (or 15%) when refilling from a partial drain below the skimmer.
Throughout the season, you may need to pay for maintenance water as your pool loses water from leaks, evaporation, and kids splashing around.
Location
City water costs vary by location. You can expect to spend more in areas with a higher cost of living. Though city water is still more cost-effective than water delivery, water delivery may be an economical option that saves you some time.
If you live in a rural or inaccessible area, you’ll end up paying more for water delivery. The more miles their truck has to travel, the more they’ll charge. In this case, you may want to use a well or your garden hose.
Cost to Fill a Pool per Gallon of Water
The amount of water it takes to fill a pool after installation varies greatly depending on the size of your swimming pool.
Grab your calculator—you can determine how many gallons of water your swimming pool holds (aka the volume) by crunching a few numbers or using this pool volume calculator.
Circular Pool Cost Formula
Diameter Length (A) x Diameter Length (B) x Depth x 5.9 = Total Water Volume
Rectangular Pool Cost Formula
Length (A) x Length (B) x Depth x 7.5 = Total Water Volume
Note: If your pool has shallow and deep ends, you should calculate the average depth to determine how much water it holds.
A record of your pool's dimensions from your local pool installer will make it easier to figure out how much water is necessary to fill it up.
Basic Per-Gallon Formula
Once you know the total number of gallons your pool holds, look up your water rate on your bill to estimate how much it will cost to fill.
Let's look at this simple formula:
(pool capacity in gallons/1,000) x cost per 1,000 gallons = cost to fill a pool with water
Let's say your water and sewer rate comes to $9 for every 1,000 gallons you use, and you have a 20,000-gallon pool. Here's how you can determine how much it will cost to fill your pool with municipal water:
(20,000 Gallons/1,000) x $9 = $180
| Pool Size by Gallon | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 10,000-gallon pool | $90 |
| 15,000-gallon pool | $135 |
| 20,000-gallon pool | $180 |
| 25,000-gallon pool | $225 |
| 30,000-gallon pool | $270 |
Costs of Common Pool Water Delivery Add-Ons
If you’re hiring a pool service to fill up your pool, you may want to splurge on a couple upgrades. These add-ons make your pool more functional and safe. Consider adding the following costs to your pool budget.
Pool Cover
For most homeowners, a pool cover costs $780 to $2,600. If you don’t have the budget, you can get a basic solar cover for $30 to $150. This will help insulate your pool, preventing evaporation and lowering your heating costs. A safety cover will cost a bit more at $1,200 to $3,600 depending on the type.
Pool Enclosure
A pool enclosure is a bit more involved than a fence. It sections off your entire pool, including the area above it. This protects your pool from critters, insects, and dirt and provides the same standard of safety as a pool fence. The cost to install a pool enclosure is typically $6,025 to 17,350, with most homeowners spending between $8 and $200 per square feet.
Pool Fence
Pool fencing is often a legal requirement that helps boost the safety of your pool area. For most homeowners, pool fencing costs $15 to $25 per linear foot, but a basic chain-link fence typically costs less. On average, expect to spend $4,000 in total.
Pool Maintenance
For most homeowners, pool maintenance costs $125 to $350 per month, including pool chemicals, testing pH, skimming, and cleaning. If you need repairs, you could end up spending $650 to $900, but it depends on the issue. You may actually have to drain and refill your pool to fix certain problems.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on 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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most straightforward approach to fill an inground swimming pool is to connect a garden hose from your exterior tap. Although, it's not the best idea if there's water scarcity or restricted rationing. If so, you'll want to make alternate arrangements like getting a water delivery service to fill your pool.
You’ll save money by filling your pool by hose rather than water delivery. Since water delivery includes delivery fees and filling the pool, the savings between the two can be a difference of up to several hundred dollars. Generally, using your hose costs $26 to $70 less per 1,000 gallons than using water delivery.
Evaporation causes up to 70% of outdoor pools’ energy losses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While you can’t completely prevent evaporation, different types of pool covers can help a lot. Pool enclosures, however, don’t do much to stop evaporation—and the cost to build a pool enclosure likely won’t tempt you to try.
There are many factors to consider when building an inground concrete pool. This includes the pool’s primary purpose (relaxation or exercise), if you live in a warm or cold climate (how often it’ll be used), and if you have the budget for chemical treatments and pool maintenance. Inground pools are often more costly than aboveground pools, but they’re considered more luxurious and hold more value.
It can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to fill the average pool with water—and that’s if you use a couple of garden hoses. A water delivery service can fill your pool in one to three hours. Some services even pre-treat the water so it’s swim-ready as soon as it’s filled.