How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Pond? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $350 - $1,200
The average cost to remove a pond is about $550. Smaller ponds cost less, around $350. Larger sites may cost around $1,200 to drain and fill in with topsoil.
The average cost of removing a backyard pond is $550. It can range between $350 and $1,200, depending on the size of the pond and how you’re repurposing the space. Other factors that can affect the cost of removing a pond include labor costs, disposal fees, and fill materials.
- Average
- $550
- Low end
- $150
- high end
- $4,000
Pond Removal Cost Factors
The cost of pond removal is heavily based on the materials, which is why you may find hiring a professional a more cost-effective option compared to doing it yourself if you don’t already have the tools needed to do the job.
Materials
Tools for pond removal, like a pump and a jackhammer, cost about $160 to $500. Pond removal is pretty straightforward, but you will need a pump to drain the water. You may also need a jackhammer to remove a concrete foundation. Filler, like dirt or gravel, will cost another $150 to $250.
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Water pump | $50–$150 |
| Jackhammer | $150–$500 |
| Gravel | $15–$75 per cubic yard |
| Fill dirt | $5–$15 per cubic yard |
| Topsoil | $10–$60 per cubic yard |
Labor
You’ll pay about $300 to $500 for an average pond that can be accessed by a truck to remove any concrete or to fill in the pond with dirt. For larger ponds or ponds that require more manual labor with wheelbarrows and shovels, expect to spend $500 to $800.
Size
Ponds cost about $150 to $250 to fill in with soil or gravel. Then, topsoil costs about $12 to $60 per cubic yard. Grass seed will cost an additional $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot, for a total of about $15 to $30 for an average-sized, 150-square-foot pond.
| Size (sq. ft.) | Average Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| 75 | $175–$300 |
| 150 | $300–$550 |
| 300 | $600–$1,100 |
Cost to Move Large Rocks
If the pond you're removing contains large landscaping items such as rocks, these may need to be removed depending on your plans for the space. To dispose of large rocks, you may need to rent or hire a mini excavator, depending on the size of the rocks. Compact excavator rental costs can range from $270 to $440 per day.
Wildlife Relocation
Well-established ponds often contain wildlife that you should consider relocating before pond removal. This can include koi fish and other aquatic wildlife that may not be safe or legal to simply move to another local body of water. The cost of professional wildlife removal tends to range from $190 to $600 and can ensure that any animals on your property are relocated properly.
Land Restoration
The cost of landscaping after pond removal can vary greatly depending on what you choose to do with the space. You may opt to simply fill in the area and merge it with the rest of your lawn, in which case you'll only pay the cost of topsoil and landscaping labor. Alternatively, you can plan a landscape design that includes planting a vegetable garden or building a deck.
Debris and Water Disposal
Disposing of pond water is often free—as long as it’s not treated with chemicals that are harmful to plants, it’s most convenient to repurpose it to water your lawn or garden beds. You can fill an appropriately sized rain barrel to store pond water until you need it.
Disposing of the pond components can cost around $240 if you use a junk removal service. They can pick up and dispose of the pond liner, pump, and other components once you’ve removed the pond.
Permits
Check with your local building authority to see if you need a permit for landscaping projects like removing your pond. Not all areas require one, but it’s better to be sure before you get started. Permits average between $50 and $250, depending on your municipality’s regulations.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Remove a Pond
DIY pond removal costs between $150 and $500, depending on the size of the pond and the materials and tools you need. Building a pond is difficult work and requires a professional to excavate the land, but filling in a pond is more suitable to DIY. Still, hiring a professional pond service near you will ensure the pond is properly drained, disassembled, removed, and filled in. Then you can easily replace the space with grass seed or a garden.
Cost of Common Pond Removal Add-Ons
Homeowners often remove backyard ponds to reclaim usable space or as part of a backyard remodel. Some common add-ons to pond removal include:
New topsoil and grass seed: $0.10 to $0.20 per square foot
Patio installation: $5 to $50 per square foot
Plant bed construction: $150 to $2,500
Tips to Reduce Pond Removal Costs
Because of the cost to rent or buy tools, like a jackhammer or pump, to drain and fill a pool, it’s typically the most cost-efficient to hire a professional pond service to remove the pond. If you already own the tools or have a friend or neighbor that you can borrow them from, you can reduce the cost to just filling in the pond for about $150 to $250.
To remove a pond, start by removing any fish or plants in the pond. Next, you’ll use a pump to drain the water. Some ponds may have a concrete base, which you’ll need to remove with a jackhammer. Then, you can remove the pool liner.
Once the pond is drained, you can fill in the hole with dirt or gravel. Then, you’ll want to top it off with topsoil. Depending on what you plan to do with the area, you can add grass seed or begin to fence off the area and create a garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Small ponds can be drained and filled in about a day. Larger ponds will take two or three days for professional removal.
One reason you may want to fill in your pond is the cost of maintenance. Pond cleaning may cost about $1,000 for an annual cleanup, or monthly visits may cost $75 to $100 per visit. If you don’t want to spend that much per year on pond upkeep, you may consider filling in your pond.
With proper drainage and filling in the pond, you can treat the former pond area as you would the rest of your lawn. You could plant grass here and integrate the space back into your lush yard, turn it into a garden, plant a tree, or create a patio space.