Planning a pool before you call a builder
The pool cost calculator gives a planning-stage range by pool type and size, using widely published construction cost ranges from industry guides and pool-builder associations. As a rough guide, gunite or concrete runs about $60 to $100 per square foot, vinyl liner about $40 to $75, fiberglass about $45 to $85 and an above-ground pool roughly $1,500 to $6,000 in total, depending on size. Treat these as ranges, not quotes: local labor, soil, access, permits and equipment choices move the real figure a lot.
What the range leaves out
A construction estimate is not the whole cost of owning a pool. Chemicals, electricity for the pump and heater, water, repairs and eventual liner or equipment replacement continue for years. The equipment and chemical calculators on this site help you estimate some of those running costs once you know your volume.
Swimming and calories
The swimming calories calculator uses calories = MET × weight in kilograms × time in hours, where the MET value reflects your stroke and effort. It is an estimate for planning your exercise, not a measurement. See how we calculate for the method behind every tool.
Using the two tools together
Planning a pool and planning your swimming are different jobs, and the two calculators answer different questions. Use the cost calculator early, before you talk to builders, so you know whether a pool type fits your budget. Use the calories calculator whenever you want to set a swimming goal. Neither replaces a quote or professional advice.