How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pond? [2025 Data]

Pond Installation Cost Factors

You may be surprised by how many factors impact the final price of your backyard pond. Here’s how they all come together.

Size

The larger the size of the pond you build, the more labor and materials it will require. Extensive excavation and more lining for the pond can add up. The average cost to install a pond on the smaller end ranges from $2,500 to $5,000. Larger ponds could fall in the range of $15,000 to $25,000.

Square footage is a major consideration when installing a water feature. A small pond averages $50 per square foot, while a large pond costs about $35. You’ll pay more per square foot for a smaller pond because you can buy materials in bulk for a larger one, and you may want more landscaping features like aquatic plants and edging. 

Geographic Location

The cost of building a pond varies across the United States, so where you live could make a difference in your final bill. Here are what the average costs look like for each of the eight main regions of the country.

Placement

The location where you build a pond within your yard can also impact the cost. Choosing a flat area with minimal vegetation can help you reduce the total price, as it will require less labor to level and clear the land. 

Your contractor may charge more for difficult-to-access areas. If the landscaping equipment and trucks can’t enter a portion of the site, your pro will have to dig by hand. 

Depth

The depth you need to dig for building a pond will not only affect the cost in terms of required labor, but depending on how deep you’re planning to dig—and where— you may need to acquire a permit as well.

Liner

The cost of the liner is also heavily dependent on the size of your pond, as well as whether you choose cement, fiberglass, rubber, vinyl, or plastic. The cost generally ranges from $0.25 to $120 per square foot.

Site Preparation

Preparing the site where you choose to build your pond is likely to include landscaping maintenance, removing vegetation, and of course, excavation. The more prep work needed—and its severity—before you build the pond, the higher the cost could be for the labor and supplies.

Labor

There is a decent amount of labor required to build a pond. Excavating the land, fitting and installing the liner, adding the equipment, and setting up the water features are just some of the components. 

With all of this in mind, it’s important to note labor costs as a factor in the total for building a pond. Each labor company will charge its own rate which could depend on the project at hand and the company’s own employees’ skills and experience. If a project is more complex and involves customized features, laborers will likely charge extra for the time and effort.

Water Delivery

What would a pond be without water? This crucial part of the project is another cost factor to keep in mind. The average cost for water delivery to fill a pond is $200 to $600 per truckload.

Pond Features

While your pond might be a beautiful feature in itself, adding on some extras—whether for beautification or functionality—can make it even better.

Type of Pond

If you’ve been brainstorming the perfect water feature ideas, you probably realized that there are several types of ponds to choose from, and each has its own price tag. Here are four of the most common.

Ongoing Pond Expenses

Once you’ve built a pond, there are a few notable expenses that you’ll have to pay consistently to keep it in the best shape possible.

Maintenance

Pond or garden fountain maintenance includes tasks such as cleaning and changing water filters, assessing water quality and levels, and cleaning debris from the bottom of the pond. Some of these tasks can be done by you, but you will need to purchase any necessary equipment and supplies. In terms of water testing or more severe cleaning projects, you may need to hire a pro to help out. On average, pond maintenance costs around $400 to $5,000 per year.

Repairs

Of course, you hope that repairs won’t be needed, but much like anything, wear and tear can be a call for some backup. The yearly cost of pond repairs will depend on the complexity of the needed repairs and individual laborers’ fees.

Pond Heater

If you live in a colder region, a ponder heater might be necessary to prevent freezing. Beyond the initial cost of a pond heater—which is around $25 to $500—you’ll need to account for electrical costs to run the heater. On average, the heater will cost between $30 to $150 per month.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Build a Pond

If you did the job yourself, you can expect to pay between $250 to $2,500 for a day-long job of building a small pond, which covers both equipment and materials costs. Considering the typical range is between two to four times that price, you could save a considerable amount of money doing the job yourself. However, this is generally a bad idea for this type of project for several reasons.

Digging your own pond isn't as easy as grabbing a shovel and a hose. You'll need to get an excavator to move a large amount of earth, and that costs between $150 and $1,500 per day (and usually requires a license to operate it). Then there's the cost of installing the liner, which ranges from $100 to $1,000. And if you don't install the liner correctly, your pond will leak and eventually be ruined, and all that hard work (and money) will be for nothing.

This is a big job, so it's best to contact a water feature contractor near you for a consultation and quote. That extra money you're paying is to ensure that the job is done right and you won't have to do it again.

Cost of Common Pond Add-Ons

• Landscaping: Landscape design costs will depend on the specific features you choose. You might add flowers on the outskirts of the pond, bog plants, or floating aquatic. Plants will cost between $3 to $50.

• Mulching: You may also need to mulch the area around your pond. Mulch costs anywhere from $15–$80 per yard. If you choose not to DIY, you’ll pay between $20–$50 per yard for installation.

• Aeration: Ponds need aeration to stay clean. It costs between $0.10 and $0.35 per square foot for lawn aeration, so make sure you budget for this aspect of the project, too.

How to Save Money on Pond Installation Costs

• Opt for a smaller pond. With a smaller pond, you still get to enjoy its beauty, but cut down on the cost of maintenance and labor.

• Reuse materials you excavated. By using the soil, rocks, and boulders you excavated when digging your pond as landscaping materials, you can cut costs on purchasing them new.

• Dig yourself. If you’re able to safely dig the hole for a pond yourself, you can save on labor costs by having the area prepped for the pros to install the pond.

• Don’t choose a koi pond. There are a lot of different types of ponds, and while a koi pond might sound enticing, koi fish are on the more expensive end. Opt for a pond suitable for more affordable fish.

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 survey real Angi customers about their project 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. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.