How Much Does It Cost to Open a Pool? [2025 Data]

Opening a pool costs $300, on average, but your total can fall anywhere between $100 and $500, depending on your pool size, filter and liner type, and more. Opening a pool is a DIY-friendly job, but it’s time-intensive and requires some know-how to get the work done safely. As such, many homeowners turn to professionals for pool opening services and then carry out routine maintenance themselves.

In this guide, we’ll explain pool opening service costs and the factors that affect your total.

Pool Opening Cost Factors

There are a few major factors that affect your costs when hiring a professional for pool opening services. From the type of pool to the chemicals needed, here’s what you need to know.

Type of Pool

The type of pool you have—in-ground, aboveground, or partially in-ground—will affect your total costs.

In-ground pools are the most expensive to open because they are more time-consuming than other pool types. They tend to be larger, meaning they have bigger water pumps and filters, which take longer to clean and install. 

They often have covers that are challenging and time-consuming to remove. They’re also more likely to have pool lights, which your professional will need to install prior to opening the pool.

The table below includes some average pricing for opening the different types of pools.

Filter Type

Part of the pool opening procedure your professional will follow involves reinstalling the filter, which might require backwashing and cleaning, depending on your pool closing procedure.

Cartridge and sand filters are the easiest to clean and install, and they’re more popular than other types, so prices should sit around average. Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters require a more involved cleaning process and require additional safety equipment, so they can push your pool opening costs a little above the national average.

Saltwater pools can be a little more expensive than standard chlorine pools. You’ll save a bit on chemicals, but you’ll have the added expense of salt and additional labor to install your chlorinator.

Liner Type

Another part of your pool opening involves cleaning and vacuuming the pool walls and floor, and different types of liners can majorly impact the difficulty of that process.

For example, a concrete or gunite pool liner is porous and rough, so it can easily house algae and debris. Your pool professional will need to spend more time scrubbing the walls clean after filling the pool than they would on smooth, non-porous liner materials like vinyl or fiberglass. As such, labor costs will increase.

The table below includes a quick look at average pool opening costs based on the type of pool liner you have.

Chemicals

Pool opening costs include a variety of chemicals, including algaecide, shock, pH balance chemicals, chlorine, chlorine stabilizer, alkalinity balance chemicals, and more. Most professional pool companies will include chemicals in their pool opening estimates. Still, they will often build in higher totals for larger pools, partly because they require more chemicals.

Pool Size

The size of your pool plays a significant role in your pool opening costs. Larger pools require more work for a few reasons, including:

• Larger covers that take more time to remove

• More lights, ladders, and other fixtures that take more time to reinstall

• Larger and more complex filters, pumps, and heaters that take more time to prepare for use

• Requiring more vacuuming and cleaning

• Needing more water to fill your pool back up, which drives up material costs for water delivery or labor costs if your expert needs to wait around for it to fill using the hose

• Requiring more chemicals to bring the levels into balance

Ongoing Pool Opening Costs

While you’ll need to budget around $300 to open your pool, you should also consider ongoing costs to maintain and run it throughout the summer. This can help avoid surprises when it comes time to hire local pool services again.

Maintenance

To keep your pool clean and in good working order, you’ll need to schedule regular maintenance about once every week. If you have a professional carry out all the work, pool maintenance costs will be between $100 and $300 per month, depending on the size of your pool, its type, the filter you have, tree coverage in your yard, and how often you use your pool.

Operating Costs

In addition to maintenance, you should budget for the cost of keeping your pool equipment up and running after opening. That includes electricity and fuel costs to keep the pumps and heaters running. These costs can vary, but the table below includes some average prices for standard pool sizes.

Why You Should Hire a Pool Pro

A local pool service charges about $175 to $400 to open your pool. While many homeowners do this job themselves, a professional can tinker with chemicals and equipment throughout the week, so you don’t have to. They can also detect hidden issues—like freeze damage that may have occurred during the winter months—before they become costly problems.

Why it’s ideal to hire a pool service pro 

Even if you have the skills to DIY your own pool opening, it’s still a good idea to hire a pool pro for the following reasons:

• This is a relatively affordable service that saves you two to six hours on the initial setup. 

• Pool pros balance your chemicals correctly from day one, so you’re not starting the season with an issue that’s difficult to manage.

• Pros know how to spot winter freeze damage and other issues you might miss, so you can make repairs sooner rather than later. 

• DIY mistakes can flood equipment, cause pump failure, and damage pipes, leading to costly repairs.

• Pros ensure safety and compliance by checking ladders, drain covers, fences, and other pool-related equipment to verify that they meet current safety standards. 

• Pool service professionals possess the knowledge and expertise to work efficiently, eliminating the need for you to constantly adjust chemicals that won’t balance or troubleshoot failing equipment.

• Pool maintenance pros often offer guarantees, like those for customer satisfaction or algae removal.

• DIY pool opening could void the equipment manufacturer’s warranties. 

Cost of Common Pool Opening Add-Ons

Thankfully, pool opening costs aren’t wildly expensive, so you’ll likely have some additional room in your budget for add-on services. You might want to consider the following services alongside your pool opening.

• Installing a pool heater: Pool heaters use a lot of electricity or fuel but can make your pool more comfortable and extend the time you get to enjoy your backyard oasis. Installing a pool heater costs around $3,000, on average, depending on the type and size of heater you want.

• Converting your pool to saltwater: Looking for a pool that’s less abrasive on hair and skin? The cost to convert your pool to saltwater is $1,000 on average. This price can be offset over time by reduced maintenance and chemical costs.

• Upgrading your pool’s safety: If you have children or pets, some pool safety equipment can be an invaluable add-on to consider. Safety features like pool alarms cost around $200, but even prices on the higher end (around $400) are often justifiable.

• Thinking about pool repairs: Prior to opening your pool and raising the water level, repairs might be a good idea and could be easier and more affordable to carry out. Pool repairs cost about $700, on average, but they can range from $80 up to $3,400, depending on the type of repair you need.

• Exterior power washing: While you’re getting your backyard ready for summer, consider cleaning up the patio or deck surrounding your pool. Power washing a patio costs between $100 and $250 and can really elevate your outdoor space.

How to Save Money on Pool Opening Costs

Pool opening is a relatively affordable home improvement job, but there are a few things you can do to save money and bring down those costs even more.

• Upgrade your pool cover: If you have a mesh cover over your pool, more debris will get into the water, which extends the time your pro will spend cleaning and vacuuming. Upgrade to a solid cover to reduce labor costs.

• Install pool accessories yourself: Even if you’re not comfortable working with your filter or water pumps, you can save on labor costs by installing pool lights, diving boards, and ladders yourself.

• Carry out the cleaning as a DIY project: You can also bring down labor costs by doing the vacuuming and liner cleaning yourself. This is a time-consuming process, but it’s straightforward, and you can still leave the equipment turn-on and water testing to your pro.

• Fill the pool yourself: Your labor costs will go up if your pro needs to stay on-site while your pool fills or if they need to deliver water. You can save a bit on your total by offering to do the filling yourself using a hose.

• Sign up for ongoing pool cleaning services: Many pool professionals will offer a deal on pool opening services if you also sign up for ongoing maintenance services throughout the summer.

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. 

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