How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sand Pool?

You may be wondering how much does it cost to build a sand pool? And how much can you expect to pay for a pool like this? The truth is, the cost of building your own sand pool depends on several factors: the materials you use, the size and depth of the pool, and whether or not you’re planning to add water features such as fountains.

Before we get started, it’s important to note that you can build a sand pool in any shape or size. You can create a full-sized swimming pool with a deep end and diving board, a wading pool for the little ones, or anything in between. The possibilities are limitless. More on that later, but first, we’d like to get a few basics out of the way.

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What’s a Sand Pool?

Sand pools are the next step backyard trend in in-ground pools. In place of your standard hardshell pool, a sand pool is filled with soft and smooth shifting sand, which creates a natural “beach” feel in the backyard oasis. Typically, people choose to build their sand pools because they offer more space and flexibility than traditional in-ground and above-ground pools — and at only a fraction of the cost.

How Does it Work?

Sand pools utilize a standard pool liner, partially buried in the ground and filled with sand. By using a hard shell instead of inflatable panels, you can choose from various shapes and sizes and build your pool to suit your yard and style – it’s like having a custom floor plan for your backyard. If you build your sand pool properly, it can last for years. The average lifespan of a sand pool is about 3 to 5 years (depending on the condition and use). It may even stay way longer than that if the pool is well maintained. The pool must stay clear, with the filters running all the time. With that said, most people choose to replace their sand pool after a few years anyway. You can always fill your pool with new sand. However, you have to note that they don’t come cheap.

How to Build a Sand Pool?

The process is more straightforward than you think — and quite as difficult as building an in-ground pool. In other words, if you can build an in-ground pool, you certainly can also build a sand pool. But before you bust out the measuring tape and get down to work, you want to make sure you’re even allowed to build one in your backyard.

Note that there are laws and building codes that may restrict the size and shape of your pool. You’ll need to check with your local municipality or home association before you get started. You also want to make sure you have enough land space because sand pools can take up a lot of land space. If you’re not sure, take measurements of your yard before jumping into the project. Of course, you’ll also want to consider how much time and money you can actually invest in this pool – which brings us to…

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sand Pool?

Like we said earlier, so many factors affect the cost of building a sand pool. For example, the materials you plan to use, the size of the pool, and whether or not you want water features will all play a part in determining your ultimate cost of building the pool. As it turns out, the cost of building a sand pool isn’t much different than building an in-ground pool. Assuming you’re sticking to a basic rectangular-shaped design, your sand pool will likely cost about $50-$100/ square foot. For the beach, we suggest you use “play sand,” which is cheaper and feels a lot like the reach beach when heat by the sun.

How much play sand you’ll need for the pool depends on the size, of course. But if you want your pool to feel beachy, then you might want to get between 600 and 800 pounds of sand. In which case, 50 pounds of play sand will cost you about $5. Depending on where you order it, you might be required to rent equipment for transporting and distributing.

Some depots may offer to do it for you. Don’t forget that a sand pool is still a pool, and it could use some maintenance, even more than a regular pool. For example, the sand will likely need to be replaced every 3-5 years. How much that costs depend on where you get the sand and how big your pool is. The average labor cost can vary depending on your location or if you do it yourself with the family’s help.

But doing it yourself will save you a lot of money. Hiring a pool company to do it for you can cost $5,000 and up. Of course, before making any decisions about installing a sand pool, you should estimate the entire cost of this project by using our Pool Calculator. In the end, building your backyard sand pool is possible with a little patience and an investment in time and money. With proper planning, it’s possible to build a pool that will keep your family cool all summer long.

Modifying an In-ground Pool to a Sand Pool

If you already own an in-ground pool, then you don’t necessarily need to build one from scratch. You can convert your in-ground pool to a sand pool. Some companies specialize in this type of work. They can take out the bottom drain, install a sand filter and replace the liner with sand or synthetic material.

The average cost of converting an in-ground pool to a sand pool is about $12,000 – $20,000. Of course, you can always do it yourself if you have the right tools, equipment, and resources. On the other hand, the cost of building one from scratch tends to range from $45,000 – $95,000. You may also want to consider hiring experts to do the dirty work for this type of project. If not, then be ready for a long and tiring day where you spend hours mixing concrete (if you’re using forms) or shoveling sand into position (if you’re doing it by hand).