How much does it cost to refurbish a pool?

Refurbish, remodel and renovate describe the same family of work, and HomeGuide prices it at $5,000 to $30,000 for a major job on an inground pool. The number depends almost entirely on whether the shell is being resurfaced, the equipment replaced, or both.

How much does it cost to paint a pool instead of resurfacing it?

HomeGuide publishes $1,400 to $2,500 to paint the bottom of a concrete, fiberglass or vinyl pool, using up to 10 gallons of paint and not including draining or repairs. It is the cheapest refresh on the table and the shortest-lived — 5 to 7 years on HomeGuide's figures for pool paint.

Is it cheaper to renovate a pool or fill it in?

That depends on the pool and the yard, and HomeGuide's remodel guide does not price removal. What HomeGuide does price is the repair-and-resurface path at $6,000 to $50,000 for an inground pool, which is the number to set against a removal quote from a demolition contractor.

Does a pool renovation need a permit?

Structural work — expansion, reshaping, conversions — generally does, and HomeGuide describes those as excavation-level projects. Surface and equipment work varies by city. Ask the contractor which permits the quote includes and who pulls them.

How much does a pool renovation cost?

Published August 21, 2026

A major pool renovation costs $5,000 to $30,000 and minor updates $300 to $2,000, with a national average of $17,500, per HomeGuide.

HomeGuide's floor is $500 and its ceiling $150,000, which tells you the word renovation covers everything from a new light to a reshaped shell. Inground pools run $6,000 to $50,000 to remodel on its table; above-ground pools $500 to $10,000. The common inground projects it lists are the ones this site exists for — fixing leaks, replastering, and replacing the pump, skimmers or drain.

Source: HomeGuide

This page is general information, not professional advice. Prices move with your pool's size, shape, condition and region, and the only number that counts is a written quote from a pool contractor who has drained and inspected yours.

How much does it cost to renovate an existing pool, by project?

Project	Published cost
Replacements / repairs	$50 – $5,000
Painting	$1,400 – $2,500
Resurfacing	$2,000 – $15,000
Additions (heater, lights, waterfall, fence)	$300 – $25,000
Conversions (e.g. chlorine to saltwater)	$500 – $100,000
Expansion	$20,000 – $70,000
Reshaping	$50,000 – $100,000

HomeGuide's published remodel cost by project type.

Source: HomeGuide

Read the table from the top and the renovation most people mean is the first three rows: repairs, a fresh surface and perhaps new equipment. HomeGuide prices resurfacing a concrete pool at $6 to $15 per square foot within that remodel, a vinyl liner replacement at $2,000 to $7,500, and the deck around it at $3 to $12 per square foot. The bottom three rows — expansion, reshaping and material conversions — are construction projects with a renovation label on them.

Source: HomeGuide

The additions that usually ride along

Because the pool is already drained and the crew is already there, resurfacing is when owners add things. HomeGuide prices a pool heater at $1,600 to $5,200 installed, LED lighting at $600 to $1,500, a waterfall at $2,000 to $8,800, a chlorine-to-saltwater conversion at $1,100 to $2,200 and a screen enclosure at $5 to $15 per square foot. Its advice is that contractors sometimes discount bundled projects, which is the one case where asking for more on the quote can lower the per-item price.

Source: HomeGuide

Drain the pool once. Every job that needs an empty pool should be on the same calendar, because the drain and refill are paid per visit.

Repairs first, finish second

HomeGuide's repair guide prices a leak repair at $500 to $1,500, a bond-beam crack at $4,000 to $6,000, and pool repairs overall at $50 to $1,700 depending on the part. Its resurfacing guide is blunt about the order: fix cracks and leaks before resurfacing, because untreated cracks spread and damage the new finish. A renovation quote that prices the finish without an inspection line has skipped the step that protects it.

Sources: HomeGuide, HomeGuide

For the resurfacing line itself, broken out by finish and pool type: what pool resurfacing costs.

These are the pool renovation companies AI assistants actually name when homeowners ask. Nobody can pay to be on these lists.

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Questions people ask next

How much does it cost to refurbish a pool?: Refurbish, remodel and renovate describe the same family of work, and HomeGuide prices it at $5,000 to $30,000 for a major job on an inground pool. The number depends almost entirely on whether the shell is being resurfaced, the equipment replaced, or both.
How much does it cost to paint a pool instead of resurfacing it?: HomeGuide publishes $1,400 to $2,500 to paint the bottom of a concrete, fiberglass or vinyl pool, using up to 10 gallons of paint and not including draining or repairs. It is the cheapest refresh on the table and the shortest-lived — 5 to 7 years on HomeGuide's figures for pool paint.
Is it cheaper to renovate a pool or fill it in?: That depends on the pool and the yard, and HomeGuide's remodel guide does not price removal. What HomeGuide does price is the repair-and-resurface path at $6,000 to $50,000 for an inground pool, which is the number to set against a removal quote from a demolition contractor.
Does a pool renovation need a permit?: Structural work — expansion, reshaping, conversions — generally does, and HomeGuide describes those as excavation-level projects. Surface and equipment work varies by city. Ask the contractor which permits the quote includes and who pulls them.

Written for homeowners by Most Recommended Pool Resurfacing, which measures which pool resurfacing companies AI assistants actually recommend in 12 U.S. metros. Nobody can pay to be on those lists. How we measure.