TL;DR: Inground pool costs in and around The Villages typically run from the mid-$40,000s for a standard fiberglass pool to well over $100,000 for a fully custom gunite concrete pool, depending on size, finishes, and site conditions. This guide breaks down what drives the price, how fiberglass and concrete compare, and what to budget for permits, screen enclosures, and financing.
If you’re comparing quotes for a backyard pool in The Villages, Lady Lake, or anywhere in Lake County, you’ve probably noticed the price range is wide — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars apart for pools that look similar on paper. That spread isn’t random. It comes down to a handful of specific factors: pool material, size, site conditions, and the features you add on top of the base shell.
This guide breaks down what actually drives pool pricing in Central Florida, how fiberglass and gunite concrete compare, and what else to budget for beyond the shell itself.
Average Cost to Build a Pool in Florida
Statewide, the average cost to build a pool in Florida ranges from $35,000 to $120,000 for an inground pool. The total cost depends on the pool size and style, materials, features and upgrades, location, and site conditions.
Broken out by material, fiberglass pools typically run $45,000 to $100,000 installed with the lowest maintenance costs and a lifespan of 25+ years, while concrete pools run $50,000 to $120,000, cost more to install and maintain, but last 50+ years. These are solid starting benchmarks for budgeting a project in The Villages and surrounding Lake County communities, though your final number will depend heavily on the specifics below.
Fiberglass vs. Concrete: Why the Price Gap Exists
The two pool types are built completely differently, and that’s the main reason for the cost spread.
Fiberglass Pools
Fiberglass shells are manufactured off-site in a factory, trucked in as a single piece, and set into an excavated hole. Fiberglass pools are more common in many areas because they’re affordable and faster to install, usually costing about a third of what a similarly sized gunite pool would. The tradeoff is design flexibility — fiberglass pools are limited by transportation constraints, typically maxing out around 16 feet by 40 feet, while gunite pools can be built to any size or shape your property can accommodate.
Gunite Concrete Pools
Gunite pools are sprayed and shaped on-site by hand, which is why they cost more. The cost to build a pool out of gunite is significantly higher than fiberglass, since the construction process happens entirely on-site and requires highly skilled installers and many days of work. In exchange, you get complete design freedom on shape, depth, tanning ledges, spas, and water features — something a factory-molded shell simply can’t match.
Maintenance costs diverge over time too. Annual maintenance for a gunite pool typically runs $1,800–$2,500 versus $800–$1,200 for fiberglass, putting 10-year maintenance at $20,000+ for gunite compared to roughly $5,750 for fiberglass. Concrete shells also typically need resurfacing every 7 to 15 years, at a cost of $8,000 to $20,000 or more.
Both options have their place. Many Villages homeowners choose fiberglass for speed and lower long-term upkeep, while those wanting a custom shape, a tanning ledge, an attached spa, or a larger free-form design often go concrete. You can compare both approaches on our fiberglass pool installation and custom concrete pool building pages.
What Drives the Final Price
Size and Shape
Bigger pools need more excavation, more material, and more labor — the relationship is close to linear once you get past a certain footprint. A compact 10×20 plunge-style pool will always cost less than a 16×32 free-form pool with a sun shelf.
Site Conditions
Lake County’s mix of sandy soil, clay pockets, high water tables near lakes, and sloped lots can all affect excavation difficulty, shoring needs, and drainage work — all of which show up in the final bid. A flat, easily accessible backyard in a newer Villages section will almost always cost less to excavate than a lot with mature landscaping, tight side-yard access, or an irregular grade.
Features and Finishes
Add-ons compound quickly. Adding a spa typically increases project cost by roughly $6,000 to $20,000 depending on complexity, and a screen enclosure (birdcage) — extremely common in Central Florida for keeping out leaves and insects — typically adds $10,000 to $20,000 or more to the base price. Tile, deck material upgrades, water features, heaters, and automation systems each add incrementally on top of the base shell price.
Permits and Code Compliance
Every pool built in unincorporated Lake County needs a permit before construction starts, and a licensed contractor handles the application. Required submittals typically include a building permit application, a notice of commencement for jobs over $5,000, equipment manufacturer specification sheets, and zoning clearance with an approved site plan. For a full walkthrough of fees and the approval timeline, see our Lake County pool permit guide.
Florida’s Pool Safety Barrier Law — A Required Cost Line Item
Florida law requires every new residential pool to include a safety feature before it can pass final inspection, and this isn’t optional — it’s state statute. The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Chapter 515, Florida Statutes) requires every new pool to have at least one approved safety feature: a compliant barrier/fence, an approved safety cover, door/window exit alarms, or self-closing/latching doors with the latch at least 54 inches from the floor. Most homeowners satisfy this with either a code-compliant fence or a full screen enclosure, which also serves double duty keeping out Central Florida’s bugs and falling debris.
Locally, any pool barrier in Lake County must be a minimum of 48 inches above grade, located no farther than the pool deck perimeter, and must not be climbable per Florida Building Code spacing requirements. Budget for this up front rather than as an afterthought — it’s required before your final inspection can be scheduled.
Typical Cost Ranges by Pool Type in The Villages Area
- Small/entry fiberglass pool (roughly 10×20): generally starts in the mid-$40,000s to $60,000s range depending on grading, equipment, and decking
- Mid-size fiberglass pool with sun shelf and basic decking: often $60,000–$85,000
- Custom gunite pool, standard size: commonly $65,000–$95,000
- Large custom gunite pool with spa, water features, and upgraded decking/enclosure: $100,000 and up
These ranges reflect the same material-driven spread seen statewide and should be treated as planning benchmarks — your actual quote depends on your lot, your design, and which finishes you choose.
Timeline: Why It Matters for Your Budget
Construction timeline affects cost indirectly through financing, permitting windows, and scheduling around Florida’s rainy season. Fiberglass installations generally move faster since the shell arrives pre-built, while gunite pools require curing time between the shotcrete, plumbing, and finish stages. If timing matters for a specific move-in date or event, it’s worth reading our guide on the best time of year to build a pool in Central Florida before you lock in a start date.
Financing a Pool in The Villages
Most homeowners don’t pay cash for a pool outright. Dedicated pool loan programs — rather than general home equity lines — are common because they’re structured specifically around construction draw schedules and typically close faster than a HELOC. If financing is part of your plan, ask your builder which lenders they work with directly, since established relationships with pool-specific lenders can simplify approval and draw disbursement during construction.
Getting an Accurate Number for Your Yard
National and statewide averages are a useful starting point, but the only way to get a real number is a site visit. Lot grading, soil type, existing landscaping, HOA design rules common in many Villages villages, and your preferred features all factor into the final bid. A local, licensed builder familiar with Lake County’s permitting process and soil conditions can walk your property and give you a firm, itemized quote rather than a rough range.
To see what a custom quote looks like for your property, start with our pool builders and contractors page for The Villages, FL.
Recommended Reads
- Pool Builders & Contractors in The Villages, FL
- Concrete Pool Building The Villages FL | R & R Pools
- Fiberglass Pool Installation The Villages FL | R & R Pools
