Quick Answer
In the Knoxville area, a fiberglass pool typically runs $70,000 to $190,000+ and a custom gunite pool runs $95,000 to $350,000+, with the final number driven by size, depth, finish, decking, and features.
- Fiberglass pools: $70,000 to $190,000+, swim-ready in about 3 to 4 weeks once the shell is set.
- Custom gunite pools: $95,000 to $350,000+, built on-site over roughly 8 to 14+ weeks with unlimited shape and features.
- Biggest cost drivers: pool size and depth, site access and slope, interior finish, decking material, and water features or automation.
- Morales Outdoor Living builds both fiberglass and gunite and handles design, permits, and the full build with one point of contact.
What is the cheapest way to put in a pool in Knoxville?
A smaller fiberglass pool is usually the lowest-cost route, since the shell is pre-built and craned in, which saves weeks of on-site labor.
Does the price include the deck and fencing?
A complete quote should. We scope decking, fencing, electrical, and equipment up front so the number you see is the number you pay.
What a Pool Actually Costs in Knoxville in 2026
If you have started calling around, you have probably noticed nobody wants to give you a number. We will. Here is what inground pools genuinely cost in the Knoxville area in 2026, based on what we build across Knox, Blount, Loudon, and the surrounding counties.
| Pool type | Entry | Mid-range | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $70,000 to $95,000 | $100,000 to $135,000 | $135,000 to $190,000+ |
| Gunite (custom) | $95,000 to $155,000 | $155,000 to $250,000 | $250,000 to $350,000+ |
Those are installed prices, not bare-shell teasers. The range is wide because a pool is not a product off a shelf, it is a construction project, and the site matters as much as the pool.
Want a number for your exact project in about a minute? Try our instant cost estimator, or read the full fiberglass pool cost guide and gunite pool cost guide.
Fiberglass vs. Gunite: The Price Difference Explained
Fiberglass is a pre-manufactured shell craned into your yard. It has a lower entry point and installs in 3 to 4 weeks, but the price is more fixed because you are choosing from the manufacturer's shapes and sizes.
Gunite is built on-site from steel and concrete in any shape you want. It costs more, but there is no ceiling on customization, and it carries the highest resale value. If you can draw it, we can build it.
Not sure which fits your yard? We build both, and our fiberglass vs. gunite comparison breaks down the honest trade-offs.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
- Size and depth. More water means more excavation, more concrete or a bigger shell, more decking, and bigger equipment.
- Features. Spas, tanning ledges, vanishing edges, waterfalls, automation, and heating all add up fast. A spa alone can add $15,000 or more.
- Decking and hardscape. The pool is only half the project. Travertine, porcelain, or paver decking, retaining walls, and an outdoor kitchen often cost as much as the pool itself.
- Finish. Plaster is the baseline; pebble and quartz finishes cost more and last longer.
The East Tennessee Surprises to Budget For
This is where Knoxville-area pools differ from the national averages you will find online.
- Rock. Our geology is unpredictable. Hitting ledge at 18 inches means rock excavation, which is a real surcharge on both pool types. Budget a contingency for it.
- Slope. Very few East TN backyards are flat. A sloped lot usually needs retaining walls, and fiberglass shells on a slope require careful engineered backfill so the shell never shifts.
- Access. If a crane or excavator cannot reach the backyard easily, the build gets more complex.
A good builder scopes these upfront instead of springing them on you mid-project. When a quote looks suspiciously low, it is almost always because the site work was left out.
How to Make It Affordable
Most homeowners do not pay cash for a pool. Financing through VistaFi lets you spread the cost into monthly payments with fast online approval and no home equity required, so you can build now and pay over time.
Get Your Real Number
Every yard is different, and the only way to a precise price is an on-site consultation. We will walk your property, flag the rock and slope risks, and hand you a clear, itemized estimate with no pressure.
Get your instant estimate or request a free phone consultation and we will take it from there.
Christopher Morales
Co-founder of Morales Outdoor Living. 16+ years designing and building pools, patios, decks, and complete outdoor living spaces across East Tennessee. TN License #77919.
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