Semi Inground Pool Cost 2026 – Real Prices from a 30-Year Installer (Not Guesswork)

I’m going to do something that drives other pool dealers crazy. Because I don’t price by zip code!

I’m going to tell you exactly what a semi-inground pool costs. Not a range. Not “call for pricing.” Not “$7,000 to $25,000 depending on factors.” Actual numbers, from actual pools I’ve sold and installed.

Every cost article you’ll find online gives you the same useless range. Angi says $7K–$25K. HomeAdvisor says $4K–$25K. HomeGuide says $7K–$25K. They’re all copying each other, and none of them have ever installed a pool.

I’ve been installing pools for over 30 years. I sell two semi-inground pool brands — the Aquasport 52 and the Fox Ultimate — and I install them in backyards across New England every season. Here’s what things actually cost.

First: What Counts as a “Semi-Inground” Pool?

Before we talk money, let’s make sure we’re talking about the same thing. A semi-inground pool is a pool that’s specifically engineered to be buried — partially or completely — in the ground. It’s not a regular above ground pool someone decided to dig a hole for (that’s a recipe for a collapsed wall and a very expensive mistake).

Real semi-inground pools have reinforced walls — either thick interlocking aluminum panels or heavy-gauge steel panels — that can handle the pressure of earth pushing against them from the outside. Regular above ground pools rely on water pressure pushing out to hold the wall up. Bury one, and the dirt pushes in harder than the water pushes out. The wall caves in. I’ve seen it happen.

The two pools I sell and install are:

Aquasport 52 — Interlocking 4-inch extruded aluminum panels. The strongest above ground pool made. Can be installed above ground, semi-inground, or completely buried. Does NOT require a cement collar — this is huge and I’ll explain why in the cost breakdown. (24 round, 15×30, and 17×32 must be buried 1 foot)

Fox Ultimate — 14-gauge powder-coated galvanized steel panels. Available in round, oval, grecian, and rectangle shapes. Built-in inground step option. All sizes and shapes requires a cement collar and buried at least 18 inches (Except 24, 21, 18 15 rounds).

Both are American-made. Both will last decades. They have different strengths, different price points, and significantly different installation costs — mainly because of that cement collar.

The Complete Cost Breakdown

Here’s the part everyone wants. I’m going to break this into every line item so you can see exactly where your money goes.

Part 1: The Pool Kit

This is the pool itself — walls, top rails, bottom track, hardware, skimmer, return fitting, and liner. This is what you’re buying from a dealer like me.

Aquasport 52 Kit Prices (includes 17/17 mil Swimline liner):

Fox Ultimate Kit Prices (includes 20/20 mil Loop Loc Luxury liner):

Key difference: The Aquasport 52 never needs a cement collar or to be buried in the ground at all except 24 round, 15×30 oval, and 17×32 oval. The Fox Ultimate requires all to buried and have a cement collar except 24, 21, 18 & 15 rounds. Fox is salt compatible and has a inground built in step available for $3400.00 The Aquasport 52 is NOT salt water compatible and has no such inground step available.

Part 2: Semi Inground Installation & Labor

This is where the two pools diverge significantly.

Aquasport 52 Installation (Professional):

The range depends on pool size (a 15′ round is less work than a 17×32 oval) and whether you want a vermiculite hard bottom (top of range) or standard sand bottom.

Why is the Aquasport 52 cheaper to install? One word: no cement collar. The Aquasport 52’s thick aluminum bottom track locks the wall in place without concrete. This saves you approximately $2,000 in materials and labor that every other semi-inground pool on the market requires.

Fox Ultimate Installation (Professional):

The Fox Ultimate’s top-end number ($20K) is for the biggest pools (20×40 rectangle) with a vermiculite hard bottom and the inground step. Most installations land in the $10K–$15K range.

Part 3: Equipment

Neither pool kit includes a pump and filter system. You need one.

PRO TIP: The Aquasport 52 comes with an above ground skimmer standard. If you’re burying it semi-inground or fully, I strongly recommend the $279 inground skimmer upgrade. It makes much easier. The Fox Ultimate includes an inground skimmer at every size.

Part 4: Stuff Nobody Tells You About

These are the costs that don’t show up in “semi-inground pool cost” articles because the people writing those articles have never actually installed a pool.

The bonding kit: Every pool — above ground, semi-inground, or inground — must be electrically bonded per NEC 680.26. This is not optional. Your pool will fail electrical inspection without it. Electricians charge $1,200+ for above ground pool bonding, and $2,000-$3,500 for inground pool bonding. Semi-inground can land either or, so call to discuss if you plan to purchase a bonding kit, or a pool from me. Learn how to do it yourself here.

Removal & Disposing excavated materials: Here we have loading, trucking and disposal fees. There are a lot of apps and ways to find free dump sites, but in the absence it could be $35 bucks a yard!

Part 5: The Finishing Touches (Optional but Realistic)

Most people don’t just install a pool and leave dirt around it. Here’s what the “complete backyard” additions typically cost:

These are optional, but let’s be real — if you’re investing in a semi-inground pool, you’re probably going to want at least a basic patio around it. Budget accordingly.

Fencing & Barrier to entry code: You must maintain a 48 inch barrier to entry, once a 52 inch pool wall goes 5 inches in the ground, you have lost your barrier to entry and must erect a fence that meets code requirements.

Real-World Total Project Costs

Now let’s add it all up for three common scenarios. These are based on actual projects, not theoretical ranges.

Scenario 1: Budget Semi-Inground or inground (Aquasport 52, 21′ Round, DIY-Friendly)

This is the project where your neighbors say “Wait, that’s not an inground pool?” and you smile knowing you saved $40,000+.

Scenario 2: Mid-Range Semi-Inground or inground (Fox Ultimate, 16×32 Grecian, The Works)

This is the project that looks like an $80K–$100K inground pool. Grecian shape, built-in step, professional finish. Nobody knows it started as a panel pool kit.

Scenario 3: DIY Aquasport 52 (National Shipping, You Install / I consult)

This is the project for the handy homeowner who watches my installation videos, rents a mini excavator for a weekend, and saves $5,000–$10,000 in labor. I ship the Aquasport 52 nationwide with free shipping (West Coast surcharge applies) and provide phone support throughout your install. I am the pool whisperer

How This Compares to Other Pool Types

Here’s the honest comparison nobody else gives you:

The sweet spot is obvious. For $15K–$25K all-in, a semi-inground Aquasport 52 gives you the look and feel of a pool that costs three to four times more. For $40K–$55K, a Fox Ultimate with the inground step is virtually indistinguishable from a traditional inground pool.

Why Online Cost Estimates Are Useless

Those “$7K to $25K” ranges you see everywhere? Here’s why they’re garbage:

They don’t tell you what’s included. Is that $7K just the pool kit? Does it include installation? Excavation? The cement collar? Backfill? Electrical? When the answer is “just the kit,” that $7K number is meaningless to the homeowner trying to budget a complete project.

They average across all pool types. A semi-inground pool can be anything from a basic above ground pool buried 12 inches (which I don’t recommend) to a Fox Ultimate 20×40 rectangle buried completely with a Trex deck and professional landscaping. Averaging those together tells you nothing.

They don’t account for the cement collar. This is the single biggest variable in semi-inground pool installation costs, and most cost articles don’t even mention it. Every semi-inground pool on the market — Radiant, Stealth, Optimum, Doughboy, Fox Ultimate — requires a concrete collar when buried more than about 2 feet. That collar costs approximately $2,000-$2,500 in materials and labor. The Aquasport 52 is the only exception. It doesn’t need one. That’s a $2,000-$2,500 savings that changes the entire cost equation.

Which Pool Should You Budget For?

Here’s my honest recommendation based on 30 years of doing this:

Choose the Aquasport 52 if:

• You want the best value (lowest total project cost for a quality semi-inground or inground)
• You want round or oval shapes
• You’re considering DIY installation (no cement collar = much more DIY-friendly)
• You don’t want a salt chlorine system (voids Aquasport warranty)
• Budget: $13,000–$25,000 total project

Choose the Fox Ultimate if:

• You want a grecian or rectangle shape (Aquasport doesn’t offer these)
• You want the built-in inground step for a true inground look
• You want to run a salt chlorine system
• You want the absolute closest thing to an inground pool without buying one, but honestly I think the Fox Ultimate wall is better than any inground wall!
• Budget: $25,000–$55,000 total project

I install about 10 Aquasport 52 pools for every 1 Fox Ultimate. The Aquasport is the better value for most people. But if you need the shapes, the salt system, or the in-wall step, the Fox Ultimate is worth every penny.

Compare them side by side in my Semi-Inground Pool Buyer’s Guide

Get an Actual Quote (Not a Range)

If you’re serious about a semi-inground pool, I can give you a real number — not a range, not a “starting at,” not a “call for pricing.” A real number based on the pool you want, your yard, and your zip code.

Local customers (MA, NH, CT, RI, Southern ME): I handle everything — pool, installation, excavation, plumbing. Call or text (978) 710-8667 for a site assessment.

National customers: I ship the Aquasport 52 nationwide with free shipping. You hire local excavation, and I walk you through the install on the phone. Same number: (978) 710-8667.

No salespeople. No phone trees. Just me — Mike, 30 years in the pool business, and I’ll tell you exactly what it’ll cost.

Mike Kern is the owner of MGK Pools Inc in Winchendon, MA. He’s a Certified Pool Operator with 30+ years in the pool industry. He ships Aquasport 52 pools nationwide and installs both Aquasport 52 and Fox Ultimate pools throughout New England.

Michael Kern Owner, Certified Pool Operator (CPO)

Mike Kern is the owner of MGK Pools Inc and a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) with over 30 years in the pool industry. He holds Massachusetts Contractor License #191300 with zero complaints. Mike has personally installed, repaired, or torn down over 1,000 above ground pools across New England and ships pools nationwide as an authorized Aquasport Pools LLC (Buster Crabbe) dealer.

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