The headline numbers
Nationally, an inground pool averages about $65,909, and most homeowners pay between $44,499 and $87,349 (Angi, 2026). A second way to sanity-check a bid is per square foot: pools generally land between $90 and $250 per square foot.
Those ranges are wide because a pool is not one product. Two pools of identical size can differ by $40,000 based on shell material, finish, decking, features, and what the ground under them demands.
Cost by shell material
| Material | Typical range | What you are paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete / gunite | $65,000 – $120,000 | Any shape, any depth. The most common choice for custom pools in North Texas. |
| Fiberglass | $55,000 – $100,000 | Manufactured shell, faster on-site install, limited to available molds. |
| Vinyl | $40,000 – $75,000 | Lowest entry price. The liner is a wear item and gets replaced periodically. |
Add-ons that belong in your budget
These are the line items that most often turn a comfortable budget into a stressful one, because homeowners price the pool and forget everything around it.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Decking | $3,000 – $12,000 |
| Safety fencing | $1,500 – $10,000 |
| Heater | $1,830 – $4,210 |
| Permits | $450 – $1,800 |
What makes a North Texas pool cost more than the average
The single biggest local factor is the ground. Collin County sits on dense, expansive clay that absorbs moisture and swells in wet months, then shrinks as it dries in summer. That movement stresses shells, decking, and plumbing.
Building against it costs money you cannot see afterward: engineered pier systems anchored below the unstable layer, soil stabilization treatments, and drainage work such as French drains that keep the moisture around the shell consistent. When you compare two bids and one is noticeably cheaper, this is the first place to look for the difference.
Other real cost drivers here:
- Equipment access, which is tight on many newer subdivision lots
- Hauling off excavated clay spoil
- Slope and grading work before anything is poured
- Distance from the house to the pool for plumbing, gas, and electrical runs
- Finish level, from standard plaster up to pebble aggregate
- Features: attached spa, tanning ledge, water features, automation
The timeline, and why it moves
In DFW, plan on 10 to 16 weeks from permit approval to final inspection. The permit is a separate clock, and it swings hard with the season: roughly 10 to 14 days in winter, and 4 to 6 weeks in spring once everyone in the county files at once.
That is the practical case for signing in the fall. Cooler temperatures suit gunite curing, the permit queue is short, and the pool is finished before the first warm weekend of spring. Start the process in March and the same project can miss the summer entirely.
Permits in Anna
Pool and spa permits in Anna go through the city's Development Services and Building Department. Expect an application, a plan review, a Pool Affidavit form, and inspections that are scheduled a business day ahead. Permit costs typically fall in the $450 to $1,800 range nationally. If your address is in Van Alstyne, note that it is Grayson County, a different permitting authority.
How to compare two bids fairly
- Line up the structural plan first: piers, stabilization, and drainage
- Check which items are allowances rather than fixed prices
- Confirm decking square footage and material, not just the pool
- Confirm who pulls permits and who pays the fees
- Ask what the payment schedule is tied to: dates or completed stages
- Read the warranty on the shell, the finish, and the equipment separately
Sources
Cost figures: Angi, 2026 inground pool cost data. Timeline and permitting figures reflect Dallas-Fort Worth build and permit norms and the City of Anna's published pool permit process. Ranges are national and are a starting point for comparison, not a quote.
Want these numbers applied to your yard?
We will walk through what your specific lot, soil, and feature list would realistically cost, on the phone, before anyone visits.
Or read how we build for this soil on our custom gunite pools page.