Alabama · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Planning a permanent backyard pool? 90 inground pool builders across Alabama, ranked by rating and review count, with what a fiberglass, gunite or vinyl liner pool costs installed in Alabama this year. City lists cover 9 Alabama markets.
The order uses a weighted mix of customer rating and review count; open a city below for the full local list. Confirm current credentials, availability and scope directly.
Choose a local list for customer ratings, review counts, 2026 prices and the questions to ask. Cities are sorted by listed company count.
Installed prices in Alabama run from $40,500–$63,000 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $67,500–$108,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $52,000–$76,500. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Alabama price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $40,500–$63,000 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $52,000–$76,500 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $67,500–$108,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $11,000–$31,500 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $5,500–$18,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $1,800–$5,400 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $500–$3,200 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $63,000–$135,000+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,100–$2,900 / year |
Alabama pricing is below the national baseline used for these estimates. Soil, access for excavation equipment, slope, utility relocation and the finish and feature package move a quote more than the pool's footprint does — compare itemized bids for the same size and type.
Fiberglass, gunite and vinyl bids are not comparable to each other — settle the type (or ask each builder to bid two), then compare like for like.
PoolPad tracks 90 inground pool builders across Alabama, with city lists for 9 markets. PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
Central Alabama digs red clay that swells, shrinks, and drains slowly — drainage and compacted backfill are the quality tells. The Tennessee Valley around Huntsville hits limestone and chert, and coastal Baldwin County brings sand and water-table management. Builders local to your soil price it right the first time. Gunite with tanning ledges leads the metro markets; vinyl liner remains a value staple everywhere. Saltwater conversions are extremely popular, and Gulf-coast builds pair pools with screened rooms and corrosion-resistant equipment.
The largest listed markets are Birmingham (20 companies), Huntsville (20 companies), Madison (20 companies).
Get at least three itemized bids for the same type and size, visit finished pools that are a few years old, and read the warranty for the shell, the finish and the equipment separately. Ask how the company handles rock, groundwater and access problems once digging starts. Alabama licenses home builders and larger residential work at the state level — verify the license and insurance certificates before signing. Pool permits and barrier/fence requirements run through your city or county building department, and most builders fold permitting into the contract; get that in writing.
Installed in Alabama, AL, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $40,500–$63,000, a fiberglass pool $52,000–$76,500 and a gunite pool $67,500–$108,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $63,000–$135,000+. Alabama pricing is below the national baseline used for these estimates; the size, finish, features and site conditions move the number most.
There is no single best type. Fiberglass installs fastest and is the easiest to maintain but comes in fixed shapes; gunite can be any shape with any feature but costs more to build and to resurface later; vinyl liner has the lowest upfront price but needs a new liner every eight to twelve years. Match the type to your budget, your yard, how long you plan to stay and how much maintenance you want.
A fiberglass pool is often swimmable two to six weeks after excavation; a vinyl liner pool four to eight weeks; a gunite pool eight to sixteen weeks because the shell has to cure before tile, coping and the finish go on. Permitting adds two to eight weeks up front, and decking and landscaping follow the pool. Most crews dig in the off-season so the pool is ready when the season opens.
Most residential pools are 3 to 6 feet with a deep end of 6 to 8 feet; diving depths of 8 feet or more need a longer pool and a larger excavation. Fiberglass shells are limited to the manufacturer's molds (commonly 6 to 8 feet), while gunite and vinyl liner pools can be built to almost any profile, including sport pools that are shallow at both ends.
The outdoor season in Alabama runs late April through early October — about 6 months unheated, with a heater adding several weeks on each end. Winters are mild enough that many owners idle equipment with a partial close instead of a full winterization. The season runs from late April into October, with hot, humid weather through the middle. Winters are short and mild, so many owners idle equipment rather than fully close, while Gulf Coast owners also plan for hurricane season.
Blue Haven Pools & Spas has the highest customer rating on this Alabama list at 5 stars across 58 reviews. Elite Pool Services has the largest review count (421 reviews at 4.8 stars). PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
Alabama licenses home builders and larger residential work at the state level — verify the license and insurance certificates before signing. Pool permits and barrier/fence requirements run through your city or county building department, and most builders fold permitting into the contract; get that in writing.
Budget $1,100–$2,900 / year for chemicals, electricity and routine service, more for a heated pool or a weekly cleaning route. Fiberglass and vinyl surfaces use fewer chemicals than plaster; a variable-speed pump and an automatic cover cut running costs the most.
If your property is near a state line, check the neighboring directories too.
Claim your free PoolPad listing, check the pool types you build, and show Alabama homeowners planning a new pool what you install.
