Florida · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Compare 25 inground pool builders in the Clearwater area for new inground pool construction. Ratings, review counts, contact details and 2026 planning prices by pool type are below. 19 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. This page shows the top 20.
Ordered by customer rating and review count across the Clearwater area. Listings include the available rating, contact details and location; confirm current credentials and scope directly.
Companies in the second group are listed as pool builders; most build inground pools in at least one material — ask which types they install and how many they completed last year.
Planning a new pool as well? The Clearwater pool builders directory ranks all 108 builders in the area.
Installed prices in Clearwater run from $43,000–$66,500 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $71,500–$114,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $55,000–$81,000. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Clearwater price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $43,000–$66,500 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $55,000–$81,000 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $71,500–$114,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $11,500–$33,500 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $5,500–$19,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $1,900–$5,700 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $500–$3,300 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $66,500–$142,500+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,200–$2,900 / year |
Florida pricing is close to 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.
Clearwater market
4.6 average customer rating · 4762 reviews · 25 companies · 19 specialists
See All on the Map →25 inground pool builders in the Clearwater area. 19 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 4.6 stars across 4,762 customer reviews. 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.
Florida digs sand rather than rock, but the high water table is the central engineering issue. Builders may dewater the excavation and specify hydrostatic relief valves; never fully drain a Florida pool without professional guidance because an empty shell can lift out of the ground. Coastal builds add corrosion-resistant equipment for salt air. The screened lanai pool is Florida's signature — often paired with a spillover spa, sun shelf, and pavers. Saltwater systems are closer to the default than the exception, heaters extend the shoulder months up north, and modern builds lean bright, shallow, and social.
For statewide rankings, city counts and Florida prices, see the Florida inground pool builders directory, or check the nearby cities below.
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. Florida licenses pool contractors at the state level — look for a Certified or Registered Pool/Spa Contractor (CPC) license you can verify online. The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requires new pools to include at least one approved safety feature, like a barrier fence, self-closing door hardware, or an approved alarm; your builder should design for it from day one.
Installed in Clearwater, FL, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $43,000–$66,500, a fiberglass pool $55,000–$81,000 and a gunite pool $71,500–$114,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $66,500–$142,500+. Florida pricing is close to 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. Builders here work year-round; the spring rush books first.
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 prime outdoor season in Clearwater runs March through November — and year-round from Orlando south — roughly 10 months of comfortable unheated swimming — and pools stay open and running year-round rather than being winterized. From Orlando south, pools are swimmable most of the year; North Florida gets a genuine but short winter. The flip side of paradise is summer: daily thunderstorms dump rain and debris, and 88° water eats chlorine — algae never really takes a month off here.
Tilney Pools has the highest customer rating on this Clearwater list at 5 stars across 131 reviews. Clear Tech Pools has the largest review count (1,116 reviews at 3.9 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.
Florida licenses pool contractors at the state level — look for a Certified or Registered Pool/Spa Contractor (CPC) license you can verify online. The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requires new pools to include at least one approved safety feature, like a barrier fence, self-closing door hardware, or an approved alarm; your builder should design for it from day one.
Budget $1,200–$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.
Check inground pool builders in cities near Clearwater, or open the Florida directory for every listed market in the state.
Claim your free PoolPad listing, check the pool types you build, and show Clearwater homeowners planning a new pool what you install.
