Kansas · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Planning a permanent backyard pool? 15 inground pool builders serving Lawrence, ranked by rating and review count, with what a fiberglass, gunite or vinyl liner pool costs installed in Lawrence this year.
Ordered by customer rating and review count across the Lawrence 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.
Installed prices in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 |
Kansas 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.
5 stars from 9 reviews
View Company →Lawrence market
2.9 average customer rating · 278 reviews · 15 companies · 7 specialists
See All on the Map →15 inground pool builders serving Lawrence. 7 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 2.9 stars across 278 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.
Clay soils need careful drainage and compaction, while wind exposure shapes cover, fence, and landscaping choices. Hail risk should influence equipment-pad protection and material choices. Flat lots help keep excavation costs reasonable. Vinyl liner and fiberglass lead; gunite holds the Leawood-and-Mission-Hills end. Wind-smart landscaping, automatic covers, and generous patios define the local build.
For statewide rankings, city counts and Kansas prices, see the Kansas 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. Kansas handles contractor licensing at the county and city level (Johnson County's program is the most structured) — verify local licensing, insurance, and the electrician on the equipment permit. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements run through your municipality.
Installed in Lawrence, KS, 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+. Kansas 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. 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 Lawrence runs May through mid-September — about 4 months unheated. A full professional winterization each fall protects plumbing and equipment through the freeze, and spring openings cluster into the same few weeks. May through mid-September, hot and increasingly windy through summer. Winters freeze hard, with prairie wind chill — pools close by mid-October and open in April.
Pinnacle Pools & Spas - Kansas City South has the highest customer rating on this Lawrence list at 5 stars across 9 reviews. Swims & Sweeps Inc has the largest review count (76 reviews at 4 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.
Kansas handles contractor licensing at the county and city level (Johnson County's program is the most structured) — verify local licensing, insurance, and the electrician on the equipment permit. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements run through your municipality.
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 Lawrence, or open the Kansas directory for every listed market in the state.
Claim your free PoolPad listing, check the pool types you build, and show Lawrence homeowners planning a new pool what you install.
