Ohio · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Planning a permanent backyard pool? 120 inground pool builders across Ohio, ranked by rating and review count, with what a fiberglass, gunite or vinyl liner pool costs installed in Ohio this year. City lists cover 22 Ohio 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 Ohio run from $45,000–$70,000 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $75,000–$120,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $58,000–$85,000. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Ohio price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $45,000–$70,000 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $58,000–$85,000 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $75,000–$120,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $12,000–$35,000 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $6,000–$20,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $2,000–$6,000 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $500–$3,500 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $70,000–$150,000+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,200–$3,000 / year |
Ohio 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.
PoolPad tracks 120 inground pool builders across Ohio, with city lists for 22 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.
Heavy clay is the statewide constant — it holds water and moves with moisture, so drainage, backfill compaction, and deck sub-base prep separate clean builds from heaved concrete. Frost-depth plumbing is standard, and older-suburb access can shape equipment and crane choices. Vinyl liner rules on value and volume; fiberglass has grown into a strong second for install speed, and gunite holds the high end in each metro. Automatic covers and salt systems are increasingly standard on new builds.
The largest listed markets are Parma (33 companies), Strongsville (33 companies), Westerville (33 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. Ohio licenses specialty trades at the state level while general residential licensing runs through municipalities — so verify local registration, insurance certificates, and that a licensed electrician handles the hookup. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements (fences, self-latching gates) go through your city or township; suburban inspectors here are thorough.
Installed in Ohio, OH, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $45,000–$70,000, a fiberglass pool $58,000–$85,000 and a gunite pool $75,000–$120,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $70,000–$150,000+. Ohio 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 Ohio runs late 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. Late May through mid-September unheated, with heaters commonly buying a month. Winters freeze hard statewide (Cleveland's lake-effect edition especially), making a professional close universal.
ACR Gunite Pools & Spas has the highest customer rating on this Ohio list at 4.8 stars across 261 reviews. Knickerbocker Pools & Spas has the largest review count (410 reviews at 4.7 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.
Ohio licenses specialty trades at the state level while general residential licensing runs through municipalities — so verify local registration, insurance certificates, and that a licensed electrician handles the hookup. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements (fences, self-latching gates) go through your city or township; suburban inspectors here are thorough.
Budget $1,200–$3,000 / 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.
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