Illinois · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Compare 63 inground pool builders in the Palatine area for new inground pool construction. Ratings, review counts, contact details and 2026 planning prices by pool type are below. 31 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 Palatine area. Listings include the available rating, contact details and location; confirm current credentials and scope directly.
Installed prices in Palatine run from $49,500–$77,000 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $82,500–$132,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $64,000–$93,500. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Palatine price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $49,500–$77,000 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $64,000–$93,500 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $82,500–$132,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $13,000–$38,500 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $6,500–$22,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $2,200–$6,600 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $600–$3,900 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $77,000–$165,000+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,300–$3,200 / year |
Illinois pricing is above the national baseline used for these estimates, mainly on labor and permitting. 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.
Palatine market
4.5 average customer rating · 1345 reviews · 63 companies · 31 specialists
See All on the Map →63 inground pool builders in the Palatine area. 31 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 4.5 stars across 1,345 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.
Heavy clay dominates the region — it holds water and moves with moisture, so drainage design, compacted backfill, and proper deck sub-base separate clean builds from heaved concrete. Frost-depth plumbing is standard, and older-suburb lots put a premium on access planning. Vinyl liner leads on value; gunite owns the North Shore and western estate corridors. Automatic covers are close to standard on new builds, and fiberglass keeps growing for speed inside the short season.
For statewide rankings, city counts and Illinois prices, see the Illinois 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. Illinois licenses trades such as plumbing and electrical at the state level while general residential licensing runs through municipalities. Chicagoland suburbs keep different permit schedules, so ask for recent projects in your village. Residential-code barrier requirements are checked at inspection.
Installed in Palatine, IL, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $49,500–$77,000, a fiberglass pool $64,000–$93,500 and a gunite pool $82,500–$132,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $77,000–$165,000+. Illinois pricing is above the national baseline used for these estimates, mainly on labor and permitting; 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 Palatine 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; heaters are near-universal because owners want their money's worth. Winters are long and hard-freezing, with lake-effect intensity near the shore — the fall close is sacred here.
MR. POOLS LLC has the highest customer rating on this Palatine list at 5 stars across 17 reviews. Pool busters has the largest review count (260 reviews at 4.5 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.
Illinois licenses trades such as plumbing and electrical at the state level while general residential licensing runs through municipalities. Chicagoland suburbs keep different permit schedules, so ask for recent projects in your village. Residential-code barrier requirements are checked at inspection.
Budget $1,300–$3,200 / 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 Palatine, or open the Illinois directory for every listed market in the state.
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