How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pond in 2024?

Cost Factors for Building a Pond

The cost of digging a pond can vary based on several key factors.

Size

Bigger ponds and lakes not only cover more surface area, but they also tend to go deeper. Since you’re taking out more dirt and digging deeper, you can expect the total project price to be higher. At the same time, larger ponds typically cost less than smaller ones on a per-square-foot or per-cubic-yard basis. Larger projects often lead to higher landscaping installation costs as there is more area to dig and design. 

Region

Climate and local market conditions can dramatically impact the cost of building a pond or lake. They can affect the availability of skilled labor and experienced contractors, as well as the appropriate materials and equipment for the job. Popular cities for ponds include the following.

Soil Type

Digging a pond into more difficult terrain will add to your excavation and land-clearing costs. Clear areas with loose soil are much easier and less expensive. By contrast, areas with clay-like soil, rocky terrain, and lots of trees can add $1,200 or more to your overall project budget. 

Liner Type

The liner around an artificial pond keeps the water contained and prevents it from leaking out. How much your pond liner costs depends on size and type. Flexible liners like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cost about $0.35 to $0.70 per square foot. You may also consider preformed liners that are pre-shaped to the size and shape of your pond, like premium fiberglass at $10 to $80 per square foot. The preferred liner type for swimming ponds and raised koi ponds is concrete, which can cost $64 to $114 per square foot. 

Labor

Most often, local pond installation contractors will provide estimates for the total cost of your project, inclusive of labor and materials. Labor costs on their own can range from $50 to $200 per hour per worker, which works out to $2.75 to $7 per square foot. More experienced contractors with greater landscaping and design skills may charge more. 

Permits

Local building regulations dictate what types of permits, if any, you need to dig a pond or lake in your backyard or on your property. There may be rules about the allowable size and depth of the pond, as well as what fish you may stock, the source of the water, and its proximity to buildings and other bodies of water. Some jurisdictions may allow small residential ponds of up to 300 square feet and up to three feet deep without a permit but always double-check to make sure. Budget a minimum of $150 to $500 for permits.  

Excavation

The larger the area for your pond, the more you’ll need to excavate and, thus, the higher your total excavation cost will be. Digging a small pond costs between $2.50 and $7.15 per square foot. For a larger pond, the cost of excavation ranges from $1.50 to $3.50 per cubic yard. If land grading isn’t included in the project estimate, add an average of $2,000. Digging by hand takes more time and costs more than using an earth-mover.

Pond Installation Cost by Size

While larger ponds cost more in total, they tend to be cheaper per cubic foot. 

Smaller, backyard-sized ponds under 5,000 square feet range from $3,000 to $15,000, but they tend to have more features like waterfalls or specially designed habitats like koi ponds.

Larger ponds and lakes are priced per acre when they’re done for agricultural or fishing purposes. They tend to be plain with fewer specialty features. The cost ranges widely from $2,000 to $25,000 per acre.

Cost to Build a Pond by Type

The type of pond or lake can largely dictate how much it costs to build a pond. Different types of ponds have different requirements. The cost to dig a pond in your backyard can be as little as $500 in some cases, but complex, aesthetically pleasing koi ponds of similar size can cost up to $55,000. Farm ponds and lakes can hit $70,000 or more. 

Include the cost of fish when building a farm pond or fishing lake. The deeper and larger the pond or lake, the higher the cost.

Swimming Pond 

Natural swimming ponds recharge themselves, so they don’t need filtering. They’re meant to be natural and blend in with your landscape, so they usually don’t require any chemicals or additives. Building a natural swimming pond costs $30,000 to $80,000 on average, or $50 to $300 per square foot.

Human-Made Pond 

Artificial ponds don’t have a standard size or shape. The average cost is anywhere from $500 to $50,000 or more. Factors that influence the cost of building a human-made pond include liner type, materials, and any additions. 

Farm Pond

Digging a farm pond costs $5,000 to $20,000 on average. By definition, a farm pond is a dug-out pond that is constructed for use in or near a farm. They’re most commonly built for use by livestock and other farm animals, as well as occasionally as part of the farm’s irrigation system. 

Backyard Pond 

The potential simplicity or complexity of a backyard pond means you can dig one for as little as $500 for a simple garden pond or as much as $25,000 for a more complicated design. 

Lake 

You could pay anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 per acre to dig a lake. What differentiates a lake from a pond is its depth, not its surface area. Lakes contain an aphotic zone where sunlight cannot reach. The higher excavation costs to reach those depths add considerably to your total budget. 

Fishing Pond 

Created specifically to stock with fish, often for sportfishing purposes, standard fishing ponds cost between $3,500 and $50,000 on average. This factors for the added depth and space needed to provide a suitable ecosystem for the fish population. The cost of building a fishing pond does not include the cost of stocking the pond with fish. 

Koi Pond

Along with aesthetically pleasing design elements, electrical and heating requirements can add a great deal to koi pond cost estimates. The cost to build a koi pond spans from $5,000 to $30,000 on average, but upgrades can easily increase this amount to $50,000 or more. Koi ponds are special bodies of water that require more setup and maintenance, like filters, heaters, and pumps to keep the water moving. Koi ponds must be at least three feet deep. 

Additional Pond Feature Costs

Adding to the cost of digging and filling the pond are other features you may choose to enhance the design or function of your new body of water.

• Surrounding material or edging costs $1 to $15 per square foot. Concrete or brick edging is the least expensive, while stone edging can cost more. 

• Water fountain installation costs $900 to $5,000 on average, depending on materials, design, and custom features.

• Installing a waterfall to your lake or pond costs $900 to $4,500, providing a soothing water sound. It may require plumbing work. 

• Landscaping costs anywhere from $350 to $10,000 or more. Most ponds can benefit from some landscaping, especially if they are decorative or fulfill a working function.  

• Installing a patio costs $2,000 to $5,500. A walkway or patio around your pond provides excellent access to decorative features and fish. 

Building a boat dock costs around $15,000 on average. You may want one for larger lakes designed for recreational boating or fishing.

Ongoing Costs

You’re not done paying for your pond after you’ve finished digging and building it. There are ongoing costs to consider too.

Maintenance

Expect to spend $1,500 to $2,000 annually on basic pond maintenance costs. This includes the replacement of any chemicals and may involve the costs needed to feed your fish. It’s a good idea to book an annual inspection by a professional to check moving parts, heating components, or other mechanical features. 

Cleaning

It costs $300 to $1,000 for a professional pond cleaning. This service may involve draining the pond and cleaning the water, as well as cleaning rocks, pumps, and other additional features. 

Electrical

If your swimming or koi pond contains electrical components like heaters and pumps, for instance, you will also need to budget for the ongoing cost of powering these components. A 300-watt pond pump at $0.08 per kilowatt-hour can cost $17.28 per month to run. 

Does Building a Pond Increase Home Value?

Adding a pond can increase your property value. On average, ponds can increase bare land value by around 6%. Building a pond on a residential property can increase home value by 5% to 10%. 

Homes with ponds often sell for more than those without ponds, but this can depend on demand in the local market, the pond’s condition, and any special features like recreational opportunities or aesthetic appeal. The perceived value of a pond is higher in areas with mild or warm climates. 

Budgeting for Building a Pond

The cost of building a pond can add up quickly. By planning carefully and making strategic choices, you can keep expenses in check without sacrificing quality or exceeding your allotted budget.

• Choose the right size: Opt for a pond size appropriate to both your budget and your landscape. 

• Simplify the design: Avoid elaborate designs that require more labor and materials. Add to the landscaping over time to stretch your budget.

• Source local materials: Stick to rocks, stones, and plants that are native to your area to reduce transportation costs.

• Consider a preformed pond liner: Preformed liners are often less expensive than custom-fitted liners.

• Get multiple quotes: Compare detailed estimates from several contractors to secure a competitive project price. 

• Reuse excavated soil: Rather than paying for soil disposal, use it to create raised garden beds and other landscaping features.

• Use natural edging materials: Create a natural pond edge with gravel and plants instead of costly stonework or decorative edging materials. 

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.