The cost to clean a pool ranges from 50 cents to $1 per square foot of pool, including the materials and the cost of labor. For a 200-square-foot pool, that translates to between $100 and $200.
Our pricing guide is based on averages taken from our survey of pool cleaning costs across the U.S., including metropolitan and rural areas. Your specific costs will depend on the pool size, chemicals used, and where you live.
Cost by Location
Labor costs vary depending on where you live. Although the costs of chemicals and tools remain the same, labor costs are higher in metropolitan areas than in rural areas. This is because the cost of living is higher in densely populated areas compared to less populated ones.
See the table below, which shows the pool cleaning cost per square foot across different cities in the U.S.:
| Location | Cost per square foot (including labor and materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Pawtucket, RI | $0.62 – $0.75 |
| New York, NY | $0.83 – $1.01 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Jackson, MS | $0.50 – $0.60 |
| Jensen Beach, FL | $0.51 – $0.62 |
| Raleigh, NC | $0.52 – $0.63 |
| Atlanta, GA | $0.54 – $0.65 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $0.58 – $0.70 |
| Chicago, IL | $0.67 – $0.81 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Corvallis, OR | $0.59 – $0.71 |
| Seattle, WA | $0.75 – $0.91 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Flower Mound, TX | $0.53 – $0.64 |
| Roswell, NM | $0.54 – $0.65 |
| San Diego, CA | $0.62 – $0.75 |
Cost by Pool Size
The larger the pool, the more you’ll pay to clean it. The cost to clean a pool ranges between $0.50 and $1 per square foot.
Using those averages, the table below shows the cleaning costs for different pool sizes. Your cost may exceed the estimated range if you require specialized services like filter or pump maintenance.
| Pool Size | Cost to Clean Pool (including labor and material) |
| 200 square feet | $100 – $200 |
| 500 square feet | $250 – $500 |
| 800 square feet | $400 – $800 |
Labor Cost
If the professional charges on an hourly basis to clean your pool, you can expect to pay between $70 and $98 per hour. Pools with more complex designs take more time to clean, which increases both the time and labor costs.
When paying for service by the hour, you’ll need to add the labor charge to the material cost to get an overall pool cleaning estimate.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
The average cost to purchase all the required materials, tools, and chemicals for pool cleaning is approximately $542. If you already have the tools and materials, the cost of chemicals alone is around $114, although each container covers multiple treatments. We estimated the approximate pricing for each tool based on average prices from Amazon, Lowe’s, and Home Depot.
Even if you’re interested in DIY cleaning, working with chemicals can be dangerous. Additionally, if there’s a possibility of pool issues, an expert can identify them before they become more expensive to fix. Pools are meant to be relaxing, so we recommend hiring a professional to clean your pool.
Chemical Costs
If you are doing a DIY pool cleaning, you need to understand which chemicals are necessary for the task. Whether you want to buy chemicals for DIY cleaning or understand how your pro charges for various chemicals, see the table below to see how costs vary for different types of chemicals.
| Chemical | Chemical Cost (Materials only) |
| Algaecide | $14 – $60 |
| Metal remover | $15 – $30 |
| Stain remover | $15 – $40 |
| Chlorine | $15 – $80 |
| Pool clarifier | $20 – $30 |
| Pool water stabilizer | $20 – $30 |
| Pool shock | $25 – $50 |
| Bromine | $30 – $50 |
- Algaecide: An algicide prevents and kills algae growth in a pool.
- Metal remover: A metal remover prevents unsightly stains on the pool lining by removing dissolved metals like iron and copper from the water.
- Chlorine: Chlorine is used to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause disease and infections.
- Pool Clarifier: As the name says, a pool clarifier improves water clarity by binding small particles and making filtration easier.
- Pool Water Stabilizer: Pool water stabilizer protects chlorine from being broken down and thereby reduces bacterial growth.
- Bromine: Bromine works similarly to chlorine, killing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.
Keep in mind that each container has enough chemicals for multiple treatments, depending on the size of your pool.
Additional Cost Factors
In addition to pool size and type of chemical, a few factors affect the overall cleaning cost. See the factors below and to your estimate if they are applicable to your pool.
Pool Type
Labor charges vary depending on the type of pool you have. Generally speaking, fiberglass pools are the easiest and least expensive to clean. The fiberglass material naturally prevents algae growth, so there won’t be much cleaning required.
In contrast, concrete in-ground pools require more vacuuming than other pools since they’re prone to algae. More specialized cleaning leads to higher costs.
Pool Shape
Labor charges also vary depending on your pool shape. If your pool has a special design (or an entirely unique shape), it may take more time for pros to clean and thus increase the labor charge.
Filter and Tile Cleaning
If you opt for a monthly cleaning or annual maintenance plan, filter and tile cleaning may be included in your plan. If you’re hiring pros for a one-time service, you’ll need to consider the following factors in your overall estimate.
- Pool Filter Cleaning: $55 – $67 per filter
- Pool Tile Cleaning: $1.4 – $1.7 per linear foot
Keep Your Pool Clean All Year Long
Even if you’re interested in DIY cleaning, we recommend hiring a professional to clean your pool. This way, you will not be stressed and will have a good time enjoying your pool with your loved ones.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled pool maintenance services and leave the rest to us.
Read More:
— Pool Pump Installation Cost Guide
— How Much Does Pool Maintenance Cost?
— How Much Does a Pool Fence Cost?
Main Image Credit: Alfonsodetomas / Adobe Stock Free / License
Related Posts:
