How Much Does It Cost To Fill a Pool With Water?

In setting up a new pool, filling in water could be one of the highest costs. A brand new pool will require large amounts of water, with larger pools needing as much as 20,000 to 30,000 gallons (75,000 to 113,000 liters) of water. Thus, the overall cost of filling the pool depends on its size.

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The cost to fill a pool with water ranges from $4 to $10 per 1000 gallons (3785 liters) for an average-sized pool. Cheaper methods of filling water will cost an average of $80-$100 in total, while more expensive methods could cost as much as $1500-$2000 for an average-sized pool.

The rest of this article will explain how to calculate the amount of water needed to fill a pool, the different methods of filling water, and the costs involved.

Average Costs for Filling a Pool with Water

The average above-ground pool requires around 15,000-30,000 gallons (57,000-113,000 liters) of water to fill it, with smaller models requiring up to 15,000 gallons (57,000 liters). Thus, the cost of filling water into the pool depends on the amount needed.

On average, most pool owners spend around $4-$10 per 1000 gallons (3785 liters) of water. At an average pool capacity of 20,000 gallons (75,000 liters), this works out to $80-$200 to fill the pool completely. However, this cost can increase if you use a water delivery service instead of a hose.

Using city water and your own hose to fill a pool is the cheapest option available, although some states like California might charge extra overuse fees for the large amounts of water needed. However, this method is time-consuming. Using a water delivery service is quicker but also more expensive.

The costs involved in using water delivery services include more than just water. Delivery charges, labor charges, and even gas prices contribute to the delivery service’s overall cost.

Costs Involved in Filling a Pool With Water

The overall cost of filling water into a pool depends on the method used. The cheapest option is to use your own hose connected to the city water system. The other option is to use a pool filling service, wherein you contract a company to deliver water and fill your pool for you.

Below are the main costs involved in filling a pool.

Water Costs

Whether you use your hose or a water delivery system, you will have to spend on water. The cheapest water source is city water, although you might have to look into overuse and sewer charges. This can be done by referring to your water bill to see how much you pay on average per 1000 gallons (3785 liters).

If you use a water delivery system, you might need to look into the kind of water the company will deliver. Some companies use city water, in which case your water charges would be similar. However, some companies have their own water purification systems, in which case, the water will cost extra.

Another option is to use a fire hydrant; however, I would advise against it because the chances of rust getting into the water are high. This will lead to additional costs to purify the water in the pool.

Delivery Charges

Water delivery systems use trucks to transport water. The water capacity of the trucks ranges between 1000 gallons (3785 liters) and 6000 gallons (22,700 liters). Most states do not allow trucks to carry more than 6000 gallons (22,700 liters).

Most delivery services charge between $155 and $400 per truck. The cost of delivery depends on the following factors.

Size of the truck.
Distance between the source of water and your house.
Gas prices
Cost of water

For an average pool with a 20,000-gallon (75,000-liter) capacity, you would need at least three 6000-gallon (22,700-liter) trucks. Based on the charges mentioned above, this could cost anywhere between $500 and $1200. The cost could go up to $2000 for larger pools.

Labour Costs

Pool water delivery services will also include a certain number of workers to unload the water and fill your pool. This labor cost is also an added expense, although most companies will include this cost in their quote, so you’re not blindsided by extra charges.

However, if the work takes longer than agreed upon, or the workers are expected to come again the next day, additional labor costs might apply.

To find out exactly how much you’ll need to spend on water delivery, it’s best to call your local pool water delivery service and ask for a quote.

Additional Charges

Apart from the charges mentioned above, there might be additional costs depending on the situation. These additional costs could come in the form of extra materials, water overuse charges, or water purification charges.

For example, if the hose used to fill the pool isn’t long enough to reach it, you may have to pay extra for a longer hose. Or, if the water used has impurities, you might have to spend extra to remove those impurities before you can safely swim in it.

Calculating the Amount of Water Needed

Before you plan to fill your pool, you’ll need to calculate how much water is required. If you’ve bought an above-ground pool, you can simply contact the manufacturer to ask about the pool’s capacity. However, if you prefer to calculate the capacity yourself, you can use the following formulas.

Round or Oval Pool

To calculate the amount of water in gallons needed to fill the pool, use the following formula.

Length (A) × Length (B) × Depth × 5.9 = Total volume in gallons.

Length A and Length B will be the same in a circular pool, while the lengths will differ in oval pools because one side will be longer than the other. If the pool has different depths in different parts, use the average depth in the formula.

Rectangular Pool

In rectangular or square pools, the formula used is as follows.

Length (A) × Length (B) × Depth × 7.5 = Total Volume in gallons.

If the pool has different depths in different parts, use the average depth in the formula.

Water Volume in Above-Ground Pools

The Optimum water level in a pool is determined by the following picture. Pool heights are 52″ and 54″ (48″ being phased out) and your pool is filled to halfway up the skimmer. This provides equal parts of air and water going into your filtration system. Knowing this we can determine the optimum water volume your pool should hold for best filtration/circulation.

Optimum Water Volume Round Pools

Pool Size ft	Pool Height 52″	Opt Vol 46″ (52″)	Pool height 54″	Opt Vol 48″ (54″)
12	3,659	3,237	3,800	3,378
15	5,717	5,058	5,437	5,278
18	8,233	7,283	8,550	7,600
21	11,206	9,913	11,637	10,344
24	14,636	12,948	15,199	13,511
27	18,524	16,387	19,237	17,099
28	19,922	17,623	20,688	18,389
30	22,869	20,231	23,749	21,110
33	26,672	24,479	28,736	25,543

Optimum Water Volume Table Round Pools

Optimum Water Volume Oval Pools

Pool Size ft	Pool Height 52″	Opt Vol 46″ (52″)	Pool Height 54″	Opt Vol 48″ (54″)
8×12	2,492	2,208	2,548	2,265
12×17	5,295	4,694	5,416	4,814
12×24	7,476	6,626	7,646	6,796
15×26	10,124	8,973	10,354	9,204
15×30	11,682	10,354	11,947	10,620
18×33	15,420	13,667	15,770	14,018
18×40	18,691	16,567	19,116	16,992
21×43	23,441	20,778	23,974	21,310

Optimum Water Volume Table Oval Pools

Final Thoughts

To calculate the cost of filling a pool, you will need to calculate the amount of water needed, find out how much water costs in your city, and look into pool water delivery services if you can’t fill the pool yourself.

The total cost for filling the pool on your own depends on the cost of water. On average, it would cost anywhere between $80-$200 to fill the pool on your own.

However, using a delivery service increases the cost of water, delivery, and labor. In this case, the average pool owner pays anywhere between $500 and $2000.