Building ponds is one of the natural water sources. You can also use it for recreational purposes, fish cultivation, irritation, etc. Even a pond can enhance 5% to 15% of your property values depending on the size and location.
How much does it cost to build a 1/2 acre pond?
Usually, an average size pond costs $2.50 to $7.15 per square foot, and the overall average cost ranges between $1,241 and $5,487. But most homeowners prefer to pay approximately $3,359.
You can also build a pond within a cheap budget. But in this case, you have to compromise with many things. This blog post will help you understand the average pond digging cost by considering many criteria.
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Important Factors: Cost To Build A Pond
Digging a pond needs vast planning as many professional activities are involved with it. There is no way to ignore a single thing to get your desired pond. Let’s have a look at which things affect pond building costs.
Location
The pond building cost will vary depending on your geographical area. Building a pond in a rural area can be less expensive than in an urban area. Moreover, if the land is flat, it also costs less than a terrain-type land. So you can understand how the pond’s constructional location affects the cost. Here is a shortlist of pond building costs in the 7 most common USA regions.
Chicago: $2,300
Los Angeles: $3,800
Texas : $5,160
Boston: $3,200
Kentucky : $3,500
Denver: $2,600
Miami: $3,100
Soil Type
The cost also varies according to the soil type of the land. Because if the land is flat and soil is loose, it takes less time and energy to dig the pond. But if your selected land is full of rocky terrain and surrounded by trees, it is tough to dig the pond. If your land has clay-like soil, you have to spend around $200 to $1,200 and for loose soil $150 to $1000 for digging a pond.
Size
Another pond digging essential factor is its size. For example, if you want to build a pond on ½ acre of land, then it should be 6-10 feet deep for a swimming pond. You can go for a more shallow pond for other purposes. The ½ acre land means 21780 square feet, and it costs you roughly $2800 to install a pond.
Excavation
Excavation is the essential step to constructing a pond, and its cost is counted per cubic yard. You have to spend $1.50 to $3.50 per cubic yard to excavate your pond, and here per cubic yard is measured by multiplying the length, width, and depth.
However, some excavator companies have a per-hour charging rate. Because some types of ponds need some technical grading equipment to dig the pond. If you spend per hour, it may cost you around $1,940.
Related: How much does it cost to build a bridge over a creek?
Pond Construction Costs By Type
Most people dig almost 8 types of ponds by focusing on their requirements, as all types of ponds are not appropriate for all-purpose. Now, we will talk about some pond types cost.
Swimming Pond Cost
You can compare it to a swimming pool. So this type of pond should be more profound than other ponds. You have to spend at least $50 per square foot to build a swimming pond. Fortunately, this type of pond is easy and simple to maintain. So once you build the pond, you need less cost for its maintenance.
Manmade Pond Cost
The manmade ponds are built according to the homeowners’ preference. So there are no specific criteria that reduce its construction cost. This type of pond cost around $100 and $5,000.
Garden Pond Cost
If you like to cultivate different types of vegetables in your backyard garden, then a garden pond is very useful to irritate the plants. The garden pond is small and costs you less, as many works you can do by yourself. You have to cost $150 for small liner ponds and $1,000 or more for large ponds.
Koi Pond Cost
Koi is one of the famous fish that can live in pond water. So many people cultivate them in a pond. The average cost to build a koi pond is around $5,000 and $6,000. This pond should be minimum 3 feet deep; otherwise, the fish won’t live there.
However, in winter it requires a vast setup like a heating system, generator, filter, etc. As the koi fish can’t tolerate cold weather. You have to invest huge bucks in installing all those things and maintaining them.
Materials Based Pond Building Cost
You need different types of materials to build a pond. Some common pond building materials are underlayment, pond liner, bricks/heavy rocks, tubes, pipes, fittings, pumps, filters, skimmer, and aerators. Though here, skimmer and aerator are optional.
Concrete Pond Cost
If you want to dig the pond for long-term use, it’s better to use brick or concrete to make it more durable. But as bricks or rocks are very expensive, it costs you approximately $60 to $120 per square foot.
Pond Liners Cost
You’ll find different kinds of pond liners based on their quality, and the price will vary for this. An average size 12×12 pond liner costs you around $1,000, including material and labor charges. The minimum cost of the pond liner is around $250, whereas the maximum cost is around $6,500.
Wrap Up
So, we hope you get your answer; how much does it cost to build a 1/2 acre pond. This cost is a rough estimation to build the pond. You have to get a more specific idea about the cost to start your project. So we suggest you talk about your requirements with professionals. They can tell you the right amount after considering your needs.
James A. Rider has been writing about savings and finance since 2016 and analyzes thousands of products to find you the best deal. He will help you save money while you shop. They cover huge products including home, garden, car, business, tech, and many more for making the best financial decision.
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