Pondering a Pond? Here's What to Know About Installation Costs

By Hannah Stephens

August 01, 2024

From tranquil spots for relaxation to outdoor swimming and boating spaces, adding a pond to your garden can make your backyard more pleasant and functional.

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While you can build a simple DIY pond pretty cheaply, custom-built options can be eye-wateringly expensive. Let's explore how much pond installation costs to help you choose a wallet-friendly project.

How Much Does Pond Installation Cost?

Lawn Love says the average pond installation cost is $7,400 (CAD 10,091). Most people pay between $3,675 and $14,500 (CAD 5,012 and CAD 19,774) for a mid-size pond, but basic DIY projects can cost as little as $800 (CAD 1,091). Meanwhile, customized ponds can cost up to $47,500 (CAD 64,776).

What's the Cost to Build a Pond by Type?

While most homeowners opt for traditional garden ponds, those with higher budgets and more outdoor space may install larger bodies of water. Below, we'll compare the cost of different pond types.

Traditional Pond Cost

Decorative backyard ponds that don't contain fish are usually smaller, cheaper and easier to maintain. Installing a simple garden pond usually costs $1,900 to $6,500 (CAD 2,591 to CAD 8,864).

Koi Pond Cost

If you want to keep fish, you must install additional features to keep the water clean. Fish ponds typically require:

Water pumps
Filter systems
Plants
Nontoxic liners
Aeration systems

Koi ponds also need to be large enough to provide your fish with enough space to swim. Expect to spend between $5,100 and $15,875 (CAD 6,955 and CAD 21,649).

Large Pond Costs

As you might expect, the price of digging a pond significantly increases with size. Installing a 30'x20' swimming pond typically costs $50,000 to $80,000 (CAD 68,185 to CAD 109,096), while artificial lakes cost $3,500 to $11,000 (CAD 4,773 to CAD 15,001) per acre.

Farm ponds to provide water for animals usually cost between $3,750 and $13,000 (CAD 5,114 and CAD 17,728). Meanwhile, fishing ponds are more expensive at $8,625 to $52,800 (CAD 11,762 to CAD 72,004).

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How Much Does It Cost to Stock a Fish Pond?

Costs will vary based on the type of fish you're looking to put in your pond, but HomeGuide says you should expect to pay between $800 and $1,500 (CAD 1.090 and CAD 2,050 per acre to stock a pond. For a fishing pond to sustain itself, you need both large fish and prey fish.

For a koi pond, the koi cost between $15 and $55 (CAD 20 to CAD 75), according to Lawn Love.

What Factors Impact the Price of Digging a Pond?

Pond installation costs vary widely depending on the size, material and features. These cost factors affect how much it costs to build a pond.

Pond Size

Size is the biggest cost factor in the overall price of your pond. There's a huge difference between a small garden koi pond and a multi-acre fishing pond the size of a lake. Creating a 4-foot by 6-foot backyard pond usually costs $2,350 to $5,000 (CAD 3,205 to CAD 6,819), according to Lawn Love. Larger ponds have larger costs.

Excavation Costs

Generally, contractors charge between $55 and $150 (CAD 75 and CAD 205) per hour or $60 to $200 (CAD 82 to CAD 273) per cubic foot. Additional costs may include clearing plants and rocks, and removing dirt, which carry a similar hourly cost. Landscape grading costs $0.08 to $2 (CAD 0.11 to CAD 2.73) per square foot.

You may need a permit to excavate and grade your landscape for ponds measuring 5,000 square feet or more. Prices vary by area, but most people pay between $150 and $485 (CAD 205 and CAD 661).

Pond Liner Costs

Many homeowners choose to install liners to keep their garden features in good condition. HDPE flexible sheets are the cheapest option at 30 to 70 cents (CAD 0.41 to CAD 0.95) per square foot. HDPE preformed tanks are easier to install and maintain their shape, costing $3.40 to $7.40 (CAD 4.64 to CAD 10) per square foot.

If you opt for a liner of a different material, you may pay anywhere from 50 cents to $2.50 (CAD 0.70 to CAD 2.77) per square foot.

Concrete is the costliest material at $63.50 to $113.50 (CAD 86.60 to CAD 155) per square foot. However, it's exceptionally durable and comes in various colors and textures.

Pond Features

You may decide to add features to make your pond more attractive or improve the water quality, so don't forget to budget a few hundred (or thousand) dollars for features like:

Water pump
Filter
Aquatic plants
Gravel
Boulders
Waterfall
Fountain

Do Ponds Add Value to a Home?

According to BTL Liners, a farm pond may increase property value. Properties with ponds can sell for up to 15% more than similar properties without ponds. However, for a high-acreage property, a small pond isn't going to make much of a difference price-wise.

And, just like many optional home upgrades, a pond may only be worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. If your pond could be considered an eyesore, or it needs a lot of work to be functional or attractive, it could be a damper on property value.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.

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