How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Swimming Pool?
Got an old swimming pool taking up half the backyard?
Removing it can give you back valuable space for a new lawn, shed, entertaining area, landscaping or your next backyard project. But unlike simply filling a pool in, full removal usually involves demolition, excavation, loading, disposal and backfilling, which is why costs can vary considerably from one property to another.
At Diggermate, pool removal is the kind of project where having the right excavator hire, operator and site access plan can make a big difference.
This guide covers indicative pool removal costs in Australia, what machinery may be required and what to consider before getting started.
Key Takeaways:
- Pool removal costs depend heavily on the pool type, size, access and amount of material that needs to be removed.
- Above-ground pools are generally simpler to remove, while inground concrete pools require considerably more excavation and demolition.
- Mini excavators can be ideal for residential pool removal projects, particularly where backyard access is limited.
- Concrete pools may require an excavator fitted with a hydraulic breaker to demolish the shell.
- Tipper trucks or other disposal solutions may also be required to remove concrete, soil and other material from the property.
- For larger or more complicated projects, Diggermate Site Solutions can help organise the machinery and operators needed to get the job done.
How Much Does Pool Removal Cost in Australia?
As a broad guide, swimming pool removal in Australia can range from a few thousand dollars for a relatively straightforward project to $20,000 or more for larger inground concrete pools.
| Pool Type | Indicative Removal Cost | Main Cost Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Above-ground pool | $500–$2,500 | Dismantling and disposal |
| Fibreglass inground pool | $6,000–$15,000 | Excavation, shell removal and backfilling |
| Concrete inground pool | $10,000–$20,000+ | Demolition, excavation, disposal and backfilling |
These figures should only be used as a general guide.
Two similar-sized pools can have very different removal costs depending on whether an excavator can drive straight into the backyard or needs to squeeze through narrow side access.
The amount of concrete, soil and other material that needs to leave the property can also have a major impact on the final price.
For an accurate figure, the best option is to request a quote through your local Diggermate based on your actual property and project.
What Machinery Is Used to Remove a Swimming Pool?
Pool removal isn’t just a demolition job. It’s an excavation and material-handling job too.
Depending on the pool and property, the equipment required may include:
- Mini excavator for excavation, demolition and working around residential properties.
- Larger excavator where access and the scale of the project allow.
- Hydraulic breaker for breaking up reinforced concrete pool shells and surrounds.
- Skid steer or mini loader for moving soil, rubble and backfill around the site.
- Tipper truck for removing concrete, soil and other material or bringing backfill to the property.
- Compaction equipment where the excavated area needs to be filled and compacted afterwards.
Diggermate locations carry a range of earthmoving equipment for hire, including compact machines suited to residential and tight-access projects.
Not sure which machine you need? Our guide to choosing the right excavator for your job can help you understand how machine size, access and digging requirements affect your choice.
How Do You Remove an Inground Concrete Pool?
Concrete pool removal is usually the most machinery-intensive option.
The process will vary from site to site, but generally involves:
- Assessing site access: Before anything starts, the operator needs to determine what size excavator can reach the pool and whether there is suitable access for trucks and other equipment.
- Draining and preparing the pool: The pool needs to be safely drained and services such as plumbing and electrical connections appropriately disconnected.
- Breaking up the pool shell: An excavator fitted with a hydraulic breaker may be used to break the concrete walls, floor and surrounding concrete into manageable sections.
- Removing concrete and reinforcement: Broken concrete is separated and loaded out, while steel reinforcement may need to be cut and removed separately.
- Loading out material: An excavator or loader can load demolished material into a tipper truck or other suitable disposal vehicle.
- Backfilling the excavation: Once the required pool structure has been removed, suitable fill can be brought in and placed in the excavation.
- Compacting and levelling: The area is progressively compacted and levelled according to what the site will be used for next.
This is similar to other residential excavation and site preparation projects where several stages — excavation, loading, material removal, backfilling and levelling — need to work together.
If you’re planning to build a structure over the former pool area, additional engineering, approvals and site preparation requirements may apply.
How Do You Remove a Fibreglass Pool?
Fibreglass pools require a different approach.
Rather than breaking apart a thick concrete shell, the goal may be to excavate around the pool and remove the fibreglass structure.
Depending on access and site conditions, the process can involve:
- Draining and disconnecting the pool.
- Excavating around the outside of the shell.
- Removing surrounding backfill.
- Lifting or removing the fibreglass shell.
- Cutting the shell into sections where necessary.
- Backfilling and compacting the remaining excavation.
- Levelling the site ready for its next use.
The challenge is often access and machine positioning.
A compact mini excavator can be particularly useful on residential properties where larger earthmoving equipment cannot reach the backyard.
An operator still needs enough room to safely excavate around the pool and handle the shell. That’s why photos of the pool aren’t always enough — it’s also important to show the side access, gates, driveway and surrounding structures when requesting a quote.
What About an Above-Ground Pool?
Above-ground pools are generally much simpler because there isn’t a complete pool shell buried in the backyard.
Removal typically involves:
- draining the pool;
- dismantling the frame and liner;
- removing decking or surrounding structures where required;
- disposing of the materials; and
- levelling the area underneath.
If the project also involves removing concrete slabs, landscaping the area or reshaping the yard afterwards, hiring a mini excavator or loader may save a considerable amount of manual work.
If you’re planning further landscaping once the pool is gone, you can also read our guide on how to level a backyard to understand how earthmoving equipment can help prepare the area.
What Affects the Cost of Pool Removal?
The pool itself is only part of the equation.
1. Backyard Access
Access can determine what machine can actually do the job.
A property with wide side access may accommodate a larger excavator and allow material to be moved quickly. A tight suburban backyard may require a compact excavator and smaller equipment.
This is one reason mini excavator hire is commonly used for backyard excavation projects.
2. Pool Construction
Concrete, fibreglass and above-ground pools all require different removal methods.
Reinforced concrete generally takes the most work because it needs to be broken apart before it can be removed.
3. Pool Size and Depth
More pool means more material.
A larger or deeper pool can mean additional machine time, more concrete or fibreglass to remove and significantly more material required to backfill the excavation.
4. Concrete Surrounds
Don’t forget what’s around the pool.
Concrete coping, paths, slabs and entertaining areas can add considerably to the demolition and disposal requirements if they’re being removed at the same time.
5. Material Disposal
Breaking up the pool is only half the job, the material still needs to go somewhere.
Concrete, soil, steel and other demolition waste may need to be loaded and transported off-site. Depending on the job and local fleet availability, combining an excavator with a tipper truck can make material removal much easier.
6. What You’re Doing With the Area Afterwards
Are you turning the old pool into lawn? Building a shed? Landscaping? Creating an entertaining area?
The intended use of the site can affect the type of fill, compaction and preparation required after the pool has been removed.
If the project involves more than simply removing the pool, Diggermate Site Solutions can help with larger excavation and site preparation projects.
Can You Hire an Excavator to Remove a Pool Yourself?
For some parts of a straightforward project, hiring an excavator yourself may be an option if you’re confident operating machinery and understand the work involved.
Diggermate has a range of excavators and earthmoving equipment available for hire, including mini excavators, loaders, tipper trucks and attachments depending on your local fleet.
If you’ve never operated one before, check out our guide on how to operate a mini excavator before deciding whether DIY is right for you.
However, full pool removal can involve demolition, buried services, reinforced concrete, heavy material handling and disposal. For more complicated projects, having an experienced operator can be the more practical option.
If you don’t want to operate the machinery yourself, Diggermate also offers Done For You excavation services, where the job can be handled with an operator rather than leaving you to run the machinery.
DIY or Wet Hire?
There are a few different ways to tackle an excavation project with Diggermate.
DIY equipment hire can suit customers who already know how they want to tackle the job and mainly need the right machine. You can find your nearest Diggermate location to check what machinery is available locally.
Wet Hire gives you the machine plus an experienced operator, which can be useful for demolition, excavation and tight-access work. Learn more about Diggermate Done For You if you’d rather have someone operate the equipment.
Get a Quote for Your Pool Removal Project
Every backyard is different, which is why the most useful pool removal quote starts with the actual site rather than an online average.
Take a few clear photos of:
- the swimming pool;
- the area immediately around it;
- side access and gates;
- the driveway or truck access;
- nearby fences, buildings or retaining walls; and
- anything else that could affect machine access.
Then tell us what you’d like the area to become once the pool is gone.
Diggermate can help determine what equipment and operator support may be suitable for the job.
Got a pool you want gone?
Request a quote from your local Diggermate and they’ll help work out the right approach for your property.
Prefer to hire the machinery and tackle the project yourself? Find your local Diggermate to see what equipment is available near you.
