Hollywood, sun, and summer all have one thing in common: the backyard swimming pool. Iconic, luxurious, and long associated with the good life, the swimming pool has become a symbol of Southern California, even with the hypnotic rhythm of the Pacific Ocean crashing just feet away.
If you want to learn more about the historic popularity of the California pool, browse state statistics, or find out how much it might cost to build your own backyard oasis, discover how you can get in on LA’s booming pool industry today.
The Historical Popularity of Pools in Southern California
Since World War II, Southern California, especially Los Angeles, has gained a reputation for its luxe backyard swimming pool tradition. A focus on the “Good Life” after wartime hardships made private swimming pools a popular pastime, with a booming postwar industry. The rise of the middle class, a renewed interest in consumerism, and an increase in more affordable pool materials, such as gunite, made it possible for the average family to do more than dream about installing their own backyard pool.
Although the area had a history of bathhouses and hotel pools, it was mid-century modern life that propelled in-ground pools in California into enduring popularity.
In fact, the rise of the pool appeal in Los Angeles began previously during the early days of Hollywood. In the 1920s, movie stars such as the Pickfords and Fairbanks, with their Beverly Hills pools, cemented the backyard pool in the popular imagination. Innovative architects like Frank Lloyd Wright also fused pools into their home designs. Within a few decades, in-ground pools had moved out of the realm of the elite and become synonymous with California life.
With Southern California abounding in pools by the 1960s, it’s no surprise that the area around the San Fernando Valley became known as the “swimming pool capital of the world.” From kidney designs to freeform shapes to other evolutions in architectural design and celebrity associations, the backyard pool and associated pool parties acquired their own recreational habitat and social significance.
With its history as a city of sun and air, the Los Angeles backyard pool became a private sanctuary, a personal park, and a family playground for the rich and famous, a place to retreat from the world and the scrutiny and dreariness of shared public spaces.
Since the heyday of the Silver Screen, the popularity of Southern California pools has not decreased, and today, California has more pools than almost any other state in America.
Here’s How Many New Pools Are Built in California Each Year
The number of new pools that are being built each year might surprise you. While Florida currently leads the way in new pool construction statistics, California follows closely in second place.
According to California Public Radio, California has some of the most swimming pools in the United States. As of 2025, California has 1,343,000 swimming pools. Experts expect this number to increase by 2030, despite new environmental standards. On average, 15,000 new pools are installed in California every year. It should come as no surprise that, as pool construction continues to boom, so do the service businesses that maintain the Los Angeles oases. Whether it is Pop’s Pool Service cruising in their pink trucks or the one-man show pool guy, everyone is clamoring to grab a piece of the Los Angeles pool service business that brings new clients year after year.
Residential in-ground pools are also being built at a faster rate than public or commercial pools or residential above-ground pools. It’s not hard to see why. In-ground pools have a sleek, aesthetic, and lifestyle appeal, offer greater durability, longevity, and versatility than above-ground pools with their shallow and deep-end options, enhance property value, and can serve as a permanent focal point in a backyard landscape.
Average Cost to Build a New Pool in Los Angeles
Wondering how much the average in-ground pool could set you back if you live in Los Angeles this year? Since pools are customizable, this number can vary based on several different factors.
If you want to build your own custom in-ground swimming pool in the City of Angels, you can expect to invest anywhere between $85,000-$150,000 on the project. Keep in mind that this range is just an estimate, since a luxury pool, especially one combined with a customized outdoor space, could cost $400,000 or more. It all depends on the site preparation, customization, features, materials, add-ons, and size of the pool you plan to install.
To help give you a better idea of what it costs to construct an in-ground pool in your area, it’s important to remember that larger pools set you back more, and concrete pools typically fetch a higher price tag than vinyl or fiberglass.
For example, a basic, medium-sized pool measuring 14 feet by 30 feet can average around $45,000, while a larger, 20 by 40-foot high-end pool with various features can land between $70,000 and $90,000, with walls, fences, and landscaping adding $125,000 or more. Custom pools, in general, range from $120,000-$160,000 even without any upscale custom features.
What your site requires to install an in-ground pool can also increase costs, with demolition, deep excavation, or extra grading factoring into the main preparation costs. Sloping backyards may require extra work or a retaining wall to level the site and make it secure. Interior finishes such as pebble, plaster, ceramic, quartz, or mosaic tiles can also affect the price, with mosaics costing more than usual ceramic tiles.
If you happen to live in a more affluent area of the city, these zip codes will reflect higher pool installation prices. In addition, anything necessary, such as permits or extras like lighting, heated pools, waterfalls, spas, fences, or automatic covers, can add to the final price. Want a customized landscape, a unique design, or extra safety features? Check with your contractor to determine how much this can boost your overall project cost.
Whether you’re looking for a high-end backyard pool experience or want to invest in a more wallet-friendly pool style, the right pool company can tailor your investment to match your budget, requirements, and style and increase property value for years to come.
