How Much Does a Gunite Pool Cost in the Texas Hill Country?

Every first call to Pools Unlimited starts with the same question, and it deserves a straight answer instead of a shrug and a change of subject. Here is what a custom gunite pool costs in the Texas Hill Country in 2026, using the ranges we publish, plus the reasons the number swings as much as it does.

Most Hill Country Pools Run Between $75,000 and $450,000

Most Hill Country pools run between $75,000 and $450,000. That's a wide range, and each end of it has specific causes. Pools here are priced differently than pools in flat suburban markets, because the terrain, the soil and the distances involved all feed into the final figure. Here's how the build tiers break down.

• Entry-level custom, $75,000 to $140,000: custom shape, plaster finish, basic LED lighting and standard equipment.
• Mid-range, $120,000 to $200,000: a spa, a tanning ledge, a salt system, upgraded tile and automation.
• High-end, $200,000 to $450,000 and up: an infinity edge, custom tile, a grotto, full outdoor integration and premium automation.

Notice that the tiers overlap. That's deliberate. A mid-range pool on an easy lot can cost less than an entry-level pool on a hard one, which brings us to the biggest variable.

Your lot moves the price more than pool size

Most people assume a bigger pool costs a lot more. It does cost more, but size isn't the main driver. A compact pool on a rocky hillside can cost more than a larger pool on a flat property with easy access. These are the site factors that move the number on a Hill Country build.

• Rock and caliche. Blasting or breaking through limestone adds excavation time and equipment cost. On a rocky lot, that can add $8,000 to $25,000 to the project.
• Grade changes. Sloped lots need retaining walls, extra engineering and more complex forming. A hillside pool with a raised bond beam or a terraced deck can add $15,000 to $40,000 over a flat-lot equivalent.
• Distance from Bulverde. Crew travel, material delivery and site supervision all count, so a pool in Spring Branch costs less to build than one in Fredericksburg.
• Equipment. A fully automated Pentair system with variable-speed pumps, UV sanitization and remote control adds $8,000 to $20,000 over a base equipment spec.

What the popular features add

Features are where owners shape the price most directly, because each one is a choice. These are the typical additions we see quoted on Hill Country builds.

• Tanning ledge: $5,000 to $12,000.
• Raised spa: $15,000 to $30,000.
• Infinity edge: $20,000 to $50,000, depending on wall height and finish.

Those are meaningful numbers, but they're also the features families use every single day. A ledge is where the lounge chairs and the smallest swimmers end up. One more thing worth knowing: it almost always costs more to add a spa or ledge later than to include it in the original build. The pool has to be partly drained, the deck broken up, and new plumbing and electrical run after the fact. If you're thinking about either one at all, decide before the excavator shows up.

Entry-level doesn't mean basic

A $90,000 gunite pool from Pools Unlimited is still a fully custom build. You aren't picking from a catalog. It's designed for your specific yard and built by the same crew from excavation to handoff, under a fixed-price contract with a one-year workmanship warranty. What you give up at the entry level is add-ons like the spa, the ledge and the automation. The construction quality of the pool itself stays the same wherever it falls in the range.

If you already have a pool

A cracked, dated or simply ugly pool often costs far less to fix than to replace. Re-plastering, new tile, coping replacement and equipment upgrades typically run $20,000 to $60,000. A full gut-and-rebuild on an existing shell can run $40,000 to $90,000. If the structure is sound but showing its age, renovation almost always makes more financial sense than starting over.

Paying for it

Most of our clients finance. As an example from our own cost guide, a $150,000 pool financed over 15 years at a competitive fixed rate runs roughly $1,100 to $1,300 a month. Terms typically run 5 to 20 years, fixed-rate, through lenders such as Lyon Financial, LightStream and LendingClub. You apply directly with the lender. Your real payment depends on the lender's current rate and your own credit, so confirm current terms with them before you build a budget around any monthly figure.

Why a phone quote is only a guess

Site conditions vary so much across the Hill Country that any price given without walking the property is essentially a guess. Rock, slope, access and drainage all change the number in ways nobody can judge from a satellite photo. So we price after an in-person visit, then put the result in a fixed-price contract. You know the full number before we break ground.

If you'd like a real number for your lot, the on-site visit is free and carries no obligation. Call Pools Unlimited at (830) 980-5051 and we'll set up a time to walk the property with you.