Update 2022: The cost of home improvement projects and materials has, unfortunately, soared over the last 18 months, this has been widely reported in the media and confirmed by our own research. The garden pond installation prices on this page were updated in April 2022 but are subject to change.
Are you thinking of installing a pond in your garden? A well-planned garden pond can be so much more than just a feature of your property, it can attract birds, frogs and insects – turning your garden into a haven for wildlife.
But how much does it cost to install a garden pond and what options are there to choose from?
On this page, we’ll cover the following:
- A poll, let us know how much you think a garden pond will cost.
- A realistic garden pond price guide with examples.
- Why it’s difficult to estimate prices without seeing the garden.
- Options you have.
- Places where you can get ideas and inspiration.
Garden Pond Poll – How Much Do You Think a Garden Pond Will Cost?
We are conducting research into how much consumers think certain garden improvement projects will cost compared to the actual cost.
The question below is optional although if you answer it, you can see how others voted:
Types of Pond
There are many different types of garden ponds, ranging from small pre-made fibreglass tubs to large, fully excavated and landscaped projects.
Ponds can be elevated (raised), buried in the ground or a mixture of both. They can incorporate a small waterfall or bubblers and can be located in a patio, in a grassy lawn or even in a large flower bed. Several ponds can also be installed at different levels so they flow into each other. When it comes to ponds, your choices are limitless.
Pond Installation Prices
There are several aspects of a pond installation to consider before you go ahead with the project:
- The materials used (pre-made or liner).
- The size of the pond.
- Pump and filter to be installed.
- Electrical supply to the pump and lighting.
- Location and design specifics – a full dig out and sunken pond or perhaps an elevated pond with a brick wall etc.
- Waste disposal costs.
In 2022 we got in touch with 8 landscape gardeners who specialised in pond installations and asked them how much they would charge to install a garden pond.
The figures below are an average of the prices given to us, we’ve also provided a breakdown so you can see where the money goes:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Install a small 750 litre pond with electrics to consumer unit, pump, filter and finished off with decorative bricks and edging plants | £2000 - £2500 |
| Construct a 4m x 2m partially sunk custom brick pond with coping stones, filter, pump, electrics, liner and finished off with plants | £5500 - £6500 |
| Ready For a Custom Price? | Get a Quote Online |
Project 1: Cost to Install a Small Sunken Pond
Supply and install a simple pre-fabricated 600-litre fibreglass pond – £1000
Supply and install a suitable filter – £2500
Power supplied to pump (inc RCD) – £250+ depending on whether you want to bury the cable in a trench or use armoured cable above ground and secured to a solid structure. The distance from the house is also a factor.
Finish off the installation with grasses, lilies and decorative bricks laid to the edge – £500.
The total cost for a small pond like this starts at £2000.
Project 2: 4m x 2m Partially Raised Pond
The price below assumes a pond size of 4m x 2m, partially raised above ground level. Brick walls to all four sides and finished off with coping stones, a liner, filter, pump, electrical connection and some plants.
Expect to pay around £6000 for a professional but basic installation of this size.
Prices can and do go much higher than this, but it depends on the required specification.
About These Prices
These prices were sourced from a selection of landscape gardens from various locations around the UK and include materials, labour and VAT where charged. Consumers are likely to find that prices are cheaper in the north of the UK and more expensive in the south and London. The prices displayed are averages and are subject to change.
Works Schedule
Below is a works schedule for the basic installation of a 4m x 2m pond partially sunk into the ground and with brick walls.
- Day 1 – Design of pond, site inspection and preparation work.
- Day 2 – Excavate site, stage 1 landscaping and foundations.
- Day 3 and 4 – Bricklaying for walls.
- Day 5 -Lay liner, capping stones and install electrical connection, filter, pump, rockery, plants as well as finishing touches to the landscape.
How Long is a Piece of String?
It is very difficult to suggest a price for a medium-sized or large pond, there are just too many variables. Especially if a retaining brick wall is required, the type of bricks, height/depth and condition of the existing garden are all factors.
Smaller pre-formed ponds are much easier to install and quote for.
In 2012 the survey website Which? asked its members how much they paid for the installation of a small pond.
The average price was £500.
Given that the cost of the materials alone is likely to be over £500, we feel this research is either very out of date or must be flawed in some way.
Power Supply to Pond
The power supply to a pond can be laid in a trench to a certain depth to prevent damage from garden tools, warning tape is laid several inches above the cable so if someone starts digging they will see the tape before they damage the cable.
As an alternative, an armoured cable can be secured to an outside wall or other sturdy structure, but not a fence.
A qualified electrician is needed to do this type of work, the cost is again difficult to predict as it depends on what type of surface has to be dug up, patio, concrete, soil etc and how far the cable must be laid.
Extra Costs to Consider
Rockery – A common feature seen around ponds is an elevated rockery with grasses and seasonal plants.
Water fountain – If you have already paid to have a power supply taken into your garden for a pump/filter then you could consider installing a fountain in your pond.
Lighting – there are lots of lighting options to choose from and one could easily spend hundreds just on lights.
What’s The Best Season to Install a Pond?
It doesn’t matter what time of year you install a garden pond.
However, as we have stated on other pages here on Job Prices, there are times when you could score a discount.
Summer is the busiest time of year for some tradespeople such as roofers and gardeners and is typically when prices are at their highest and businesses are most likely to outsource work to subcontractors.
The opposite is true in the winter.
Some trades and businesses will lower their prices as there’s very little demand and they want to keep things ticking over until the more profitable summer season.
If you are flexible with your timing then we suggest you plan and source prices in the winter and have the work completed before the hectic summer season.
Need Inspiration?
The following video contains over 30 ideas:
We think the following websites are worth exploring if you are looking for ideas for your garden pond:
See 30 backyard pond ideas here.
17 garden pond ideas for all budgets can be seen here.
Pinterest is a great place to see photos of pond ideas.
The Royal Horticultural Society has advice on how and where to build a garden pond. They explain the best way to attract wildlife and what plant life you can consider.
Get a Garden Installation Price Online
We hope you found our pond installation insights helpful.
To get a custom price, just tap the link below and fill out the form with details of your pond project:
More:
A small pond can indeed be installed by a DIY enthusiast. There are plenty of helpful step-by-step videos on Youtube. Garden centres often sell pond kits for beginners as well.
A larger pond with a bricked retaining wall will be more complicated as foundations will need to be dug and calculations made for the strength of the walls.
We research the cost of various projects and try to break down the costs into these categories:
- Material cost
- Labour fees
- Waste disposal charges
- VAT
- Profit Margins
A small prefabricated pond can be installed by a competent person in a morning
Below you can find a link to our recently updated trade day rates page:
This guide was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.
Don’t forget; we have price guides for hundreds of home improvement projects.
Explore our full list of detailed price guides here.
