How much does pool resurfacing cost in 2026?

Cost by finish

Prices are per square foot of interior surface, installed, and include a standard prep. Lifespans assume balanced water and normal use.

• White plaster (marcite): $5 to $7 per square foot. Smooth, classic, and the cheapest. Lasts 7 to 10 years and shows stains and etching the soonest. Colored plaster adds about $1 per square foot.
• Quartz aggregate: $6 to $9 per square foot. Plaster with quartz crystals mixed in. More stain resistant, lasts 10 to 15 years.
• Pebble (exposed aggregate): $8 to $13 per square foot. The most durable common finish, 15 to 25 years, with a textured feel underfoot. Polished and glass-bead versions sit at the top of the range.
• All-tile interior: $30 to $60 per square foot. Rare for full pools because of cost, but effectively permanent.
• Fiberglass pools: a new gelcoat or spray-on polymer finish is $5 to $9 per square foot.
• Vinyl-liner pools: not resurfaced. A new liner installed runs $3,500 to $7,000.

Typical totals by pool size

Interior surface area is bigger than the footprint because it includes the walls and steps. A useful shortcut is length times width times 1.6 to 1.8.

• Small pool (about 12 by 24 ft, 550 to 700 sq ft): plaster $4,000 to $7,000; pebble $6,000 to $9,500.
• Medium pool (about 16 by 32 ft, 900 to 1,100 sq ft): plaster $6,000 to $9,000; pebble $8,500 to $14,000.
• Large pool (about 20 by 40 ft, 1,300 to 1,600 sq ft): plaster $8,500 to $12,000; pebble $12,000 to $20,000.

What else lands on the bill

• Draining and refilling: $150 to $300 for the drain, plus $100 to $600 in water. Some cities require a discharge permit.
• Prep method. A bond coat over the old surface is standard. A full chip-out (removing the old plaster completely) adds $1,500 to $3,500 but is the right call when the old surface is delaminating or has been resurfaced before.
• Waterline tile: $2,000 to $5,000 to replace the tile band. Most people do it at the same time because the pool is already empty.
• Coping: repair or replacement at $30 to $60 per linear foot.
• Fittings and startup: new light lenses, return fittings, and main drain covers ($200 to $600), plus startup chemicals and brushing visits ($200 to $500) during the first month.
• Region: Arizona, Texas, and Florida crews resurface year-round and tend to price lower than California and the Northeast.

Patch it or resurface it?

Rough texture, stains that will not brush out, hollow spots that pop off (spalling), and visible cracks are the usual signs a surface is done. A plaster patch or crack injection at $300 to $1,500 can buy a year or two when the damage is limited to one area. Once more than about 20 percent of the surface is failing, patches stop making sense and a full resurface is cheaper per year of life. If you are already draining for a resurface, that is the moment to fix tile, coping, and any leak at the lowest added cost.

Questions to ask a resurfacing contractor

• Bond coat or full chip-out, and why is that the right choice for my pool?
• Which product brand and color, and what does the manufacturer warranty cover versus your labor warranty? Ten years on pebble products and one to three years on labor is typical.
• Who handles the 28-day startup, and what do I need to do (brushing, no swimming, water chemistry)?
• How long will the pool be empty? Two to four weeks is normal; an empty pool in high groundwater areas can float, so ask about hydrostatic relief.
• Are you licensed for pool work in this state, and can I see the license number and insurance?
• What is the payment schedule? A deposit under a third, then progress payments, with the last payment after startup.