The Short Answer
On our estimates, a small garden pond (about 2m x 2m) costs £800 to £2,000 to have built, with a liner, edging and planting. A medium pond around 4m x 3m with a pump is £2,000 to £4,000; a large one £4,500 to £7,500. Koi ponds, with deeper water and filtration, are £6,000 to £15,000. Building one takes one to five days.
The RHS says spring and autumn are good times to make a pond, a sunny, level spot is best, and any electricity for a pump or filter must be put in by a qualified electrician. If young children use the garden, it suggests fencing it or fitting a metal grid just below the surface.
Pond prices
| Pond | Built |
|---|---|
| Small, about 2m x 2m | £800 to £2,000 |
| Medium, about 4m x 3m, with pump | £2,000 to £4,000 |
| Large, about 6m x 4m | £4,500 to £7,500 |
| Wildlife pond | £1,000 to £2,500 |
| Koi pond with filtration | £6,000 to £15,000 |
Building a pond
From the RHS's guidance:
- Where: sun or part shade, with at least half the pond in full sun, on level ground clear of big tree roots. Check for buried services before digging a large or deep pond.
- Liner: rigid moulds suit small ponds; flexible butyl or PVC liners suit medium and large ones. Butyl is the most popular, dearer than PVC and more durable, lasting 25 to 50 years or more. Sand or pond underfelt goes under it.
- Edges: shelves or sloping sides let you grow a range of plants.
- Filling: rainwater from a butt is better than mains water, which can encourage algae.
Safety and electrics
If young children can get into the garden, the RHS says to put the pond out of their reach unless they're supervised, fence it off, or fit metal grids just below the surface. A pump or filter needs power, which must be installed by a qualified electrician; a new outdoor circuit is notifiable work, so get the certificate.
Planning
An ordinary garden pond behind the house is covered by the same permitted development rules as outbuildings. Listed buildings, and big changes to ground levels, are worth checking with the council first. For other features, see landscaping.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a pond?
On our estimates, about £800 to £2,000 for a small garden pond and £2,000 to £4,000 for a medium one with a pump.
Can I just dig a hole for a pond?
You need a liner too: a rigid mould for a small pond or a flexible butyl or PVC liner for bigger ones, with sand or underfelt underneath, according to the RHS.
What is the best time of year to build a pond?
The RHS says spring or autumn, when there's usually plenty of rain to fill it.
Do I need permission to build a pond?
Not usually for an ordinary garden pond behind the house: ponds come under the same permitted development rules as outbuildings. Listed buildings are different.
How much does a koi pond cost?
About £6,000 to £15,000 built, on our estimates, because koi need deeper water and filtration.
Do ponds need electricity?
Only for a pump or filter, and then it must be installed by a qualified electrician.
How we priced thisView sources (3, 2 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12(6A) and (9): notifiable electrical work and 'special location' (England), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- IndustryHow to make a new pond, Royal Horticultural Society. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
