What a semi-inground pool is
The pool sits partly below grade and partly above it. Instead of an exposed pool wall, we wrap the raised part in stone or block veneer with a cap, so it reads as a garden wall. Built-in steps lead up to the deck, and the wall gives you seating all the way around.
When it's the right choice
- Sloped yards. The raised side follows the slope, so you need less excavation and fewer retaining walls.
- Tight yards. A raised edge adds seating without extra patio space.
- Budget. Less digging and hauling can lower the cost compared with a fully inground pool.
- Style. A stone wall with lighting under the cap looks finished day and night.
What it costs
National cost sites list semi-inground pools from about $6,500 to $25,000 installed, but those figures are for basic kit pools. They don't include a stone veneer wall, a patio, electrical, or Long Island permits. With a full stone wall, steps, coping and a deck, a semi-inground pool is priced per project. It still often costs less than a fully inground pool on a sloped yard.
These are published market ranges from Long Island contractors' cost guides and national cost sites, not CMC prices. Your number depends on your yard, access and finishes. We give a written quote after a free visit.
Semi-inground vs inground
| Semi-inground | Inground | |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation | Less | More |
| Best yard | Sloped or tight | Level, open |
| Look | Raised stone wall, built-in seating | Flush with the patio |
| Safety | Raised edge helps, but the code still requires a barrier and alarm | Barrier and alarm required |
Updated November 2026.
