If you’re planning to build a koi pond, you’ve probably asked:
“What’s the cost per square foot?”
And here’s the honest answer:
There isn’t one — at least not a reliable one.
At Aquascape Creations, we’ve designed and installed ponds all over the Bay Area — from Livermore to Danville, San Ramon to Walnut Creek. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that no two ponds are the same. Trying to price them like tile or sod just doesn’t work.
Square Foot Pricing Sounds Nice — But It’s Misleading
Some companies will toss out a square-foot number to make things easy. But building a koi pond isn’t about surface area. It’s about depth, filtration, rockwork, layout, site access, and about a dozen other things that can drastically change the price.
Let’s take a closer look at what really affects pond cost.
Why One Pond Isn’t Like Another
Every koi pond has its own variables, including:
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Size & Depth – 2 feet or 4? That changes everything.
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Filtration – Standard biofalls or a full wetland system?
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Rock Size – Big or small boulders?
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Pond Edge – Natural edge, stacked stone, or negative edge?
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Stream or Waterfall – How long? How high? One drop or several?
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Access – Can we use machinery or is it all hand-built?
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Terrain – Is your yard flat or sloped? Are there stairs?
Even if two ponds have the same footprint, the build process and materials can be dramatically different. That’s why cookie-cutter pricing just doesn’t make sense.
A Real-World Example
Let’s say we’re building a 10′ x 14′ koi pond:
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In a flat backyard with easy access and no design extras?
Lower cost. -
On a slope with tight access and a custom stream, wetland filter, ?
Significantly higher.
The square footage is the same, but the labor, rock tonnage, plumbing, and logistics aren’t. That’s why we don’t rely on a one-size-fits-all price.
What Every Pond Typically Includes
No matter the size, most koi ponds require the same base components:
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Skimmer
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Biofalls or wetland filtration
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Pond pump
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Underlayment & EPDM liner
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Plumbing, fittings, valves, and check systems
Up to certain size pond These components don’t scale up too much, which is another reason smaller ponds don’t always equal smaller prices.
What We Evaluate to Price Your Pond
When you request a consultation, here’s what we look at:
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Equipment access and site layout
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Design goals (koi pond, pondless, stream, etc.)
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Labor and material needs
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Rock quantity and delivery logistics
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Distance to water/power sources
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Any slopes, fencing, or obstacles
This allows us to give you a price based on your actual project — not a chart in a brochure.
So… How Much Will It Cost?
We offer a general koi pond pricing guide based on common build types in the Bay Area — but to get a real estimate, we need to walk the property, review your vision, and factor in your specific conditions.
That way, there are no surprises, and your pond is priced fairly from the start.
Let’s Build the Right Pond — Not Just a Number
If you’re ready to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind koi pond or water feature in the Bay Area, we’d love to help.
✅ Fully custom designs
✅ Built to last — not just to spec
✅ Transparent pricing, no guesswork
📍 Based in Livermore | Serving homeowners across the Bay Area
📞 Call or Text: 925-222-5052
