Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Job price
$317
Total job cost
$190
Labor cost
$125
Profit
$127
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How to use this
- 1Enter labor hours (crew total).
- 2Enter crew cost per hour ($).
- 3Enter chemical/shock kit cost ($).
- 4Enter parts allowance (plugs, gizzmos) ($).
- 5Enter target margin (%).
- 6Read your job price on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Pool opening and closing are one-time seasonal jobs distinct from weekly maintenance, and they involve more variable labor (removing/installing covers, backwashing, winterizing lines) plus chemical shock treatment and occasional parts replacement. This calculator prices the job from labor hours, chemical kit cost, and an allowance for common small parts like plugs and gizzmos, then applies a margin target.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Labor hours (crew total): 2.5
- Crew cost per hour: 50 $
- Chemical/shock kit cost: 45 $
- Parts allowance (plugs, gizzmos): 20 $
- Target margin: 40 %
Results
- Job price: $317
- Total job cost: $190
- Labor cost: $125
- Profit: $127
What each field means
Inputs
- Labor hours (crew total)
- The labor hours (crew total) used in the calculation. Starts at 2.5 so you have a working example on load.
- Crew cost per hour ($)
- The crew cost per hour used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 50 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Chemical/shock kit cost ($)
- The chemical/shock kit cost used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 45 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Parts allowance (plugs, gizzmos) ($)
- The parts allowance (plugs, gizzmos) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 20 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Target margin (%)
- The target margin used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 40 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 5–80 %.
Results
- Job price
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total job cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Labor cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Profit
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why are opening and closing priced separately from weekly service?
They require different skills and time investment than routine maintenance: closing involves draining lines, adding antifreeze, installing a winter cover, and often blowing out plumbing to prevent freeze damage; opening reverses all of that plus a shock treatment to clear winter growth. Both are riskier jobs (freeze damage liability, cover installation) that justify separate, higher per-visit pricing than a standard weekly stop.
What typically drives cost overruns on these jobs?
Winter damage discovered at opening (cracked returns, a torn liner, a dead pump from a freeze) is the most common overrun, along with older covers that are difficult to remove and clean, and gizzmos/plugs that seize and need replacement. Building a parts allowance into the base price, with a clear policy for charging extra when major damage is found, avoids absorbing surprise costs.
How does regional climate change pricing?
In colder climates with hard winterization requirements (blowing lines, adding antifreeze, mandatory below-frost-line plugs), closing jobs run longer and higher-risk than in milder climates where pools may only need partial winterization or none at all. Adjust labor hours and parts allowance based on your actual regional winterization requirements.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Pool Opening and Closing Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-opening-closing-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-opening-closing-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pool Opening and Closing Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Pool Opening and Closing Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-opening-closing-cost) (2026).