The number one question pond installers get is:

“How much does a pond cost?”

To help eliminate the guesswork, we have put together real starting price ranges for the most common water features we design and build throughout the Twin Cities – Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding Minnesota communities.

Every water feature we create is custom and built specifically for your property. The examples below give you an honest look at where pricing typically starts based on size, style, and scope. Site conditions, access, elevation changes, stone selection, and upgrades, which can all affect final pricing.

This article is designed to help you explore ecosystem ponds, pondless waterfalls, and fountainscapes in one place so you can compare options and understand what fits your space, goals, and budget before scheduling a consultation.

All prices shown are “starting at,” based on 2025 pricing, and are intended for planning purposes only. With inflation & other factors you can typically expect prices to rise each year.

Size and style
Larger or more complex features require more material, labor, and design time.

Site conditions and access
Steep hills, tight yards, long hauls, or difficult access can increase installation costs.

Stone selection and design detail
Premium stone, special shapes, and artistic placement add cost but dramatically elevate the finished look.

Equipment and upgrades
Pump type, filtration style, lighting, automation, and add-ons influence both installation cost and long-term performance.

Owning a water feature comes with a few small ongoing costs. The two most common operating costs are electricity and occasional water top-offs — along with beneficial bacteria and seasonal maintenance.

Pump electricity
A common example in our builds is the Aquascape SLD 4,000–7,000 GPH pump. Depending on usage settings and local energy rates, many Minnesota homeowners see electricity costs in roughly the $25–$40 per month range on a mid-sized feature using this pump.

Actual costs vary based on the number of pumps, pump size, run time, and utility rates — and we help size everything correctly during design so you’re not over-paying to run it.

Water usage
Water features lose water through normal evaporation and a small amount of splashing. On a pondless waterfall, a reasonable planning estimate is around 0.25%–0.5% of the pump’s total flow rate per day during peak summer conditions.

Because water in Minnesota is usually billed per thousand gallons, most homeowners find top-offs fall in the single-digit to low double-digit dollar range each month.

Beneficial bacteria and seasonal service
Most ponds benefit from adding beneficial bacteria regularly during the season. This is a relatively small cost, but it plays an important role in keeping water clear and healthy.

Many clients also schedule a spring start-up and fall shutdown, and some choose additional maintenance visits based on how hands-on they want to be. These services are optional — but convenient — and we offer different levels depending on your involvement and interest.

Overall, our systems are designed to be low-maintenance, and we dive much deeper into specific maintenance tips in other articles and resources on our site.

These are part of the “owning cost,” not just the build price — and we believe being transparent about that helps you plan confidently.

6 x 8 x 2 ft pond — Starting around $18,600

8 x 11 x 2.5 ft pond — Starting around $24,1000

11 x 16 x 2.5 ft pond — Starting at $42,100

16 x 21 x 3 ft pond — Starting at $57,000

21 x 26 x 3.5 ft pond — Starting at $82,700

Recreation ponds (4 ft deep with wetland filter, intake bay, and external pump) — Starting at $150,000

5–6 ft mini pondless waterfall — Starting at $9,600

10 ft pondless — Starting at $17,900

15 ft pondless — Starting at $24,700

20 ft pondless — Starting at $32,300

Custom pondless options — Request a quote

Stacked Slate Sphere (24”) — Starting at $7,400

Stacked Slate Urn (24”) — Starting at $7,100

Stacked Slate Wall (26” with topper) — Starting at $9,500

Spillway bowl set (32” bowl into 40” basin with stands) — Starting at $8,400

Custom fountainscapes — Request a quote

• LED lighting packages
• Dosing systems and water treatments
• Additional waterfalls or spillways
• Extra rock work and landscaping tie-ins
• Fish and aquatic plant packages
• Seasonal care and maintenance plans
• Landscaping and plantings

Whether you’re gathering ideas or ready to build, we’ll walk you through sizes, costs, and design choices so you feel confident moving forward.

Let’s Get Started

Contact us today to request a quote, schedule a consultation, or talk through ideas for your space.