What green pool cleanups typically cost
Published ranges put light-to-moderate green pools around $350–$800 and black or swamp pools at $800–$1,500+, with chemicals and multiple visits included (PoolDial, a software vendor's estimate). Your market, the pool's size and its CYA level move this a lot. A 40,000-gallon pool at CYA 90 needs far more chlorine than a 12,000-gallon pool at CYA 30.
Price by severity, not one flat rate
Most pros use three levels and quote a range for each:
| Level | What you see | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Hazy / light green | Cloudy or tinted, floor visible | One shock, 1–2 follow-up visits |
| 2: Green | Solid green, floor not visible in the deep end | Holding shock level for days, several filter cleans |
| 3: Black / swamp | Debris, odor, sometimes wildlife | Debris removal, many visits, possible drain-and-refill |
Quote worksheet
Print it, fill it in at the pool, and you'll never quote a green pool from a photo again.
| Level | What you see | Your price range |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Hazy / light green | Cloudy or tinted, floor visible | $______ – $______ |
| 2: Green | Solid green, can't see the floor in the deep end | $______ – $______ |
| 3: Dark green / black | Swamp: debris, odor, possibly wildlife | $______ – $______ |
| Chlorine to reach shock level (shock calculator) + 30% for losses | $ |
| Other chemicals (acid, clarifier/floc, algaecide, phosphate remover) | $ |
| Visits × labor (estimate ____ visits × $____) | $ |
| Filter cleanings / media replacement | $ |
| Debris removal / disposal | $ |
| Your cost | $ |
| Quote (cost ÷ (1 − target margin)) | $ |
Rules that protect your margin
Test CYA before you quote
CYA decides how much chlorine a cleanup takes. At high CYA, a partial drain is often cheaper than the chlorine. The shock calculator gives the shock level and dose for any CYA.
Don't quote a flat price sight unseen
Quote a range ("$450–$650 depending on how fast it responds") or a first-treatment fee plus per-visit pricing. A flat price from a photo is how a $500 job turns into eight unpaid trips.
Collect half up front
Green pools often come from foreclosures, rentals and neglected homes, where collecting later can be hard. 50% before you start covers your chemicals.
Spell out what's excluded
Equipment repairs, filter replacement, and drain-and-refill should be extra. The worksheet's terms section covers it.
Turn it into a weekly customer
Someone who just paid to clear a green pool is the easiest weekly-service sale you'll ever make. Offer the first month at your normal rate when you hand back a clear pool.