How Much Do Koi Fish Cost? (2024)

If you’re interested in becoming the proud owner of your very own koi fish pond, you should know that the overall costs associated are a prime consideration to make. Put simply, there are various prices that come with owning your own koi fish pond. While you may be wondering how much the koi fish themselves cost, you should also bear in mind the costs associated with building your koi pond. Once you have a better idea of the average prices you should expect to come with owning your own stunning koi fish pond, you’ll be able to make the right choices for your individual needs.

Today, Koi Fish USA will be walking you through all of the components that make up the cost of owning your own koi fish. As koi ownership becomes increasingly popular, more people are wondering whether they can afford to purchase the equipment required, raise their koi fish, and maintain a reasonable level of upkeep. That’s why we’re doing all of the math for you to help you answer the question, “how much do koi fish cost” once and for all. Let’s get started!

The Koi Fish

The first thing you should know before purchasing your own koi fish is that they are long-living fish which require a lot of maintenance. Unlike a goldfish that you might pick up at your local pet store on a whim, koi fish require a lot from you physically, mentally, and financially. That being said, don’t let this deter you from pursuing your dreams of becoming a koi fish owner.

As any serious koi pond owner will tell you, there are many benefits of owning koi fish. Koi ponds are often created and designed to bring a relaxing and peaceful energy to homes. In fact, koi fish owners have reported relaxation, stress relief, and higher property value to be just a few of the major benefits of owning a koi pond. These benefits can be yours when purchasing koi fish and building your own koi pond!

So, how much should you expect to pay for koi fish? Put simply, the koi fish itself varies in price. While the average cost of most koi fish is around $100, these prices can be a lot higher (even reaching as much as many thousands of dollars). There are various prices impacting the price of koi fish including:

  • The genetic lineage of the fish (fish originating from a highly valued genetic line are more expensive)
  • The size of the koi fish (the larger the koi, the more expensive it is)
  • The fish’s color pattern
  • Where the fish comes from
  • Whether the fish are purchased in bulk or individually
  • The variety of koi

Here at Koi Fish USA, we offer the purchase of both individual koi fish and koi packs. While our individual koi fish generally range from $40 to $300, our koi packs allow you to fill your outdoor pond or aquarium with more than a single fish all at once. If you’re curious about the price range you can expect when purchasing from Koi Fish USA, you can shop our huge selection of individually priced koi fish here.

The Koi Fish Pond

Another thing to keep in mind when thinking about how much koi fish cost is the cost of the koi fish pond itself. After all, you need a good environment to host all of your beautiful koi fish! The average 6-foot by 8-foot koi pond costs $11,000 with prices ranging anywhere from $9,000 to $13,000. That being said, a smaller, more basic koi pond may cost only $500. At the same time, a custom koi pond equipped with many landscape and design features may cost $50,000 or more. There are various factors that impact the overall price of building your koi pond. When setting your budget for this project, you’ll want to consider the following:

  • Excavation prices: Between $1,500 and $5,000 on average.
  • The cost of regrading your lawn: $2,000 on average, although this price is sometimes included in excavation.
  • The cost of installing landscaping: $4 to $10 on average per square foot.
  • Plumber rates for rerouting or setting up lines to your koi pond: Can range between $45 and $200 per hour.

The Cost of Koi Fish Pond Installation

If you’re looking to save money on the cost of your koi fish pond’s installation, you may find a prefab koi fish pond to be a better option. These cost anywhere between $450 and $3,000. If you go with this option, however, it’s best to keep in mind that prefab koi fish ponds don’t offer as much opportunity in terms of customizing the design. Prefab companies typically include installation in the price but you’ll still have to pay for the koi fish separately.

The Cost of Equipment and Upkeep

Finally, when asking yourself how much koi fish cost, you’ll need to keep the cost of equipment and upkeep in mind. On average, you should expect to spend $3,150 per year on koi fish pond maintenance. That being said, small ponds that are less intricate will cost slightly less to maintain. The costs involved include basic annual maintenance, water filter cleaning, a winter check-up and the replacing of parts. When it comes to cleaning, you may pay only $990 but rates will vary by area. It’s best to call a pond cleaning service near you for an exact quote.

Besides the pond itself, there is a lot of equipment you’ll need to buy to maintain your pond. A koi fish pond will require a filter, heater, UV sterilizer, multiple pumps, and various other items. These items all cost between $300 and $500 with a high-quality filter costing over $1,000 in most cases. Considering the fact that koi fish can produce a lot of waste and you’ll want to keep them in the best health possible, you’ll want to invest in a quality filter. Feeding your koi fish is, luckily, relatively inexpensive and costs around $5 per month. Miscellaneous items such as water testing kits cost roughly $50 per month.

Budget-Friendly Koi Fish for the Koi Fish Pond of Your Dreams

Now that you know the costs associated with being a proud koi pond owner, you’re probably wondering where to find the best koi fish. At Koi Fish USA, we understand that buying a new koi fish for a pond is the highlight for any koi fish hobbyist. Still, with all of the costs associated with a koi fish pond, we know that remaining within your budget is important. That’s why we offer budget-friendly koi fish for your supply.

Our koi fish are the safest, healthiest, and best quality fish that you’ll find. We specialize in koi and butterfly koi, with our experts safely delivering them directly to you no matter where you are in the United States. Shop our selection today to find the best koi fish for your new pond. When you shop smart, you can find high-quality koi fish at reasonable rates. That’s our passion here at Koi Fish USA!

How Much Do Koi Fish Cost? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Do Koi Fish Cost? ›

Koi fish can cost anywhere from $10 to $20,000. It depends on their size, shape, and coloring.

Why are koi so expensive? ›

Koi Are Valued For Their Rarity And Breeding

From the estimated fifty thousand koi which are born annually, only about fifty of them will be exceptional enough to be considered show quality, and in order to meet this criteria they must be perfect.

What is the total cost of a koi pond? ›

The typical koi pond cost ranges between $5,100 to $15,875, but the price changes with size and add-ons. You can buy a small prefab koi pond with a basic filtration system for as low as $500. For large custom-made koi ponds with extensive landscaping, waterfalls, jets, and aquatic plants, costs can reach $80,000.

Is 1000 gallons enough for koi? ›

As a rule of thumb, stick to 1 koi for every 250 gallons of water as this is the volume it would need to reach its mature size and not feel cramped.

What color koi is most expensive? ›

It takes about three years for a breeder in Japan to raise a koi to selling size, which increases their price. The Nishikigoi industry, which includes the sale of Koi fish, boasts annual revenues of over $200 million in Japan. The most prized colors for Koi fish in the market are white and red.

Can koi live in 2 feet of water? ›

A serious koi pond should be at least 3 feet deep and no areas should be shallower than 2 feet.

What is the prettiest koi fish? ›

Taisho Sanke koi are widely considered to be some of the most beautiful fish in the world, and they are highly prized by collectors. In addition to their beauty, Taisho Sanke koi are also known for their calm nature and their ability to adapt to a variety of environments.

What is the rarest koi fish? ›

Ki Utsuri. Ki Utsuri, by far the rarest type of Utsuri, combine patterns of yellow over a lacquerish black body. Ki Utsuri are judged by the same criteria as Shiro and Hi Utsuri. Variations of Ki Utsuri include Gin Rin Ki Utsuri and Kin Ki Utsuri.

Are male or female koi more expensive? ›

Females are more expensive when it comes to highly-valued Japanese koi. They're usually longer and have rounder fins. You can also use them for breeding, which makes them cash fish.

Can koi live in a 500 gallon pond? ›

If you have one fish that is 6 inches long, you would need 60 gallons of water to survive. This can be done by estimating the size of your fish and then adding a 500 gallons extra to be safe. Now this is minimum. Some Koi fanatics will tell you it needs to be 30 gallons for every inch in length.

What is the lifespan of a koi fish? ›

Koi have an average lifespan of 40 years. It is believed that the oldest-known koi lived to be nearly 230 years old; the age was determined by testing the fish's scales, which produce growth rings much like a tree.

Are koi fish expensive to maintain? ›

How Much It Can Cost To Maintain A Koi Pond. The cost to maintain a koi pond ranges from $500 to about $1,500. As this is an average cost range you may pay more or less depending on your feature.

What is the smallest a koi pond can be? ›

Backyard koi pond sizes can range from 6 feet by 8 feet to 20 feet by 30 feet and larger. The size of the average pond can change from area to area but it's usually about 150 square feet. Ponds smaller than 6 by 8 feet aren't good homes for koi fish. Smaller backyard koi ponds are at least 6 feet by 8 feet.

How many koi can I keep? ›

If you are consulting with a high-end Koi keeper you will hear rules like one female Koi for every 1000- gallons of water in your pond or one male Koi for every 500 gallons of pond water. For those of you new to the hobby the female Koi gets much larger than the male fish and has much more body mass.

How fast do koi grow? ›

Due togenetic predispositions, most Koi will reach a size of 20 inches if cared for properly and in the right environment. Under the right conditions, the average Koi will be between 6 and 8 inches by the end of its first year, and by the time it is 3 years old it will have reached its full adult size.

Are koi fish hard to keep? ›

No, koi fish care is not hard, but has specific challenges. Keeping their water clean, balanced and aerated is the highest priority. They can survive through winters and are omnivores with plenty of food options. They are peaceful and hardy creatures.

Is A koi a good pet? ›

These fish live long, fruitful lives and make great pets. Did you know, koi can learn to recognize their pet parents? Keep reading to learn more about how to care for your koi fish and their habitat the right way, along with what fish supplies you'll need.

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