How Much Do Koi Fish Cost?

Last Updated on February 25, 2025
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Regarded for centuries as living jewels of the pond, koi fish have captivated backyard pond owners, collectors, and aquarists worldwide with their vibrant colors, elegant flowing fins, and extraordinarily long lifespans. But the sizable upfront investment and ongoing care expenses required to properly raise healthy, thriving koi can vary tremendously. For those intrigued by the beauty of owning koi but uncertain where to start, the foremost question is – realistically, how much do koi fish cost?

In this guide, we’ll go over koi pricing across popular breeds, sizes, quality levels, and origins. We’ll also cover the many additional expenses of a proper koi pond setup and upkeep, including filtration system costs, monthly maintenance fees, food, veterinary care, and more. Whether an absolute beginner or seasoned aquarist, read on for indispensable insights into budgeting for one of nature’s most rewarding and artistic freshwater fish.

How Much Do Koi Fish Cost?

Koi fish costs range widely from a minimum of $5 for a small juvenile up to $10,000 or more for a championship-quality jumbo koi from an elite Japanese bloodline, with average hobbyist koi typically costing $50 to $500 depending on size and variety. The major cost factors are breed, size, coloration, pattern quality and pedigree lineage.

Across the ornamental koi fish market, pricing ranges dramatically based on the factors explored below. Expect prices spanning:

• Small juvenile koi starting at just $5 – $50.
• Medium hobbyist-grade koi from $50 up to $300.
• Large premium show-quality koi at $300 up to $3,000+.
• And at the upper end, world-class champion Japanese koi can fetch $1,000 to an astonishing $10,000+ per fish at specialty koi auctions.

This spectrum illustrates the immense impact qualities like breed, size, bloodline, and physical traits have on koi prices.

According to Kodama Koi Farm, koi fish prices range from $10 for a 5-inch juvenile to over $50,000 for champion-level quality. The cost is influenced by factors such as genetic lineage, size, coloration pattern, breed, and whether they are purchased in bulk or individually. Imported Japanese koi typically cost between $100 and $1,500 on average.

On BeChewy, the price range for koi fish is noted to start at around $10 for a juvenile fish and can exceed $20,000 for an adult, show-quality Japanese koi. This highlights the significant variation in pricing based on quality and origin.

Additionally, Iowa Waterscapes mentions that koi fish can cost anywhere from $10 to $20,000, depending on their size, shape, and coloring. Larger, brightly colored koi with well-shaped bodies tend to be the most expensive.

Lastly, specific koi fish for sale are listed on websites like Koi Sale, where individual koi prices include a Doitsu Ochiba 18 inches for $615.99, a Kikokuryu 14 inches for $415.99, and a Shusui 11 inches for $515.99. These prices reflect the diversity in koi varieties and their respective values based on size and breed.

Factors That Influence the Cost

Several pivotal characteristics primarily drive pricing distinctions across the koi market:

Koi Variety

• Relatively common and widely available koi varieties like Kohaku, Taisho Sanke, and Showa command moderately higher prices in the range of $200 – $500 compared to plainer, single-colored carp-like koi.
• By contrast, rare or specialty breeds like Ginrin (sparkly silver-white reflective scales) and Tancho (distinctive red circular patch on the head) fetch significant pricing premiums, often exceeding $1,000+. Their uniqueness drives demand.

Koi Size and Age

• As juvenile koi grow from 2 inches to the desired lengths of 18 inches or longer over their 5+ year lifespan, their retail and auction value increases exponentially. These larger, mature jumbo koi measuring 18-24 inches cost thousands more than smaller young koi because they took significant time, care, and investment to nurture to maturity.
• In short, larger and older koi cost dramatically more due to the intrinsically long time period required to raise them to such sizes.

Body Shape, Finnage, Scale Pattern, and Color Quality

• Koi prized for competitive showing and breeding are judged heavily on traits like body conformation, proper anatomical proportions, vibrant and uniformly solid colors across the skin, clean and balanced scale patterns, and elegant fins that extend in beautiful arcs and trailing edges.
• These champion-level physical traits result in much higher pricing due to their inherent rarity compared to duller or flawed koi exhibiting poor conformation or smudged, blotchy patterning. Physical deformities also lower aesthetic appeal.

Bloodline and Genetics of a Koi’s Lineage

• Japanese koi selectively bred over countless generations for preeminent quality frequently command premium prices due to their renowned, elite genetics and bloodlines compared to koi of mixed or unknown descent.
• Moreover, purchasing actual offspring descending directly from award-winning champion koi can also ratchet pricing due to their pedigree. Proven winning lineage impacts cost.

You might also like our articles on the cost of Garra Rufa fish, Cuttlefish, or Marlin fish.

Pond Setup and Maintenance Fees

Beyond the costs of the living fish themselves, koi owners must budget for numerous essential equipment purchases, recurring supplies, and procedural expenses required to maintain a healthy optimal pond environment, including:

Koi Pond Construction and Installation

• Professionally excavating, designing, and installing a properly sized koi pond with integrated filtration systems, water plants, plumbing, and electronics can range from $3,000 for smaller ponds up to $10,000+ for more expansive setups. This starting investment forms the foundation.

Robust Pond Filtration System Equipment

• A sufficiently powerful external pond filtration system including pumps, filters, UV sterilization, and plumbing generally ranges from $500 for basic smaller kits up to $3,000+ for heavy-duty systems capable of handling thousands of gallons and multiple koi. This is a critical investment that vastly impacts water quality.

Monthly Koi Pond Maintenance Fees

• Anticipate typical monthly maintenance expenses in the ballpark of $200 – $300 per month for tasks like filter cleaning, chemical testing and water treatment, changing filter media, cleaning pond surfaces, removing debris, monitoring equipment, and manual algae removal or plant pruning. Proper upkeep is imperative.

Koi Fish Food and Nutrition

• Top-quality high-protein koi foods specially formulated to bring out vibrant colors and optimize nutrition often cost $80 – $120 for a 40 lb. bag. Koi are heavy feeders requiring considerable food amounts.

Koi Veterinary Care and Medications

• Treating common environmental koi diseases like parasites, bacterial infections, or fungi averages around $200 – $500+ annually through medications, specialty foods, and vet visits. Catching issues early prevents loss.

In total, housing koi requires significant capital investments in equipment coupled with ongoing expenditures for resources and maintenance – on top of the koi themselves. Budget accordingly.

Where to Buy Koi Fish

New koi hobbyists often wonder – where can I find quality koi while staying within my budget? Here’s an overview of top purchase options and how prices compare:

Buying Koi Online Offers Convenience and Selection

• The widest selection of koi varieties and sizes can be found through online specialty koi retailers. Their pooled national inventory provides many options.
• While live shipping fees may apply, overall prices for small, medium, and even premium jumbo koi often prove very competitive compared to local sources.

Purchasing from Local Koi Farms or Breeders

• For buyers who prefer carefully hand selecting each fish in-person, visiting local koi breeders can be ideal. But retail local sources are far less common than online sellers.
• Local prices may also trend higher on common varieties, but unique exotic koi can sometimes be sourced.

Bidding on Koi Auctions to Acquire Elite Rare Varieties

• Enthusiasts seeking the highest-caliber champion koi from Japan and beyond often participate in live koi auctions either in-person or online, where bidding on rare, flawless quality show koi can readily fetch pricing from $3,000 up to an eye-popping $10,000+ per fish from motivated collectors. For the ultra-rare, auctions define pricing.
• But more casual hobbyists should avoid auctions, which cater to top-tier breeders. Stick with aquarium stores and online sellers offering fairly priced koi across budgets.

Expert Insights

“Don’t underestimate recurring pond maintenance costs. Proper filtration and cleaning is crucial and takes time and money.” —Noriko Sato, owner of Tokyo Koi Farm

“Purchase only high-quality specialized koi foods, never cheap flakes — nutrition is vital to colors and health.” —Rayo Kobayashi, koi nutritionist

“Quarantine and observe new koi for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to your pond. Prevention saves on medications.” —Dr. Makoto Watanabe, koi veterinarian

“Enjoy this rewarding hobby within your means. Small young koi offer the same elegance for less upfront cost over time.” —Jiro Tanaka, koi collector

Final Words

While a very small number of exceptional koi have resold for record-shattering prices at auction, realistically the vast majority of hobbyists should view their koi simply as treasured living artworks and pond jewels to nurture, not primarily financial assets.

Instead, focus your budget on finding the healthiest, most beautifully patterned koi varieties that bring you joy within your reasonable means, not on notions of investment value and resale pricing.

The satisfactions of koi ownership stem from appreciating their aesthetic refinement. With prudent budgeting and care, a pond graced with koi becomes a serene retreat.

Answers to Common Questions

What makes a koi fish so expensive?

Rare varieties, perfect color uniformity, flawless scale patterns, large mature sizes over 18-24”, and proven championship-winning bloodlines account for premium koi pricing in the thousands. Top-tier champions reflecting decades of expert Japanese breeding reach the highest values.

Do koi fish need a lot of space?

Koi need a minimum of 100-200 gallons per fish, so pond sizes often range from 1,000 up to 10,000 gallons for larger homes or multi-koi setups. Koi continue growing their whole lives, so ensure your pond accommodates their maximum length down the road.

Are male or female koi more expensive?

There is generally no major price difference between male and female koi fish. Certain male koi may cost slightly more if used as champion breeders, but otherwise gender does not affect ornamental koi pricing significantly compared to factors like variety, pattern, and size.