How much does it cost to run a pool pump?
A pool pump drawing 1,500 watts, used 6 hours a day, uses about 9.00 kWh per day and costs about $1.75 per day, $53.18 per month, and $637.62 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
Pool pumps are among the largest discretionary electricity users in homes that have them. A single-speed pump draws roughly 1,500 watts whenever it runs; a variable-speed pump can do the same filtration job at a fraction of the power by running slower for longer, which is why many jurisdictions now require them.
Cost at different daily usage
Same pool pump at 1,500 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 h/day | 4.50 kWh | $0.87 | $26.59 | $318.81 |
| 6 h/day | 9.00 kWh | $1.75 | $53.18 | $637.62 |
| 9 h/day | 13.50 kWh | $2.62 | $79.76 | $956.43 |
| 12 h/day | 18.00 kWh | $3.49 | $106.35 | $1,275.24 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 6 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 750 W | 4.50 kWh | $0.87 | $26.59 |
| Typical | 1,500 W | 9.00 kWh | $1.75 | $53.18 |
| High-draw model | 2,500 W | 15.00 kWh | $2.91 | $88.63 |
Cost by state
A pool pump at 1,500 W for 6 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $1.51 | $45.94 | $550.89 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $2.54 | $77.34 | $927.36 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $1.37 | $41.72 | $500.31 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $1.29 | $39.34 | $471.73 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $2.99 | $91.09 | $1,092.26 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $1.45 | $44.27 | $530.86 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $2.46 | $74.98 | $899.10 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $1.74 | $53.09 | $636.63 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $2.29 | $69.59 | $834.39 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $1.37 | $41.56 | $498.33 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $1.43 | $43.40 | $520.34 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $4.68 | $142.46 | $1,708.20 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $1.11 | $33.83 | $405.70 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $2.15 | $65.34 | $783.47 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $1.63 | $49.72 | $596.23 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.27 | $38.74 | $464.50 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $1.36 | $41.45 | $497.02 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $1.35 | $41.04 | $492.09 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $1.27 | $38.77 | $464.83 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $2.58 | $78.43 | $940.50 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $1.96 | $59.64 | $715.14 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $2.59 | $78.96 | $946.74 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $1.98 | $60.30 | $723.03 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $1.53 | $46.44 | $556.81 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $1.45 | $44.27 | $530.86 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $1.23 | $37.48 | $449.39 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $1.32 | $40.19 | $481.91 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $1.22 | $37.23 | $446.43 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $1.22 | $37.26 | $446.76 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $2.46 | $74.87 | $897.79 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $2.09 | $63.75 | $764.42 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $1.27 | $38.68 | $463.84 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $2.69 | $82.00 | $983.20 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $1.36 | $41.34 | $495.71 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $1.22 | $37.29 | $447.09 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $1.76 | $53.48 | $641.23 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $1.20 | $36.66 | $439.53 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $1.46 | $44.57 | $534.47 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $1.94 | $59.04 | $707.92 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $2.65 | $80.71 | $967.76 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $1.46 | $44.33 | $531.51 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $1.42 | $43.09 | $516.73 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $1.30 | $39.64 | $475.34 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $1.48 | $45.04 | $540.05 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $1.17 | $35.51 | $425.74 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $2.24 | $68.19 | $817.64 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $1.58 | $48.24 | $578.49 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $1.35 | $40.96 | $491.11 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $1.51 | $46.03 | $551.88 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $1.78 | $54.08 | $648.46 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $1.33 | $40.55 | $486.18 |
How to cut the cost
- Cut runtime — many pools are over-filtered. Reduce by an hour and watch water clarity before cutting more.
- Switch to a variable-speed pump if you still have a single-speed; the energy difference is large.
- Clean skimmer and pump baskets regularly so the pump isn't fighting restriction.
- Run during off-peak hours if your utility has time-of-use rates.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
Enough to turn over the water volume roughly once daily — often six to eight hours for a residential pool, less in cool weather. Many pools run longer than necessary out of habit.
How do you calculate what a pool pump costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a pool pump: 1,500 W × 6 h ÷ 1,000 = 9.00 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $1.75 per day.
How many watts does a pool pump use?
Typically 1,500 watts, with most models falling between 750 and 2,500 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.