How much does it cost to run a sump pump?
A sump pump averages about 800 watts over a full day as it cycles on and off. That works out to about 0.80 kWh per day, costing about $0.16 per day, $4.73 per month, and $56.68 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage 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
A sump pump only draws power when the pit fills, so its cost is driven almost entirely by groundwater and rainfall rather than by anything you control. In a dry month it may cost nothing; during a wet spring it can cycle every few minutes. Backup pumps and battery chargers add a small continuous draw on top.
Cost at different daily usage
Same sump pump at 800 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 min/day | 0.40 kWh | $0.08 | $2.36 | $28.34 |
| 1 h/day | 0.80 kWh | $0.16 | $4.73 | $56.68 |
| 2 h/day | 1.60 kWh | $0.31 | $9.45 | $113.35 |
| 4 h/day | 3.20 kWh | $0.62 | $18.91 | $226.71 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 1 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 400 W | 0.40 kWh | $0.08 | $2.36 |
| Typical | 800 W | 0.80 kWh | $0.16 | $4.73 |
| High-draw model | 1,500 W | 1.50 kWh | $0.29 | $8.86 |
Cost by state
A sump pump at 800 W for 1 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.13 | $4.08 | $48.97 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.23 | $6.87 | $82.43 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.71 | $44.47 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.11 | $3.50 | $41.93 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.10 | $97.09 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.19 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.22 | $6.67 | $79.92 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.16 | $4.72 | $56.59 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.20 | $6.19 | $74.17 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.69 | $44.30 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.13 | $3.86 | $46.25 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.42 | $12.66 | $151.84 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.10 | $3.01 | $36.06 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.19 | $5.81 | $69.64 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.15 | $4.42 | $53.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.44 | $41.29 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.12 | $3.68 | $44.18 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.12 | $3.65 | $43.74 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.32 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.23 | $6.97 | $83.60 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.17 | $5.30 | $63.57 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.23 | $7.02 | $84.15 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.18 | $5.36 | $64.27 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.14 | $4.13 | $49.49 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.19 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.11 | $3.33 | $39.95 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.12 | $3.57 | $42.84 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.68 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.71 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.22 | $6.66 | $79.80 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.19 | $5.67 | $67.95 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.44 | $41.23 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.24 | $7.29 | $87.40 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.12 | $3.67 | $44.06 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.74 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.16 | $4.75 | $57.00 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.11 | $3.26 | $39.07 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.13 | $3.96 | $47.51 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.17 | $5.25 | $62.93 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.24 | $7.17 | $86.02 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.25 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.13 | $3.83 | $45.93 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.12 | $3.52 | $42.25 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.13 | $4.00 | $48.00 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.10 | $3.16 | $37.84 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.20 | $6.06 | $72.68 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.14 | $4.29 | $51.42 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.12 | $3.64 | $43.65 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.13 | $4.09 | $49.06 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.16 | $4.81 | $57.64 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.22 |
How to cut the cost
- Address the water source — grading, downspout extensions, and gutter repair reduce pump cycles far more than any electrical change.
- Check the check valve; a failed one lets water fall back into the pit and makes the pump re-pump the same water.
- Make sure the float switch isn't hanging up, which causes needless cycling.
- Test the pump before the wet season rather than discovering a problem during it.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Do sump pumps use a lot of electricity?
Not usually. Even in a wet month, total run time is measured in hours, so the cost is modest. Continuous cycling is a sign of a mechanical problem, not normal operation.
How do you calculate what a sump 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 sump pump: 800 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.80 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.16 per day.
How many watts does a sump pump use?
Typically 800 watts, with most models falling between 400 and 1,500 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.