Pool Pump Running Cost Calculator
Work out what your pool pump costs to run, and check whether a more efficient pump would pay back its price.
Sample numbers only, to show how it works. Replace them with yours.
Enter the watts your pump draws (see the hint under the field).
This is an estimate, not a professional calculation. See the disclaimer and the methodology.
How it is calculated
Energy = pump watts ÷ 1,000 × hours a day × days in the season. Cost = energy × price per kWh. The cost per 30 days of running is the daily cost times 30.
Use the watts the pump draws, not its horsepower. The label of the motor lists volts and amps, and volts times amps gives volt-amps, which for a motor overstates the real watts, so a watt meter is the reliable way to measure. If you only have the label, treat the result as an upper estimate.
The price starts at the 2024 annual average residential price EIA reports for your state. Replace it with the rate on your bill. If your utility has a cheaper off-peak rate and you run the pump at night, enter that rate.
For the replacement pump, enter the watts it draws at the speed you would use and the hours it would run. A pump that runs at a lower speed uses less power but often needs more hours to move the same amount of water. The calculator uses the same number of days for both pumps.
If you enter the installed price of the new pump, the calculator divides it by the yearly saving in electricity. That payback ignores repairs, the life of the pump, rebates and any change in how clean the water stays.
Worked examples
A single pump for a season
A pump drawing 1,500 W that runs 8 hours a day for 150 days (assumed) uses 1,800 kWh. At the U.S. average of 16.5 cents per kWh (2024) it costs $1.98 a day, $59 per 30 days and $297 for the season.
Fewer hours on the timer
Cut the same pump to 6 hours a day and the season costs $222, $74 less. Check that the water still turns over enough for your pool before you shorten the schedule.
Would a slower pump pay for itself?
Say a replacement draws 400 W at the speed you would use, runs 10 hours a day and costs $1,200 installed (all assumed). It uses 600 kWh, $99 a season, saving $198. The $1,200 would be repaid in about 6.1 seasons.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a pool pump?
It depends on the watts the pump draws, the hours it runs and your price per kWh. A pump that draws more power or runs longer costs more. Enter yours to see the day, the month and the season.
How do I find the watts of my pool pump?
A plug-in watt meter or an energy monitor shows the real draw. The motor label lists volts and amps, which overstate the watts, and horsepower is not a measure of the electricity drawn.
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
It depends on the pool, the pump and the season, so we do not give a number. Look at what your pool installer or the pump maker recommends, and check the water stays clear.
Is a variable-speed pump cheaper to run?
A pump that can run at a lower speed uses less power while it runs. Whether it saves money depends on the hours and its price. Use the replacement fields to compare your numbers.
Does the calculator include pool heating?
No. It covers the pump only. A pool heater, a booster pump, lights and a cleaner use extra energy.
Related calculators
Sources and last update
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024 Average Monthly Bill, Residential (average price by state)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, copyrights and reuse
Last updated: November 3, 2026. See methodology and sources.