Pool pump cost calculator
How Much Does a Pool Pump Cost to Run?
Estimate pool pump electricity cost per day, month, and year using pump power, run time, and your electricity price.
Cost estimate
Calculate your electricity cost
Estimated energy use0 kWh/day
Estimated monthly energy0 kWh/month
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used × electricity price.
Example
How the starting estimate works
At 1,500 watts for 8 hours per day, the starting example uses 12 kWh per day. Your pump label or controller can provide a better power figure.
Real-world use
Variable-speed pumps can change the answer a lot.
Pump power can vary substantially by speed setting and plumbing conditions. If your controller reports watts, use that actual value for the speed you normally run.
Runtime adds up quickly
A pool pump can be a meaningful load because it runs for many hours.
Even when a pump's wattage is lower than an oven or dryer, daily filtration schedules can accumulate substantial monthly kWh. The important inputs are the pump's actual electrical draw and the number of hours it operates at each speed.
Variable-speed pumps
One wattage may not describe the whole day.
Variable-speed pumps can operate at very different power levels for skimming, filtration, heating, water features, or cleaning. Lower-speed operation can reduce power substantially, so estimating every hour at maximum speed can overstate cost.
For a better estimate, calculate high-speed and low-speed periods separately and add the kWh together.
Filtration needs are site-specific
More runtime is not automatically better.
Pool volume, turnover goals, sanitizer system, debris load, season, water features, and local maintenance practices all influence an appropriate schedule. This calculator prices a schedule you choose; it does not prescribe how long your pump should run.
Use your own utility rate whenever possible, especially if you have time-of-use pricing.