Electricity use guide
How much does a pool pump cost to run?
Using a planning draw of 1,400 watts for 6 hours a day, this example uses 8.40 kWh daily. At the June 2026 monthly average U.S. residential rate of $0.1834 per kWh, that is about $1.54 per day or $562.30 per year.
- Daily electricity
- 8.40 kWh
- Monthly cost
- $46.86
- Annual electricity
- 3066.0 kWh
- Annual cost
- $562.30
Calculation for this example
1,400 W ÷ 1,000 × 6 hr/day × 365 days × $0.1834/kWh = $562.30/yearElectricity use in kilowatt-hours equals watts divided by 1,000, multiplied by runtime. Cost equals that energy use multiplied by the price per kWh.
What changes the actual cost?
- Timers, speed settings, standby draw, and seasonal schedules can materially change annual electricity use.
- Use suitable monitoring to measure changing power levels. Ordinary plug-in meters are not suitable for hardwired or high-voltage equipment.
The example is a labeled planning estimate, not a specification for every model. Its national average rate includes fixed-charge and tax revenue; no separate fees are added. It is not the exact additional charge for using this appliance on your tariff.
Hourly, daily, and annual running costs
These fixed examples use residential electricity prices from the June 2026 monthly average, not your selected calculator rate. All longer periods assume the example schedule every day; seasonal equipment will differ. Values below one cent display as <$0.01.
| Period | Energy kWh | Cost $0.1834/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| One hour at stated power | 1.400 | $0.26 |
| Day at example schedule | 8.400 | $1.54 |
| Week (7 days) | 58.800 | $10.78 |
| Average month (365 ÷ 12 days) | 255.500 | $46.86 |
| Year (365 days) | 3066.000 | $562.30 |
Compare state-average rates Virginia, Washington, California, and Hawaii
Scroll sideways to compare all rates. With the table focused, use Left and Right arrow keys.
| Period | Energy kWh | U.S. average $0.1834/kWh | Virginia $0.1722/kWh | Washington $0.1491/kWh | California $0.3474/kWh | Hawaii $0.5272/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One hour at stated power | 1.400 | $0.26 | $0.24 | $0.21 | $0.49 | $0.74 |
| Day at example schedule | 8.400 | $1.54 | $1.45 | $1.25 | $2.92 | $4.43 |
| Week (7 days) | 58.800 | $10.78 | $10.13 | $8.77 | $20.43 | $31.00 |
| Average month (365 ÷ 12 days) | 255.500 | $46.86 | $44.00 | $38.10 | $88.76 | $134.70 |
| Year (365 days) | 3066.000 | $562.30 | $527.97 | $457.14 | $1065.13 | $1616.40 |
Source: U.S. EIA residential electricity prices. These averages include fixed-charge and tax revenue, so they are not your utility’s marginal price for an additional kWh.
Speed and schedule both matter
ENERGY STAR identifies variable-speed pool pumps as a way to match operation to pool needs. This guide’s fixed-watt example cannot describe every programmed speed or cleaning cycle. Use the actual electrical input and time spent at each setting.
ENERGY STAR: pool pumps supports the operating guidance; the wattages and schedules here are illustrative inputs, not measurements supplied by that source.
A worked example you can adapt
For an illustrative two-speed schedule, 400 watts for six hours plus 1,200 watts for one hour uses 3.6 kWh. At $0.20/kWh that is $0.72 per operating day. Add each setting’s kWh before multiplying by the rate; a simple average of the two wattages would be misleading.
Ways to make your estimate more useful
- Record each programmed speed and its duration.
- Budget operating days for the actual pool season.
- Follow pool equipment and water-treatment requirements when setting a schedule; a cost estimate does not establish safe filtration time.
A common question
Does the motor horsepower tell me the electricity cost?
Not by itself. Input power depends on the equipment and operation. Use measured watts, manufacturer electrical data at the selected speed, or accumulated kWh, together with your rate.
Get a result for your appliance
Enter the wattage from your appliance label, your typical schedule, and the electricity rate from your bill. The calculator shows daily and annual energy, cost, source details, and the arithmetic used.
Calculate your pool pump cost