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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump? $0.17/Hr, $40.80/Mo

Running a pool pump at 1,000 watts for 8 hours a day costs about $1.36 a day and $40.80 a month at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢) — roughly $204 a year.

1,000 W (750–2,500 W)Typical power draw
8 h/day, 30 days/monthAssumed use
8.00 kWhEnergy per day

· Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data) · next EIA update ~Oct 23

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a pool pump: energy cost only (1,000 W ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate); fixed fees and taxes extra.
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## How much does it cost to run a pool pump?

The same a pool pump at 8 hours a day costs $28.80 a month at 12¢ and $108.00 at 45¢ — usage held constant, only the rate moving:

Table 1: How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump? $0.17/Hr, $40.80/Mo
Electricity rate Per hour Per day Per month in season Per year
12¢/kWh $0.120 $0.96 $28.80 $144
15¢/kWh $0.150 $1.20 $36.00 $180
17¢/kWh (US avg) $0.170 $1.36 $40.80 $204
20¢/kWh $0.200 $1.60 $48.00 $240
25¢/kWh $0.250 $2.00 $60.00 $300
30¢/kWh $0.300 $2.40 $72.00 $360
35¢/kWh $0.350 $2.80 $84.00 $420
45¢/kWh $0.450 $3.60 $108.00 $540
Typical power draw
1,000 W (750–2,500 W)
Assumed use
8 h/day, 30 days/month
Energy per day
8.00 kWh
Cost per day
$1.36
Cost per month
$40.80
Cost per year
$204

Why this number

Running a pool pump at 1,000 watts for 8 hours a day costs about $1.36 a day and $40.80 a month at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢) — roughly $204 a year. The formula for a pool pump: 1,000 W ÷ 1,000 × hours × your rate per kWh. For a pool pump your own rate changes the answer: at 12¢/kWh that month costs $28.80, at 45¢/kWh it costs $108.00.

A pool pump rated at 1,000 watts, run 8 hours a day, costs about $1.36 a day — about $40.80 a month, or $204 a year — at the US average electricity rate of 17¢/kWh. That places it 12th of the 40 appliances tracked here — mid-table, but high enough that it is worth being deliberate about how much you use it.

What actually drives this number

Pool pumps are the classic silent budget-killer: modest wattage, very long hours, all season. Halving run-time rarely hurts water quality in a well-maintained pool, and variable-speed pumps cut draw sharply because power rises steeply with flow rate. Costed here over a five-month season.

For a pool pump the unit that matters is the kilowatt-hour, not the kilowatt : 1,000 W is only the rate of use, and 8 hours a day is what turns it into the 1,200 kWh a year you are actually billed for. On that yearly measure its nearest always-on neighbor is the dehumidifier at about 720 kWh.

Where this number comes from

Putting Pool pump in proportion

At 17¢/kWh, a pool pump next to the rest of the bill:

For a pool pump: this is an always-on load, and that is the whole story. Pool pump’s wattage is unremarkable; the 24-hour duty cycle is what puts a pool pump where it is. Reducing run-hours is usually impossible for a pool pump, which makes efficiency at purchase time the only real decision. On this site’s own numbers, a pool pump lands at #12 of 40 on the monthly-cost ranking, at about $40.80 for a typical month.

The formula, in full

The 1,000 W arithmetic for a pool pump, step by step:

  1. Watts to kilowatts. 1,000 W ÷ 1,000 = 1.00 kW.
  2. Energy per day. 1.00 kW × 8 hours = 8.00 kWh.
  3. Cost per day. 8.00 kWh × $0.17 = $1.36.
  4. Cost per month. $1.36 × 30 days = $40.80.

For a pool pump the two levers are run-hours (8 h/day here) and your rate; at 8 hours a day, 1,000 W adds up — which is why always-on loads dominate the rankings.

Other always-on loads: Dehumidifier ($122/yr), Refrigerator ($67/yr), Air purifier ($67/yr). Closest on annual cost: Gaming PC ($199/yr), Space heater ($191/yr). Across all other always-on loads here, the cheapest is Water softener at $0.37/mo.

The a pool pump table above runs a fixed rate ladder (12–45¢); the state quick-fill uses July 2026 averages from EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A .

Put a pool pump ($40.80 a month) against everything else in the electricity cost calculator , check your state’s rate , or browse all 40 appliances ; year-round high bills: solar savings calculator .

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a pool pump per hour?

About $0.170 an hour for a pool pump at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢), for a 1,000 W unit. The calculation is 1,000 ÷ 1,000 × 1 hour × $0.17 per kWh. At 30¢/kWh the same hour costs $0.300.

How much does a pool pump add to my monthly bill?

Roughly $40.80 a month for a pool pump at 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, 17¢/kWh. That is about $204 a year across a 5-month season. For a pool pump, change the 8-hour default to your own use — run-time moves the total as much as the 1,000 W does.

How many watts does a pool pump use?

Typically around 1,000 W, with real units ranging from about 750 to 2,500 W depending on size, model and setting. The nameplate on your own unit is the figure to trust — these are typical values for planning, not a measurement of your appliance.

Why is my actual bill higher than the a pool pump figure?

$40.80 a month is the energy cost of a pool pump alone; your bill adds fixed connection charges, delivery fees, taxes and every other load. Add the other appliances in the index to a pool pump for the controllable part of the bill.

How we calculated this

Worked for a pool pump: 1,000 W ÷ 1,000 × 8 h × $0.17 = $1.36 a day; × 30 days = $40.80 a month; × 5 months in use = $204 a year. 1,000 W and 8 h are the typical figures cited for a pool pump; 17¢ is EIA’s 2025 annual US average.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) electricity rates · DSIRE incentive records · public IRS/OBBBA guidance. Figures are modeled estimates, not quotes or tax advice. See our methodology.

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