💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Pool Heater (Heat Pump) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a pool heater (heat pump) costs about $114 per month at typical usage — 4 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.94
at 4,000–11,000 W
Per day
$3.76
4 hours/day
Per month
$114
608 kWh
Per year
$1,372
7,300 kWh
Heat pump pool heaters draw 4–11 kW while running, and extending a swim season can add more to a bill than every indoor appliance combined. A solar cover that holds overnight heat is the difference between occasional top-ups and daily multi-hour runs.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.94
Per day
$3.76
Per month
$114
Per year
$1,372
Uses 608 kWh/month at 18.8¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | $0.62 | $75.39 | $905 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.64 | $77.22 | $927 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.67 | $80.86 | $971 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.67 | $80.86 | $971 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.67 | $80.86 | $971 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.70 | $84.51 | $1,015 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.70 | $84.51 | $1,015 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.70 | $85.12 | $1,022 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.71 | $86.34 | $1,037 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.72 | $86.94 | $1,044 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.72 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.72 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.72 | $88.16 | $1,059 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.73 | $89.38 | $1,073 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.74 | $90.59 | $1,088 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.75 | $91.20 | $1,095 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.76 | $92.42 | $1,110 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.77 | $93.63 | $1,124 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.77 | $93.63 | $1,124 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.78 | $94.24 | $1,132 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.79 | $96.06 | $1,153 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.79 | $96.06 | $1,153 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.81 | $97.89 | $1,175 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.82 | $99.10 | $1,190 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.82 | $99.71 | $1,197 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.83 | $100 | $1,205 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.84 | $102 | $1,226 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.85 | $103 | $1,241 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.86 | $104 | $1,248 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.87 | $106 | $1,270 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.87 | $106 | $1,270 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.90 | $109 | $1,307 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.94 | $114 | $1,372 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.96 | $117 | $1,402 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.98 | $119 | $1,424 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $1.02 | $125 | $1,497 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $1.07 | $130 | $1,562 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $1.07 | $131 | $1,570 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $1.10 | $134 | $1,613 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $1.17 | $143 | $1,716 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $1.23 | $150 | $1,796 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $1.27 | $154 | $1,854 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $1.36 | $165 | $1,986 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $1.37 | $167 | $2,000 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $1.42 | $172 | $2,066 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $1.42 | $173 | $2,073 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $1.47 | $179 | $2,154 |
| New York | 29.5 | $1.47 | $179 | $2,154 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $1.61 | $196 | $2,351 |
| California | 35.3 | $1.76 | $215 | $2,577 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $2.33 | $283 | $3,402 |
How to lower the cost
- Set water heaters to 120°F and fix dripping hot taps quickly — a drip is a slow leak of paid heat.
- Shorter showers and low-flow heads cut costs directly; hot water is usually a top-three energy use.
- Timers and covers transform pool, spa, and tank costs — stored heat and off-hours running are much cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a pool heater (heat pump) use?
A typical pool heater (heat pump) draws about 5,000 watts in use. At 4 hours/day, that works out to roughly 20 kWh per day, or 608 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a pool heater (heat pump) for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.94. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.62, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $2.33.
How much does a pool heater (heat pump) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 hours/day), expect about $114 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $75.39 in North Dakota up to $283 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a pool heater (heat pump) use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 69% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.