💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Pool Heater (Heat Pump) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a pool heater (heat pump) costs about $111 per month at typical usage — 4 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.92
at 4,000–11,000 W
Per day
$3.66
4 hours/day
Per month
$111
608 kWh
Per year
$1,336
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
$0.92
Per day
$3.66
Per month
$111
Per year
$1,336
Uses 608 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.64 | $77.22 | $927 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.64 | $77.82 | $934 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.66 | $79.65 | $956 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.67 | $81.47 | $978 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.68 | $83.30 | $1,000 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.68 | $83.30 | $1,000 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.69 | $83.90 | $1,007 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.69 | $83.90 | $1,007 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.72 | $86.94 | $1,044 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.72 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.72 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.72 | $88.16 | $1,059 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.73 | $89.38 | $1,073 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.75 | $91.20 | $1,095 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.75 | $91.20 | $1,095 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.76 | $92.42 | $1,110 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.77 | $93.02 | $1,117 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.77 | $93.63 | $1,124 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.77 | $93.63 | $1,124 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.78 | $94.24 | $1,132 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.79 | $96.06 | $1,153 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.80 | $96.67 | $1,161 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.80 | $97.28 | $1,168 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.80 | $97.28 | $1,168 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.81 | $97.89 | $1,175 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.81 | $97.89 | $1,175 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.82 | $99.10 | $1,190 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.82 | $99.71 | $1,197 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.83 | $102 | $1,219 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.85 | $103 | $1,241 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.88 | $106 | $1,278 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.88 | $107 | $1,285 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.93 | $112 | $1,351 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.96 | $116 | $1,394 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.96 | $117 | $1,402 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.98 | $119 | $1,424 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $1.07 | $130 | $1,562 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $1.08 | $132 | $1,584 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $1.16 | $140 | $1,686 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $1.19 | $145 | $1,737 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $1.21 | $147 | $1,767 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $1.26 | $153 | $1,840 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $1.26 | $153 | $1,840 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $1.33 | $162 | $1,942 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $1.42 | $172 | $2,066 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $1.44 | $175 | $2,102 |
| New York | 29.9 | $1.49 | $182 | $2,183 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $1.52 | $185 | $2,227 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $1.62 | $197 | $2,365 |
| California | 33.6 | $1.68 | $204 | $2,453 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $2.40 | $292 | $3,504 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.92. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.64, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $2.40.
How much does a pool heater (heat pump) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 hours/day), expect about $111 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $77.22 in Louisiana up to $292 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.