💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Pool Heater (Heat Pump) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a pool heater (heat pump) costs about $112 per month at typical usage — 4 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.92
at 4,000–11,000 W
Per day
$3.68
4 hours/day
Per month
$112
608 kWh
Per year
$1,343
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
$3.68
Per month
$112
Per year
$1,343
Uses 608 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | $0.62 | $75.39 | $905 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.65 | $79.04 | $949 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.67 | $81.47 | $978 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.68 | $82.69 | $993 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.68 | $82.69 | $993 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.68 | $82.69 | $993 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.68 | $83.30 | $1,000 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.70 | $85.73 | $1,029 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.70 | $85.73 | $1,029 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.71 | $86.34 | $1,037 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.72 | $87.55 | $1,051 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.72 | $88.16 | $1,059 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.73 | $89.38 | $1,073 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.74 | $89.98 | $1,080 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.75 | $91.20 | $1,095 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.75 | $91.20 | $1,095 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.76 | $91.81 | $1,102 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.76 | $91.81 | $1,102 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.76 | $92.42 | $1,110 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.76 | $92.42 | $1,110 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.79 | $95.46 | $1,146 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.79 | $96.06 | $1,153 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.81 | $98.50 | $1,183 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.81 | $98.50 | $1,183 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.81 | $98.50 | $1,183 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.82 | $99.10 | $1,190 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.82 | $99.71 | $1,197 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.84 | $102 | $1,226 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.84 | $102 | $1,226 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.85 | $103 | $1,241 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.88 | $107 | $1,285 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.91 | $111 | $1,329 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.97 | $118 | $1,416 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.98 | $119 | $1,424 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.98 | $120 | $1,438 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $1.08 | $131 | $1,577 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $1.09 | $133 | $1,591 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $1.10 | $134 | $1,606 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $1.17 | $142 | $1,701 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $1.19 | $145 | $1,745 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $1.25 | $151 | $1,818 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $1.27 | $154 | $1,854 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $1.37 | $166 | $1,993 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $1.37 | $167 | $2,000 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $1.41 | $171 | $2,059 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $1.43 | $174 | $2,088 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $1.44 | $175 | $2,102 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $1.47 | $179 | $2,154 |
| New York | 29.9 | $1.49 | $182 | $2,183 |
| California | 33.3 | $1.66 | $202 | $2,431 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $2.60 | $316 | $3,796 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.92. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.62, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $2.60.
How much does a pool heater (heat pump) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 hours/day), expect about $112 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $75.39 in Idaho up to $316 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.