💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Pool Pump Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a pool pump costs about $68.58 per month at typical usage — 8 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.28
at 750–2,500 W
Per day
$2.26
8 hours/day
Per month
$68.58
365 kWh
Per year
$823
4,380 kWh
A single-speed pool pump running eight hours a day is one of the most expensive devices at any home that has one — often rivaling central AC across a season. Variable-speed pumps do the same filtration for 50–80% less energy and pay for themselves quickly.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.28
Per day
$2.26
Per month
$68.58
Per year
$823
Uses 365 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 | $0.19 | $45.24 | $543 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | $0.19 | $46.33 | $556 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | $0.20 | $48.52 | $583 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | $0.20 | $48.52 | $583 |
| Utah | 13.3 | $0.20 | $48.52 | $583 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | $0.21 | $50.71 | $609 |
| Montana | 13.9 | $0.21 | $50.71 | $609 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | $0.21 | $51.07 | $613 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | $0.21 | $51.80 | $622 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | $0.21 | $52.17 | $626 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | $0.22 | $52.53 | $631 |
| Washington | 14.4 | $0.22 | $52.53 | $631 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | $0.22 | $52.90 | $635 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | $0.22 | $53.63 | $644 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | $0.22 | $54.36 | $653 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.22 | $54.72 | $657 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | $0.23 | $55.45 | $666 |
| Florida | 15.4 | $0.23 | $56.18 | $675 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | $0.23 | $56.18 | $675 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | $0.23 | $56.54 | $679 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | $0.24 | $57.64 | $692 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | $0.24 | $57.64 | $692 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | $0.24 | $58.73 | $705 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | $0.24 | $59.46 | $714 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | $0.25 | $59.83 | $718 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | $0.25 | $60.19 | $723 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | $0.25 | $61.29 | $736 |
| Texas | 17.0 | $0.26 | $62.02 | $745 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | $0.26 | $62.38 | $749 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | $0.26 | $63.48 | $762 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | $0.26 | $63.48 | $762 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | $0.27 | $65.30 | $784 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | $0.28 | $68.58 | $823 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | $0.29 | $70.04 | $841 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.29 | $71.14 | $854 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | $0.31 | $74.78 | $898 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | $0.32 | $78.07 | $937 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | $0.32 | $78.43 | $942 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | $0.33 | $80.62 | $968 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | $0.35 | $85.73 | $1,029 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | $0.37 | $89.74 | $1,077 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.38 | $92.66 | $1,113 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | $0.41 | $99.23 | $1,191 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | $0.41 | $99.96 | $1,200 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.42 | $103 | $1,240 |
| Maine | 28.4 | $0.43 | $104 | $1,244 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | $0.44 | $108 | $1,292 |
| New York | 29.5 | $0.44 | $108 | $1,292 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.48 | $117 | $1,410 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.53 | $129 | $1,546 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.70 | $170 | $2,041 |
How to lower the cost
- Replace single-speed pumps with variable-speed — it's the highest-ROI pool upgrade available.
- Most residential pools filter adequately in 6 hours, not 12; test shorter runtimes.
- Run the pump off-peak if your utility has time-of-use pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a pool pump use?
A typical pool pump draws about 1,500 watts in use. At 8 hours/day, that works out to roughly 12 kWh per day, or 365 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a pool pump for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.28. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.19, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.70.
How much does a pool pump cost to run per month?
With typical usage (8 hours/day), expect about $68.58 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $45.24 in North Dakota up to $170 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a pool pump use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 41% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.