💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Sump Pump Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a sump pump costs about $4.47 per month at typical usage — 1 hour/day.
Per hour
$0.15
at 400–1,000 W
Per day
$0.15
1 hour/day
Per month
$4.47
24 kWh
Per year
$53.73
292 kWh
Sump pumps draw substantial power but run only when water arrives — minutes a day in dry spells, hours during storms. A pump running constantly in dry weather points to a stuck float or drainage problem, not a normal bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.15
Per day
$0.15
Per month
$4.47
Per year
$53.73
Uses 24 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 | $0.10 | $3.02 | $36.21 |
| Utah | 13.0 | $0.10 | $3.16 | $37.96 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | $0.11 | $3.26 | $39.13 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.71 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.71 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.71 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | $0.11 | $3.33 | $40.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | $0.11 | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | $0.11 | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.46 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | $0.12 | $3.50 | $42.05 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | $0.12 | $3.53 | $42.34 |
| Montana | 14.7 | $0.12 | $3.58 | $42.92 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.22 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | $0.12 | $3.65 | $43.80 |
| Washington | 15.0 | $0.12 | $3.65 | $43.80 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | $0.12 | $3.67 | $44.09 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | $0.12 | $3.67 | $44.09 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | $0.12 | $3.70 | $44.38 |
| Florida | 15.2 | $0.12 | $3.70 | $44.38 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | $0.13 | $3.82 | $45.84 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | $0.13 | $3.84 | $46.14 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.30 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.30 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | $0.13 | $3.94 | $47.30 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | $0.13 | $3.96 | $47.60 |
| Texas | 16.4 | $0.13 | $3.99 | $47.89 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | $0.13 | $4.09 | $49.06 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | $0.13 | $4.09 | $49.06 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | $0.14 | $4.13 | $49.64 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.14 | $4.28 | $51.39 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | $0.15 | $4.43 | $53.14 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | $0.16 | $4.72 | $56.65 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.16 | $4.74 | $56.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | $0.16 | $4.79 | $57.52 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | $0.17 | $5.25 | $63.07 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | $0.17 | $5.30 | $63.66 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | $0.18 | $5.35 | $64.24 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | $0.19 | $5.67 | $68.04 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | $0.19 | $5.81 | $69.79 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | $0.20 | $6.06 | $72.71 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | $0.20 | $6.18 | $74.17 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | $0.22 | $6.64 | $79.72 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | $0.22 | $6.66 | $80.01 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | $0.23 | $6.86 | $82.34 |
| Maine | 28.6 | $0.23 | $6.96 | $83.51 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | $0.23 | $7.00 | $84.10 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | $0.24 | $7.17 | $86.14 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.24 | $7.27 | $87.31 |
| California | 33.3 | $0.27 | $8.10 | $97.24 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.42 | $12.65 | $152 |
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 sump pump use?
A typical sump pump draws about 800 watts in use. At 1 hour/day, that works out to roughly 0.8 kWh per day, or 24 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a sump pump for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.15. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's $0.10, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.42.
How much does a sump pump cost to run per month?
With typical usage (1 hour/day), expect about $4.47 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $3.02 in Idaho up to $12.65 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a sump pump use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 3% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.