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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump Per Month?

Home/Resources/Pools & Spas/Pool Pump Monthly Cost
Derek Holt
Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor
Updated October 2026
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The short answer, as of 2026: a 1.5 HP single-speed pool pump running 8 hours a day costs about $80 a month at the US average residential electricity rate of roughly 17.5 cents per kWh reported by the Energy Information Administration — around $50 in Texas, $114 in New York and $146 in California. A variable-speed pump doing the same daily turnover costs about $16 a month at the national average. The formula is watts ÷ 1,000 × hours per day × 30 × your rate per kWh.

The pump is usually the largest single electrical load a pool owner controls, and it is also the easiest one to cut. We do not physically handle the pumps we rank; our picks come from aggregated owner reviews and expert consensus, described in how we rank, with the ranked field in best pool pumps.

Monthly cost by pump and electricity rate

All figures assume the pump achieves one turnover per day on a 20,000-gallon pool. Use the all-in rate from your bill — total charge divided by kWh used — rather than the advertised supply rate, which excludes delivery and fees.

Rate per kWh1 HP single-speed, 8 hr (336 kWh)1.5 HP single-speed, 8 hr (456 kWh)2 HP single-speed, 8 hr (600 kWh)Variable-speed, 12 hr (90 kWh)
11¢ — WA, ID, ND$37$50$66$10
14¢ — TX, TN, FL area$47$64$84$13
17.5¢ — US average$59$80$105$16
21¢ — AZ, NV summer tiers$71$96$126$19
25¢ — NY, NH, VT$84$114$150$23
32¢ — CA, MA, CT$108$146$192$29
44¢ — HI$148$201$264$40

Rates are 2026 US residential averages and vary within states by utility and by season — Arizona and Nevada in particular apply higher summer tiers exactly when pool pumps run most. Check your own bill before trusting any national figure.

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Run hours change the answer more than anything else

Cost is linear in run time, and most pumps run longer than they need to. For a 1.5 HP single-speed pump at the 17.5 cent US average:

Hours per daykWh per monthCost per month
4228$40
6342$60
8456$80
12684$120
241,368$239

The turnover math is straightforward: divide pool gallons by the pump's rated gallons per hour to get the hours needed for one full turnover. A pump moving 3,000 gallons per hour clears a 20,000-gallon pool in under 7 hours. Anything beyond that is optional circulation, not filtration.

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Five ways to cut the monthly bill

  1. Trim run time to the actual turnover requirement. Free, immediate, and often worth $20 to $40 a month.
  2. Add a timer — $30 to $150 for a mechanical or smart timer that stops the pump running unattended overnight.
  3. Shift to off-peak hours if you are on a time-of-use tariff. Off-peak rates are commonly 30 to 60 percent below peak.
  4. Clean the filter and baskets. A clogged filter raises head pressure so the motor draws more while moving less water. Detail in how often to clean a pool filter cartridge.
  5. Replace a single-speed pump with variable-speed. $600 to $1,400 installed, saving $60 to $70 a month in season at average rates — ENERGY STAR puts certified pumps at up to 65 percent less energy and a payback of under two years — with utility rebates of $150 to $500 common. Federal dedicated-purpose pool pump standards have applied since 2021, so a failed unit above 1 HP will generally be replaced with a variable-speed one anyway.

A cover is the underrated one. It does not reduce pump draw directly, but by cutting evaporation by 50 to 70 percent it reduces make-up water, chemical loss and heat loss, which is where the rest of a pool's monthly cost sits.

For the energy figures behind these dollars, see how much electricity a pool pump uses and how many watts a pool pump uses. The schedule question is settled in how many hours a day to run a pool pump, the equipment choice in variable-speed vs single-speed, and the whole running-cost picture at the pools and spas hub.

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

Why is my pool pump costing more than these figures?

Three usual causes. The pump may be larger than you think — check the motor nameplate for total horsepower including the service factor, not the marketing figure. The run time may be longer than you assume, since many pumps are wired to run whenever the pool equipment has power. Or your all-in rate is higher than the supply rate you looked up: divide your total bill by kWh used to get the real number, which is typically 15 to 40 percent above the advertised supply rate.

What is the payback period on a variable-speed pump?

At the US average electricity rate, replacing a 1.5 HP single-speed pump with a variable-speed unit saves roughly $60 to $70 a month during the swim season. On a $600 to $1,400 installed cost, that is one to three seasons for a seasonal pool and often under a year for a year-round southern pool. Many utilities offer rebates of $150 to $500 that shorten it further, and federal efficiency rules mean a failed single-speed pump above 1 HP generally has to be replaced with a variable-speed one anyway.

Is it cheaper to run the pump at night?

Only if you are on a time-of-use electricity plan, in which case the off-peak rate is often 30 to 60 percent below the peak rate and running overnight is a straightforward saving. On a flat rate it makes no difference to cost. There is a water-chemistry argument for running during daylight instead, since that is when chlorine is being consumed by sunlight and when circulation does the most good, so many owners split the schedule.

Does turning the pump off for a few days save money?

It saves electricity and costs you more in chemicals and effort. Water that is not circulating loses its chlorine distribution, warms unevenly and begins to grow algae within 24 to 72 hours in summer temperatures. Clearing a green pool typically costs $40 to $120 in shock and algaecide plus several days of heavy filtration, which wipes out any saving. Reducing daily run time to the true turnover requirement is the correct way to cut the bill.

How much does the whole pool cost to run per month?

For a typical 20,000-gallon in-ground pool as of 2026, budget roughly $80 to $150 a month in summer for a single-speed system and $50 to $90 with a variable-speed pump. That covers electricity, chlorine and balancing chemicals, and water replacement from splash-out and evaporation, but not a heater. A gas or heat pump heater used to extend the season can add $100 to $500 a month on its own.