How Much Electricity Does a Pool Pump Use?

Calculate pool pump electricity costs. A typical pool pump costs $50-150 per month. Variable speed pumps can cut costs by 70%.

1 min read

Quick Answer

A standard single-speed pool pump (1-2 HP) uses 1,500-2,500 watts and costs $50-150 per month running 8-12 hours daily. Variable speed pumps reduce costs by 50-70%, paying for themselves in 1-2 years.

Key Takeaways

Pool pumps are among the highest energy consumers in homes with pools.
Running pumps during off-peak hours saves money with time-of-use rates.
Pool heaters add significant costs—gas heaters cost $3-10 per hour, heat pumps cost $1-3.

Explanation

Pool pumps are among the highest energy consumers in homes with pools. A 1.5 HP single-speed pump running 8 hours daily uses about 60 kWh weekly, costing $38-40 per month at $0.16/kWh.

Variable speed pumps run slower most of the time, using 200-500 watts instead of 1,500-2,500. Running at low speed for longer provides the same filtration at 70% less energy cost.

Pump sizing matters. Oversized pumps waste energy. The pump only needs to circulate the entire pool volume 1-2 times daily, which doesn't require running at full speed.

Things to Know

Running pumps during off-peak hours saves money with time-of-use rates.
Pool heaters add significant costs—gas heaters cost $3-10 per hour, heat pumps cost $1-3.
Covering the pool reduces filtration needs and saves on heating.