Free pool tool

Pool pump electricity cost calculator

Enter watts, daily hours and your electricity rate for each operating stage. Estimate daily and seasonal usage charges, then download your inputs and results.

Free, no sign-up. Updated October 23, 2026.

Your daily pump schedule

Starts with illustrative inputs. Replace every value with your readings. These stages describe one pump; they are not a recommended schedule.

Stage 1

Input wattsHours / dayUS cents / kWh

Stage 2

Input wattsHours / dayUS cents / kWh

Up to six stages. Split a stage when the electricity rate changes. Total time must be 24 hours/day or less.

Operating days in your chosen period

Use 30 for a 30-day period or your actual seasonal operating days. Results use the same daily schedule throughout.

Electricity estimate

Illustrative example — replace the inputs

$194.40 / 180 operating daysEstimated usage charges in US dollars

Daily energy5.4 kWh over 12 hours

Daily cost$1.08

30 operating days$32.40

Selected period energy972 kWh

The calculation

For each stage: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours = kWh. Multiply kWh by cents/kWh ÷ 100 for dollars. Add the stages, then multiply by operating days.

Includes only the rates entered. Excludes fixed utility fees, unentered taxes or demand charges, and equipment costs. This result does not assess circulation or water safety.

Know the assumptions

Power × time × your rate.

Use measured electrical input for each stage. The example values illustrate the method; they are not a recommended schedule.

Check the units before calculating

Watts describe electrical power. Divide by 1,000 for kilowatts, then multiply by hours to get kilowatt-hours (kWh). For each stage, multiply kWh by your electricity rate. Enter rates in US cents: $0.20/kWh is 20 cents/kWh.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains watts and kilowatt-hours. The arithmetic here applies those units to the schedule you enter.

A worked example

A 300-watt stage running for 10 hours uses 3 kWh. A 1,200-watt stage running for 2 hours uses 2.4 kWh. Together they use 5.4 kWh/day. At 20 cents/kWh, that is $1.08/day, $32.40 for 30 operating days or $194.40 for 180 operating days. These are illustrative values, not measured performance for a particular pump.

Where to get the inputs

Use the pump or controller's watts display if available, and check its manual. RPM is not watts.
Record each scheduled stage, including priming or cleaner operation when applicable.
Use your current utility tariff. Split a stage when a time-of-use rate changes.
Choose the actual operating days in the period. A 30-day estimate is not necessarily a calendar-month bill.

Keep your readings in the free pump schedule worksheet. Read the pump electricity cost guide for measurement limits and a time-of-use example.

What the result does and does not include

The estimate covers the power, duration and rates entered. It excludes equipment purchases, repairs, fixed utility charges and any taxes or demand charges you have not accounted for. The selected period assumes the same daily schedule; recalculate when seasons or settings change.

ENERGY STAR describes the benefits of matching pump speed to the task. This calculator does not test whether a schedule provides the required circulation, sanitation or flow for your equipment. Have schedule changes checked against the pool and manufacturer requirements.

Inputs are calculated in your browser and are not submitted by this tool. The CSV download contains your inputs and the calculated totals. No account is needed.

FAQ

Questions? Glad you asked.

What electricity rate should I enter?

Enter the usage-based rate from your tariff in US cents per kWh. For $0.20/kWh, enter 20. Use separate stages when time-of-use prices change. The tool does not automatically model tiered tariffs, fixed fees or demand charges.

Can I enter multiple pump speeds?

Yes. Add a stage for each measured power level and its daily hours, up to six stages. Daily time for this one pump cannot exceed 24 hours. If a tariff changes during a stage, split it into separate rows.

Can I use horsepower or RPM instead of watts?

No. Use electrical input watts at the operating stage, from a suitable display or measurement. Horsepower and RPM alone do not establish electrical consumption.

Does the calculator recommend a safe pump schedule?

No. It estimates energy and usage charges for the schedule you enter. Circulation, sanitation and equipment flow requirements must be assessed separately.

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