How much does an above-ground pool pump cost to run?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A variable-speed above-ground pool pump running 2 h on high and 10 h on low costs about $11.69 a month (2.1 kWh a day) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $140 for 12 months.

ENERGY STAR above-ground variable-speed pumps average 572 W at the high-speed test point and 97 W at low speed: 572 × 2 h + 97 × 10 h = 2.11 kWh a day.
A single-speed pump for the same 12 hours would cost about $1,394 a year (estimate).
ENERGY STAR's rule of thumb: half the speed uses one-eighth of the power. At 50% speed a pump that draws 572 W uses about 72 W.
The same schedule costs $8.01 a month in North Dakota and $29.82 in Hawaii.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your pump

Pump

Pool

Hours on high

Hours on low

Months a year it runs

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Variable-speed pool pump costs

$11.69a month

2.1 kWh a day · $140 for 12 months

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per day: $0.3812 h running
Per year: $140771 kWh
Power: 97–572Wlow – high speed
Per hour: $0.03average running hour

Versus a single-speed pump

Variable-speed pool pump

$140.24

Cheaper ✓ · 12 months

1.5 hp single speed, 12 h

$1,394.26

estimate

Common schedules at this rate

Yearly cost of common pump schedules
Schedule	kWh/day	Per year
Single-speed, 8 h	14	$930
Single-speed, 6 h	10.5	$697
Variable speed, 2 h high + 10 h low	2.1	$140
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.2	$77.12
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.3	$154

How to cut it

Half the speed uses one-eighth of the power (ENERGY STAR), so long, slow filtration beats short, fast runs.
Save high speed for vacuuming, the heater or a cleaner that needs the flow.
Clean the skimmer basket and filter regularly — a clogged filter cuts flow, so it takes longer to turn the water over.

Energy budget

771 kWh Variable-speed pool pump — electricity for 12 months12 h/day at 18.19¢/kWh$140

Estimated total$140

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Common schedules for 12 months a year at 18.19¢/kWh

Pump & schedule	kWh a day	Per month	Per year
Single-speed, 8 h	14	$77.46	$930
Single-speed, 12 h	21	$116.19	$1,394
Variable speed, 2 h high + 10 h low	2.1	$11.69	$140
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.2	$6.43	$77.12
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.3	$12.85	$154

How this was worked out

2.11 kWh a day × 30.42 days × 18.19¢ = $11.69 a month; × 12 months = $140.

Prices: EIA U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026. Pump watts: ENERGY STAR certified pool pump data; the single-speed figure is an estimate — check the motor plate or the pump's display for yours.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main pool pump cost calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

ENERGY STAR pool pumps (product page and dataset) — half speed uses one-eighth the energy; in-ground VS pumps 109 W low / 787 W high; ~$50/yr savings · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A & 5.6.B — residential price by state (August 2026) — latest month and Jan–Aug 2026 year-to-date average for every state; preliminary, refreshed monthly · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly technical notes — average price = revenue ÷ sales, including fixed customer charges, fuel adjustments and surcharges · checked October 2026

Short answer

A variable-speed above-ground pool pump running 2 h on high and 10 h on low costs about $11.69 a month (2.1 kWh a day) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $140 for 12 months.

ENERGY STAR above-ground variable-speed pumps average 572 W at the high-speed test point and 97 W at low speed: 572 × 2 h + 97 × 10 h = 2.11 kWh a day.

A single-speed pump for the same 12 hours would cost about $1,394 a year (estimate).

ENERGY STAR's rule of thumb: half the speed uses one-eighth of the power. At 50% speed a pump that draws 572 W uses about 72 W.

The same schedule costs $8.01 a month in North Dakota and $29.82 in Hawaii.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your pump

Pump

Pool

Hours on high

Hours on low

Months a year it runs

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Variable-speed pool pump costs

$11.69a month

2.1 kWh a day · $140 for 12 months

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per day: $0.3812 h running
Per year: $140771 kWh
Power: 97–572Wlow – high speed
Per hour: $0.03average running hour

Versus a single-speed pump

Variable-speed pool pump

$140.24

Cheaper ✓ · 12 months

1.5 hp single speed, 12 h

$1,394.26

estimate

Common schedules at this rate

Yearly cost of common pump schedules
Schedule	kWh/day	Per year
Single-speed, 8 h	14	$930
Single-speed, 6 h	10.5	$697
Variable speed, 2 h high + 10 h low	2.1	$140
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.2	$77.12
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.3	$154

How to cut it

Half the speed uses one-eighth of the power (ENERGY STAR), so long, slow filtration beats short, fast runs.
Save high speed for vacuuming, the heater or a cleaner that needs the flow.
Clean the skimmer basket and filter regularly — a clogged filter cuts flow, so it takes longer to turn the water over.

Energy budget

771 kWh Variable-speed pool pump — electricity for 12 months12 h/day at 18.19¢/kWh$140

Estimated total$140

Pump & schedule

kWh a day

Per month

Per year

Single-speed, 8 h

$77.46

$930

Single-speed, 12 h

$116.19

$1,394

Variable speed, 2 h high + 10 h low

2.1

$11.69

$140

Variable speed, 12 h low

1.2

$6.43

$77.12

Variable speed, 24 h low

2.3

$12.85

$154

How this was worked out

2.11 kWh a day × 30.42 days × 18.19¢ = $11.69 a month; × 12 months = $140.

Prices: EIA U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026. Pump watts: ENERGY STAR certified pool pump data; the single-speed figure is an estimate — check the motor plate or the pump's display for yours.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main pool pump cost calculator page.