How much does it cost to run a single-speed pool pump 8 hours a day?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 1,750 W single-speed pump running 8 h a day costs about $77.46 a month (14 kWh a day) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $930 for 12 months.

Older 1.5 hp single-speed in-ground pumps draw roughly 1,500–2,000 W (estimate; we use 1,750 W). 8 h a day is 14 kWh.
A variable-speed pump filtering on low for the same 8 hours would cost $57.90 a year — $872 less.
ENERGY STAR's rule of thumb: half the speed uses one-eighth of the power. At 50% speed a pump that draws 787 W uses about 98 W.
The same schedule costs $53.06 a month in North Dakota and $197.63 in Hawaii.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your pump

Pump

Pool

Hours a day

Pump power

Older 1.5 hp in-ground pumps draw about 1,500–2,000 W (estimate). Amps × volts from the motor plate gives an upper bound.

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.

1,750 W single-speed pump costs

$77.46a month

14 kWh a day · $930 for 12 months

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

Per day: $2.558 h running
Per year: $9305,110 kWh
Power: 1,750Wwhile running
Per hour: $0.32average running hour

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	2.7	$177
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.3	$86.84
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.6	$174

The biggest pool saving

A variable-speed pump running low for longer filters the same water for a fraction of the power — compare the schedules above. ENERGY STAR certified in-ground pumps save about $50 a year over standard models.

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

5,110 kWh 1,750 W single-speed pump — electricity for 12 months8 h/day at 18.19¢/kWh$930

Estimated total$930

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	2.7	$14.74	$177
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.3	$7.24	$86.84
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.6	$14.47	$174

How this was worked out

14 kWh a day × 30.42 days × 18.19¢ = $77.46 a month; × 12 months = $930.

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.

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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 1,750 W single-speed pump running 8 h a day costs about $77.46 a month (14 kWh a day) at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh — $930 for 12 months.

Older 1.5 hp single-speed in-ground pumps draw roughly 1,500–2,000 W (estimate; we use 1,750 W). 8 h a day is 14 kWh.

A variable-speed pump filtering on low for the same 8 hours would cost $57.90 a year — $872 less.

ENERGY STAR's rule of thumb: half the speed uses one-eighth of the power. At 50% speed a pump that draws 787 W uses about 98 W.

The same schedule costs $53.06 a month in North Dakota and $197.63 in Hawaii.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your pump

Pump

Pool

Hours a day

Pump power

Older 1.5 hp in-ground pumps draw about 1,500–2,000 W (estimate). Amps × volts from the motor plate gives an upper bound.

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.

1,750 W single-speed pump costs

$77.46a month

14 kWh a day · $930 for 12 months

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

Per day: $2.558 h running
Per year: $9305,110 kWh
Power: 1,750Wwhile running
Per hour: $0.32average running hour

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	2.7	$177
Variable speed, 12 h low	1.3	$86.84
Variable speed, 24 h low	2.6	$174

The biggest pool saving

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

5,110 kWh 1,750 W single-speed pump — electricity for 12 months8 h/day at 18.19¢/kWh$930

Estimated total$930

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

2.7

$14.74

$177

Variable speed, 12 h low

1.3

$7.24

$86.84

Variable speed, 24 h low

2.6

$14.47

$174

How this was worked out

14 kWh a day × 30.42 days × 18.19¢ = $77.46 a month; × 12 months = $930.

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.