outdoor · 100W typical
Running a pond / fountain pump costs about $11.88/month.
That's the typical pond / fountain pump at 100W, run 24 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 24 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same pond / fountain pump can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
always-on pond
$11.88
per month
24/7 circulation for fish ponds
fountain display
$4.95
per month
daytime fountain use
Where you live
$21.53 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $29.66 | $360.91 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $22.61 | $275.06 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $22.18 | $269.81 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $20.66 | $251.41 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $20.09 | $244.40 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $17.71 | $215.50 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $17.50 | $212.87 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $16.06 | $195.35 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $15.91 | $193.60 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $15.48 | $188.34 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $13.90 | $169.07 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $13.75 | $167.32 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $13.25 | $161.18 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $13.03 | $158.56 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $12.82 | $155.93 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $12.53 | $152.42 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $12.38 | $150.67 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $12.17 | $148.04 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $11.95 | $145.42 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $11.74 | $142.79 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $11.38 | $138.41 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $11.30 | $137.53 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $11.23 | $136.66 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $11.09 | $134.90 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $10.94 | $133.15 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $10.94 | $133.15 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $10.87 | $132.28 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $10.66 | $129.65 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $10.66 | $129.65 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $10.58 | $128.77 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $10.58 | $128.77 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $10.51 | $127.90 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $10.22 | $124.39 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $10.15 | $123.52 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $10.01 | $121.76 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $9.79 | $119.14 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $9.65 | $117.38 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $9.58 | $116.51 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $9.50 | $115.63 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $9.43 | $114.76 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $9.43 | $114.76 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $9.14 | $111.25 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $8.93 | $108.62 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $8.78 | $106.87 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $8.71 | $106.00 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $8.71 | $106.00 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $8.57 | $104.24 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $8.35 | $101.62 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $8.28 | $100.74 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $8.21 | $99.86 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $8.14 | $98.99 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $686.57/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
25W
$2.97 per month
$36.14 per year
Typical
100W
$11.88 per month
$144.54 per year
High draw
500W
$59.40 per month
$722.70 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
Heaviest use May-Sept; ponds often shut down in freezing climates.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use energy-efficient 'asynchronous' or 'hybrid drive' pumps — 30-50% less than mag-drive
Saves 200-400 kWh/year on always-on ponds
- 2
Schedule decorative fountains off at night
Cuts runtime 50-70%
- 3
Clean intake screens weekly
Clogged screens add 10-20% to pump watts
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Tetra | Debris-Handling Pond Pump 1900 GPH | 110W |
| Laguna | Max-Flo 2000 GPH | 140W |
| Aquascape | EcoWave 3000 | 95W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13