outdoor · 500W typical
Running a variable-speed pool pump costs about $9.90/month.
That's the typical variable-speed pool pump at 500W, run 8 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
A variable-speed pool pump draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 4.0 effective hours at 500W across your 8-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same variable-speed pool pump can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily filtration
$9.90
per month
8 hours on low speed
peak season
$14.85
per month
heavy bather load and algae prevention
winter low
$4.95
per month
off-season minimal
Where you live
$17.94 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¢ | $24.72 | $300.76 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $18.84 | $229.22 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $18.48 | $224.84 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $17.22 | $209.51 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $16.74 | $203.67 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $14.76 | $179.58 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $14.58 | $177.39 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $13.38 | $162.79 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $13.26 | $161.33 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $12.90 | $156.95 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $11.58 | $140.89 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $11.46 | $139.43 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $11.04 | $134.32 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $10.86 | $132.13 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $10.68 | $129.94 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $10.44 | $127.02 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $10.32 | $125.56 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $10.14 | $123.37 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $9.96 | $121.18 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $9.78 | $118.99 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $9.48 | $115.34 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $9.42 | $114.61 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $9.36 | $113.88 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $9.24 | $112.42 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $9.12 | $110.96 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $9.12 | $110.96 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $9.06 | $110.23 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $8.88 | $108.04 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $8.88 | $108.04 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $8.82 | $107.31 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $8.82 | $107.31 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $8.76 | $106.58 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $8.52 | $103.66 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $8.46 | $102.93 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $8.34 | $101.47 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $8.16 | $99.28 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $8.04 | $97.82 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $7.98 | $97.09 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $7.92 | $96.36 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $7.86 | $95.63 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $7.86 | $95.63 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $7.62 | $92.71 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $7.44 | $90.52 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $7.32 | $89.06 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $7.26 | $88.33 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $7.26 | $88.33 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $7.14 | $86.87 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $6.96 | $84.68 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $6.90 | $83.95 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $6.84 | $83.22 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $6.78 | $82.49 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $120.45/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
1500W
$29.70 per month
$361.35 per year
Typical
500W
$9.90 per month
$120.45 per year
High draw
2000W
$39.60 per month
$481.80 per year
When it hits hardest
summer peak
Heaviest May-Sept pool season.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Upgrade from single-speed to variable-speed — biggest single savings on a pool
Saves 1,500-3,000 kWh/year
- 2
Run longer at low speed instead of shorter at high speed
Turnover at low speed uses 1/4 the watts
- 3
Clean skimmer and filter weekly
Dirty filters add 10-15% runtime
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Pentair | IntelliFlo3 VSF 011056 | 400W |
| Hayward | TriStar VS W3SP32950VSP | 450W |
| Jandy | VS FloPro 2.7HP | 500W |
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.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13