All worked examples below use explicitly chosen inputs. They are not measured household averages, utility quotes, or guaranteed savings.
Find electrical input at the actual speed
A pump’s horsepower label is not a meter reading of electrical energy. Start with appropriate power data for the speed and installation. ENERGY STAR describes variable-speed pumps that can match operating speed to the pool’s task.
Do not assume that reducing the speed setting by half simply halves electrical power. Use the relevant measured or documented input watts for each setting.
Reference: ENERGY STAR: pool pumps
Build a schedule with non-overlapping periods
Consider an invented schedule with two hours at 1,000 W and six hours at 250 W each day. Its daily energy is 2 + 1.5 = 3.5 kWh. At 20¢/kWh for 30 days, it costs $21.
A separate example running 1,000 W for all eight hours uses 8 kWh/day and costs $48 for 30 days. The $27 difference compares the entered scenarios; it does not prove that both schedules deliver the same required circulation.
| Period | Daily energy | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 W × 2 hours | 2 kWh | $12.00 |
| 250 W × 6 hours | 1.5 kWh | $9.00 |
| Combined | 3.5 kWh | $21.00 |
Include season and time-of-use prices
For a five-month operating season, five repetitions of the $21 example total $105. Rates and schedules are held constant in that arithmetic.
On a time-of-use tariff, allocate each period to its actual price window. A cheaper overnight rate can reduce dollars without changing kWh, while a lower-input operating setting changes energy itself.
Keep equipment requirements separate
This tool does not specify required flow, sanitation, heater operation, freeze protection, or filtration time. Follow the equipment instructions and qualified pool guidance when changing settings.
Include a separate booster pump or heater only when its energy is not already included in your reading. A single pump estimate is not the total cost of owning or heating a pool.
Sources & calculation notes
References checked 2026-10-09. Example arithmetic is calculated by HomeWattCheck. Article review dates are separate from the EIA data period displayed in our calculators.
Each calculator states its scope beside the result. Appliance tools estimate electricity at one rate; the time-of-use comparator includes two price periods and entered fixed fees. Complex tariffs may need additional calculations. State averages describe reported residential revenue per kWh, not your utility’s offer. See our data sources and methodology or state rate comparison.