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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in the UK? (2026)
A single speed pool pump running 8 hours a day is frequently the second largest electricity consumer in a home after air conditioning. Variable speed pumps cut this cost dramatically.
A typical pool pump (1,500 W) costs £0.39 per hour, or about £93.60 per month at 8 hours a day in United Kingdom. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (500 W) | £0.13 | £1.04 | £31.20 | £379.60 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | £0.39 | £3.12 | £93.60 | £1,139 |
| High (2,500 W) | £0.65 | £5.20 | £156.00 | £1,898 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 4,380 kWh per year.
In the UK, with electricity at £0.26 per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07), a typical pool pump costs £0.39 per hour and about £1,139 per year at 8 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 2.6 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a pool pump
- Replace a single speed pump with a variable speed model. Savings of 50 to 80 percent are typical.
- Run the pump only as long as needed for one full water turnover, usually 6 to 8 hours.
- Schedule pump run time for off-peak electricity hours.
- Keep the filter and skimmer baskets clean so the pump works against less resistance.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
Long enough to turn over the pool volume once, typically 6 to 8 hours in summer and less in winter.
How much does a pool pump cost to run per month?
A 1,500 watt pump for 8 hours uses 12 kWh a day, or about 360 kWh a month. Check the monthly figure above.
Are variable speed pumps worth it?
Usually yes. The payback period is commonly one to three years.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India