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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in South Carolina? (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 $0.24 per hour, or about $57.60 per month at 8 hours a day in South Carolina. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (500 W) | $0.080 | $0.64 | $19.20 | $233.60 |
| Typical (1,500 W) | $0.24 | $1.92 | $57.60 | $700.80 |
| High (2,500 W) | $0.40 | $3.20 | $96.00 | $1,168 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 4,380 kWh per year.
One hour of a pool pump (1.5 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 8.3km in an electric car
- 15hours of TV
- 33hours of a laptop
- 167hours of an LED bulb
In South Carolina, with electricity at $0.16 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical pool pump costs $0.24 per hour and about $700.80 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 11% less than the national average for the US ($64.80 per month), because electricity in South Carolina costs $0.16 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 4.2 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.
Would switching to a variable-speed pool pump pay for itself?
At your hours and region above, this pool pump uses about 4,380 kWh a year and a variable-speed pool pump about 1,533 kWh.
Saves – per year. Pays for itself in –, and over 10 years you come out –.
Variable-speed pumps commonly save 50 to 80 percent. Prices are typical and editable; the saving updates with the region and hours you set in the table above.
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
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)1,200 W typical
- Electric Pressure Washer1,800 W typical
- Electric Sauna Heater6,000 W typical
- Infrared Sauna1,800 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator → · Which uses more? Take the quiz →