How many watts does a pool pump use?
A typical pool pump uses 62–1,296 watts when running and draws 0.26–5.4 amps at 240 volts.
Pool pump watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 62–1,296 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 240 V |
| Running amps | 0.26–5.4 A |
| Circuit | 15 A breaker |
| Wire size (copper, NM-B cable) | 14 AWG |
Also called: swimming pool pump, variable speed pool pump.
Pool pump watts by size and type
| Size or type | Running watts, W | Volts, V | Amps, A | Starting watts, W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool pump | 62–1,296 | 240 | 0.26–5.4 | — |
| Variable-speed, low setting | 62–165 | 240 | 0.26–0.69 | — |
| Variable-speed in-ground, high setting | 369–1,296 | 240 | 1.5–5.4 | — |
What size generator runs a pool pump?
A pool pump needs a generator that supplies at least 1,296 running watts. Starting a pool pump takes a short surge of several times its running watts, and the surge is not listed here: size the generator from the locked-rotor amps (LRA) on the nameplate or the maker's generator guidance, not from the running watts. The generator must have a 240 V outlet or be connected through a transfer switch or interlock.
What it costs to run a pool pump
Running a pool pump at 679 W, the middle of its 62–1,296 W range, for one hour a day uses 247.8 kWh a year. That costs about $45 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.12
- Per year
- $45
- Energy per day
- 0.68 kWh
- Energy per month
- 20.7 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 679 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.679
- Per month = 0.679 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $3.72
What affects pool pump power use
A variable-speed pump runs most of the day at low speed and uses far less energy than at high speed. The ranges are the power at the low and high test points of ENERGY STAR certified variable-speed pumps. Hayward's MaxFlo VS manual asks for its 230 V pump to be permanently connected to a 15 A branch circuit; check the manual of your model.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 1,296 W at 240 V that is 5.4 A. The 62–1,296 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a pool pump gives the exact figure.