Well Pump Electricity Cost Calculator

How to use this calculator

The calculator converts pump watts and cycle minutes into kWh, multiplies by daily cycles and active days, and divides cycle energy cost by gallons moved for a per-thousand-gallon comparison.

When to round up

Use measured pump watts and cycle behavior when available, and round up for pressure loss, irrigation season, leaks, water treatment, older motors, or frequent short cycling; investigate unusual cycling rather than treating it only as a cost issue.

When to use this calculator

• Estimating monthly or yearly energy cost
• Testing watts, runtime, rate, and duty cycle changes
• Comparing efficient alternatives before buying or changing use

Tips for better estimates

• Use measured watts when possible, especially for appliances that cycle on and off.
• Enter the all-in local electricity rate from a recent bill.
• Rerun the estimate for seasonal use, lower runtime, or a more efficient alternative.

How this calculator is reviewed

This page is checked for inputs, formulas, examples, assumptions, topic fit, and related links. For this calculator, the review also covers measured pump watts, cycle duration and count, active days, pressure-tank behavior, gallons per cycle, utility rate, well depth, and short-cycling symptoms.

The sample result is covered by automated tests, and the page links to related calculators and, where available, supporting guides so readers can check the assumptions before acting. If a formula, label, or assumption looks off, send the page URL and your inputs through the contact page.

Formula and methodology

Daily kWh = pump watts divided by 1,000 x cycle minutes divided by 60 x cycles per day; electricity cost then applies the rate and active days.

Result details: This page uses the inputs above to show daily electricity, average active-month water, and active-season electricity cost in the result area.

Assumptions to check

The key inputs are Pump power, Average cycle length, Cycles per day, Active days per year, Electricity rate and gallons per cycle. The estimate assumes the entered average cycle repeats consistently; starting surge, changing well depth, pressure settings, irrigation demand, leaks, treatment equipment, motor condition, and a waterlogged pressure tank can change both energy and water moved.

How this estimate was built

This page converts pump wattage and cycle time to energy per cycle, scales by cycles and active days, applies the electricity rate, and uses gallons per cycle to show an energy-only cost per thousand gallons.

Worked example

Example inputs: Pump power: 1000 watts; Average cycle length: 2 minutes; Cycles per day: 20; Active days per year: 180 days; Electricity rate: $0.16 /kWh; Water moved per cycle: 20 gallons. With those values, the calculator returns $3.24 active-month cost. The well pump costs about $3.24 in an average active month at the entered cycle pattern.

Appliance wattage to estimated monthly cost

Example scenarios

• A 1,000-watt pump running for two minutes across 20 daily cycles uses about 0.67 kWh per active day.
• At $0.16 per kWh, that pattern costs about $3.24 per average active month and $19.20 across 180 active days.
• If each cycle moves 20 gallons, the energy-only cost is about $0.27 per thousand gallons; unusual short cycling should be investigated rather than budgeted as normal.

Quick reference chart

Common planning mistakes

Using nameplate watts when actual draw is lower, ignoring duty cycle, using the advertised rate instead of the all-in local rate, and assuming seasonal use stays the same all year.

Cite or embed this calculator

If this calculator helps a blog post, classroom resource, forum answer, seasonal guide, or local planning page, link to the canonical calculator URL so readers can run their own numbers and check the assumptions.

EverydayCalc.org, "Well Pump Electricity Cost Calculator", last updated July 9, 2026, https://everydaycalc.org/calculators/well-pump-electricity-cost-calculator/