How much does it cost to run a sump pump?
EIA data · June 2026About $4.28 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
23.4 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 500–1,400 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
4% duty cycle applied — it draws power for part of that time.
A sump pump sits mid-table at #35 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether water & outdoor or something else drives your bill.
Published figures for this appliance disagree by a wide margin. Why other sites price a sump pump so differently.
How many watts a sump pump uses
A 1/3 HP sump pump draws roughly 500–800 W and a 1/2 HP unit about 800–1,000 W while running. Larger pumps in high-water-table homes reach 1,400 W.
- Low
- 500 W
- Typical
- 800 W
- High
- 1,400 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 800 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $148 |
| California | 34.74 | $97.38 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $83.00 |
| New York | 29.49 | $82.67 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $53.79 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $44.68 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $42.33 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $37.48 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $37.14 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $36.75 |
Worth knowing
- Runtime is entirely weather-driven. A sump pump can sit idle for weeks and then run every few minutes for two days during a thaw or a storm.
- The duty cycle used here is a dry-season average. During sustained rain the real figure can be ten times higher, and so is the cost for that period.
- A pump cycling frequently in dry weather usually means a stuck float or a failed check valve letting water fall back into the pit — a fault, not a cost.
Other appliances
- Electric water heater
- Electric vehicle charging
- Hot tub
- Pool pump
- Well pump
- Water softener
- Electric sauna
- Heated floor
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.