How much does it cost to run a well pump?
We've pre-filled a typical well pump below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
Typical power 1,000W
Usual range 750–1,500W
Category Laundry & water
If your home is on a well, the pump runs every time water moves — a shower, a flushed toilet, the washing machine, the garden hose. Each run is short, but they add up across a day, and a deeper well or a bigger pump pulls more watts each time.
It's an easy cost to overlook because it's hidden in the basement or the yard, but for a busy household it's a steady contributor to the bill.
What drives the cost of running a well pump
- Total water use — every fixture in the house triggers the pump.
- Well depth and pump horsepower set how many watts each run pulls.
- A waterlogged pressure tank makes the pump short-cycle, running far more than it should.
How to cut it
- Fix running toilets and dripping taps — they cycle the pump around the clock.
- Check the pressure tank's air charge so the pump isn't short-cycling.
- Water the garden deeply but less often rather than long daily runs.