How much does a pool cost to run a year?

Running costs come from the pump power, chemicals, water top-ups and any heating, plus servicing. A pool without heating might cost a few hundred to over a thousand dollars a year, while a heated pool can cost much more, driven mostly by the heating energy.

What is the biggest cost of owning a pool?

For a heated pool, heating is usually the largest cost by far. For an unheated pool, the pump running for hours each day to filter the water is the main electricity cost, alongside chemicals.

How can I cut pool running costs?

A pool cover reduces heat loss and evaporation, an efficient or variable-speed pump cuts power, and running the pump only as long as needed all help. Heating is the area where savings make the biggest difference.

Pool Running Cost Calculator

This New Zealand calculator estimates the annual cost of running a pool, from pump power to chemicals, water top-ups and heating. People often budget for building a pool but underestimate the year-after-year running cost, where heating in particular can be large. You enter your pump use, chemical and heating costs and power price, and the tool shows the yearly total and where the money goes, before you build or to budget for the pool you have.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Health Based Building, a leader in sustainable and health-conscious building innovation. With over a century of experience, they develop high-performance systems like Foreverbreathe Specification, Magnum Board, and Foreverbreathe Paints to support energy-efficient, non-toxic living environments. Their commitment to healthier homes aligns with our belief that informed choices lead to better outcomes for Kiwi households.

Pump power (kW)

Pump hours per day

Power price (per kWh)

Chemicals per year

Heating per year

Water, servicing, other

to run the pool per year

Pump power$0

Chemicals$0

Heating$0

Per week$0

A pool cover, an efficient pump and running it only as long as needed all cut costs, with heating the area where savings count most. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator works out the pump's yearly power cost from its kW rating, the hours it runs each day and your power price, then adds your chemicals, heating, and water and servicing costs. The total is the true annual running cost of the pool, and the breakdown shows where the money goes. For a heated pool, heating usually dominates; for an unheated one, the pump is the main electricity cost.

Worked example

A 1.1 kW pump running 6 hours a day uses about 2,409 kWh a year, roughly $675 at 28 cents. Add $500 chemicals, $800 heating and $300 of water and servicing, and the pool costs about $2,275 a year, or around $44 a week.

Related calculators

Electricity Cost Calculator: power costs.
Appliance Running Cost Calculator: appliance costs.
Second Fridge Cost Calculator: a second fridge.

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-06-07 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.