Pump Run-Time Calculator
Enter your pool volume, pump flow rate, and how many turnovers you want per day, to get a recommended daily run time — and, optionally, its rough electricity cost.
Recommended run time
How the run time is calculated
The pump's rated flow in gallons per minute is converted to gallons per hour, and the pool volume is multiplied by the number of turnovers you want per day. Dividing the total gallons to move by the flow rate per hour gives the hours the pump needs to run. If you provide the pump's power draw in watts and a price per kWh, the tool also estimates the energy used and its daily cost.
This is a planning estimate based on the pump's rated flow — actual flow is lower once you account for filter resistance, plumbing friction, and a dirtier filter cartridge, so treat the result as a starting point and adjust based on how clear and well-sanitized your water stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'turnover' and why does it matter?
A turnover is one full cycle of every gallon in the pool passing through the filter and pump once. Filtration and sanitizer only work on water that's actually moving past them, so a common baseline recommendation is at least one full turnover every 24 hours — hotter weather, heavy bather load, or a green/cloudy pool may call for more.
Where do I find my pump's flow rate?
Check the pump's data plate, owner's manual, or the manufacturer's published performance curve for its rated flow in gallons per minute (GPM) at your system's resistance (head). Flow drops as filter cartridges get dirtier or if plumbing is undersized, so the rated number is a best-case estimate.
Should I run the pump in one long stretch or split it up?
Either generally works for turnover purposes, though many pool owners split the run time to cover peak sunlight hours (when chlorine burns off fastest and algae growth is more likely) and to avoid running an unshaded pump motor during the very hottest part of the day. A variable-speed pump can also run longer at a lower, more efficient speed for the same turnover.
Does a bigger pump always mean a shorter run time?
For a given turnover target, yes — a higher flow rate clears the same volume faster. But oversizing a pump wastes energy and can be too fast for some filter types (especially sand and DE filters, which have a maximum recommended flow rate) — match pump size to your filter's rated capacity, not just to minimize run time.
Planning estimate only. Actual filtration needs vary with bather load, weather, algae risk, and your specific filter and plumbing — adjust run time based on how your water actually looks and tests.