Pool fill cost calculator
What filling the pool costs at your water rate, and how long to leave the hose running.
In short: Fill cost = gallons ÷ 1,000 × your price per 1,000 gallons. At $5 per 1,000 gallons, 20,000 gallons cost $100. A hose at 10 gallons a minute takes about 33 hours.
Formulas reviewed November 1, 2026 · How we calculate
Using your saved pool: . My pool
$75.00
to fill 15,000 gallons at $5.00 per 1,000 gallons. With one hose at 10 gallons a minute, it takes about 25 hours.
- Time with one hose
- 25 hours
- With two hoses
- 12.5 hours
- Pool size
- 15,000 gal
What to add
What would change your result
- A second hose on another spigot cuts filling to about 12.5 hours.
- Call your water utility before filling: many give a sewer credit for pool fills, which can halve the bill.
- Once it's full, start chlorine right away: about 57.6 fl oz of 10% liquid chlorine brings fresh water to 3 ppm.Open
Many water utilities offer a sewer credit for pool fills if you call before you fill. Water trucks cost more but fill in hours.
How long does it take to fill a pool? Chart
Hours with one garden hose, and water cost at $5 per 1,000 gallons. Your own rate is on your bill.
| Pool size | Hose at 8 GPM | Hose at 12 GPM | Water at $5 / 1,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 gal | 20.8 hours | 13.9 hours | $50.00 |
| 15,000 gal | 31.3 hours | 20.8 hours | $75.00 |
| 20,000 gal | 41.7 hours | 27.8 hours | $100 |
| 25,000 gal | 2.2 days | 34.7 hours | $125 |
| 30,000 gal | 2.6 days | 41.7 hours | $150 |
Getting it right
Check your water bill's unit. Utilities charge per 1,000 gallons or per CCF (100 cubic feet, 748 gallons). Divide a CCF price by 0.748 to enter it here.
Ask about sewer. Sewer is often billed on water use, which can double the cost of a fill. Many utilities waive it for pools if you call first.
Time the fill. A 20,000-gallon pool takes well over a day on one hose. Two hoses on separate spigots halve it; a water truck takes hours but costs more.
Treat it right away. Fresh water has no chlorine. Start dosing as soon as the pump can run.
Key facts
- Water is billed per 1,000 gallons or per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons); check which unit your bill uses.
- A typical garden hose delivers somewhere between 5 and 12 gallons a minute depending on pressure and diameter.
- Sewer charges are often based on water use, so a pool fill can double the bill unless you ask for a credit.
How it's calculated
Cost = pool gallons ÷ 1,000 × your price per 1,000 gallons.
Time = pool gallons ÷ hose gallons per minute ÷ 60, in hours. Two hoses on separate spigots roughly halve it.
If your bill is in CCF (100 cubic feet), divide that price by 0.748 to get the price per 1,000 gallons.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to fill a pool with water?
Gallons ÷ 1,000 × your rate. A 20,000-gallon pool at $5 per 1,000 gallons costs $100 in water, more if sewer is charged on it.
How long does it take to fill a pool with a hose?
Gallons ÷ hose GPM ÷ 60. At 10 GPM, 20,000 gallons takes about 33 hours.
Is it cheaper to fill a pool with a water truck?
Usually not cheaper, but much faster. Trucks make sense where well water is limited or the town restricts hose use.
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