Pool Fill Cost Calculator

Enter your pool volume, water rate, and hose flow — get the cost of a full or partial fill, and how long the hose will run.

Don't know it? Use the pool volume calculator.

100 = full fill; 33 = typical partial drain-and-refill.

On your utility bill; include sewer unless waived.

Water cost
—
Gallons needed—
Fill time at that flow—
Cost if sewer charge waived (~half)—

After any large fill, retest everything — fresh water dilutes CYA, salt, calcium, and alkalinity alike.

Pool Fill Cost Calculator — free from poolcarekit.com

</> Embed this calculator

Copy this code into your page. Free to use with the credit link.

advertisement

The fill cost formula

cost = gallons × (rate per 1,000 gal ÷ 1,000)
fill hours = gallons ÷ (hose GPM × 60)

The rate on your bill is the whole game, and it varies more than people expect — $3/1,000 gal in water-rich regions to $12+ in the arid Southwest, usually split between "water" and "sewer" line items. Since pool water never enters the sewer, many utilities will credit that portion for a documented pool fill.

A worked example

Filling 15,000 gallons at $6 per 1,000: $90, running a 10 GPM hose for 25 hours. A one-third drain-and-refill to knock 90 ppm off high CYA: 5,000 gallons, $30, and about 8 hours of hose time — cheap compared to fighting bad chemistry all season.

Well water and trucked water

Filling from a well is "free" but can pull iron and metals that stain plaster the moment chlorine hits them — sequestrant first if your well runs rusty, and pace the fill to protect the well pump. Trucked water costs several times city rates but arrives in hours, pre-balanced in some markets — the pool water delivery calculator prices loads for your area. For most city-water pools, the hose wins on price every time. And once it's full, the evaporation calculator shows how fast you'll be topping it back up.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to fill a pool with water?

City water typically runs $4–10 per 1,000 gallons including sewer charges, so a 15,000-gallon pool costs roughly $60–150 to fill from the tap. Some utilities waive the sewer portion for pool fills if you ask — worth a call, since sewer is often half the bill.

How long does it take to fill a pool with a garden hose?

A standard hose delivers 8–12 gallons per minute. At 10 GPM, 15,000 gallons takes 25 hours — plan on a full day and night, and don't leave it completely unattended near the top.

Is water delivery cheaper than the hose?

Almost never cheaper — trucked water typically costs several times tap rates — but it fills a pool in hours instead of days and doesn't stress a well. It's the right call for well water with iron, or when the pool must open this weekend.

Do I have to drain my pool to fix high CYA or salt?

Partial drains are the standard fix — and this calculator prices them. To cut a level by half, drain and refill half the volume; the water math is linear.

Related calculators

Salt vs Chlorine Cost CalculatorDoes converting to salt water actually save money? The payback math.Salt Cell Replacement CalculatorWhen your salt cell will die, and what to budget for it.Variable Speed Pump SavingsWhat switching to a variable speed pump saves you per year.Pool Liner Size CalculatorMeasure your pool, get the exact liner spec — overlap, beaded, or unibead.

Pool care reminders, right on time

A short email when it matters: opening season, heat waves that eat chlorine, closing time. No spam, ever.