Free pool tool
Pump Run-Time Calculator
How long should you run the pump? Enter your pool volume and pump flow rate to get your turnover time and a daily run-time target.
Pool & pump
Run time
One full turnover
Run for 1 turnover/day
5.6 hrs
Run for 2 turnovers/day
11.1 hrs
Most pools stay clear with 1–2 turnovers a day. Hotter weather, heavy use, or algae call for more.
Turnover hours = volume ÷ (flow GPM × 60). Real-world flow drops with dirty filters and plumbing losses, so round up.
How long should a pool pump run?
The goal is “turnover” — circulating the entire pool through the filter. One turnover takes your pool's volume divided by the pump's flow rate (in gallons per hour):
turnover hours = volume ÷ (pump GPM × 60)
Most pools stay healthy with one to two turnovers per day. Run more in hot weather, after heavy bather load, or when clearing algae. Note that a pump's rated flow is optimistic — dirty filters and plumbing friction reduce real throughput, so round your run time up rather than down.
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