{
  "slug": "pump-horsepower",
  "title": "Pump Horsepower Calculator",
  "heading": "Pump Horsepower & Energy Cost Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pump-horsepower",
  "summary": "Required HP from flow, head, and efficiency — plus run cost.",
  "description": "Hydraulic horsepower is flow times head divided by 3,960. Divide by pump efficiency to size the motor you actually have to buy.",
  "formula": "HP = GPM × head (ft) ÷ 3,960 ÷ efficiency.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=pump-horsepower",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "gpm",
      "label": "Flow rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 60,
      "unit": "gal/min",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "head",
      "label": "Total dynamic head",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 80,
      "unit": "ft",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "eff",
      "label": "Pump efficiency",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 70,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 20,
      "max": 95
    },
    {
      "id": "hours",
      "label": "Run hours per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 24
    },
    {
      "id": "rate",
      "label": "Electricity rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.17,
      "unit": "$/kWh",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "bhp",
      "label": "Required brake horsepower",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "hyd",
      "label": "Hydraulic horsepower",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "kw",
      "label": "Motor draw (kW)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "daily",
      "label": "Daily energy cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "monthly",
      "label": "Monthly energy cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Annual energy cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Flow rate: 60 gal/min",
      "Total dynamic head: 80 ft",
      "Pump efficiency: 70 %",
      "Run hours per day: 4",
      "Electricity rate: 0.17 $/kWh"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Required brake horsepower: 1.73",
      "Hydraulic horsepower: 1.21",
      "Motor draw (kW): 1.29",
      "Daily energy cost: $0.88",
      "Monthly energy cost: $26.34",
      "Annual energy cost: $320"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter flow rate (gal/min).",
      "Enter total dynamic head (ft).",
      "Enter pump efficiency (%).",
      "Enter run hours per day.",
      "Enter electricity rate ($/kWh).",
      "Read your required brake horsepower on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "gpm": 36,
        "head": 48,
        "eff": 42,
        "hours": 2.4,
        "rate": 0.17
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "gpm": 60,
        "head": 80,
        "eff": 70,
        "hours": 4,
        "rate": 0.17
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "gpm": 96,
        "head": 128,
        "eff": 95,
        "hours": 6.4,
        "rate": 0.17
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the pump horsepower & energy cost calculator work?",
      "a": "Hydraulic horsepower is flow times head divided by 3,960. Divide by pump efficiency to size the motor you actually have to buy. The underlying maths is: HP = GPM × head (ft) ÷ 3,960 ÷ efficiency."
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "5 values: flow rate, total dynamic head, pump efficiency, run hours per day, and electricity rate. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the required brake horsepower result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pipe-flow-rate",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/electricity-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Pump Horsepower Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pump-horsepower)"
}