How Many Amps Does a Sump Pump Use?

A sump pump uses about 6.7 running amps at 120 volts (roughly 800 watts). Because it is a motor load, it surges to several times that for a moment at startup. To get your unit's exact draw, divide the nameplate watts by 120: amps = watts / volts. A residential sump pump (1/3 to 1/2 HP) draws about 6-10 running amps with a real motor surge at startup, and should be on its own dedicated 120V circuit so nothing else can trip the breaker and leave the pit unprotected. It needs GFCI protection in most locations; test it seasonally.

A sump pump belongs on a dedicated 15A / 120V circuit (NEC 210.8(A), 422.10). At 6.7 running amps it stays within the 80% continuous limit of that breaker, with headroom for the startup surge. Do not put it on a shared circuit with other large loads.

Divide the wattage on the nameplate by the voltage: amps = watts / volts. A sump pump at about 800 watts on 120V works out to 800 / 120 = 6.7 amps. Add a startup surge of several times that for a fraction of a second on the motor. The nameplate always governs over a typical value.

Same answer: basement pump is another name for a sump pump. It draws about 6.7 amps at 120V on a dedicated 15A circuit. A residential sump pump (1/3 to 1/2 HP) draws about 6-10 running amps with a real motor surge at startup, and should be on its own dedicated 120V circuit so nothing else can trip the breaker and leave the pit unprotected. It needs GFCI protection in most locations; test it seasonally.