Well Pump Sizing Calculator

Total dynamic head, horsepower class, and pressure tank size from well depth, fixture lift, flow rate, pipe friction, and system pressure

Starting point only — not a named-model pump curve. TDH = vertical lift (well depth + fixture lift) + Hazen-Williams friction (PVC C=150) + pressure head (cut-out PSI × 2.31). Horsepower bands interpolate typical residential submersible catalog-order capacities at 50–400 ft TDH for 1/2, 3/4, 1, and 1.5 HP. Tank gallons assume about one minute of pump run time and a bladder-tank drawdown factor (~0.28 for 40/60). Confirm the published GPM at your actual TDH, pre-charge the tank 2 PSI below cut-in, and verify well yield before you buy.

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Well Pump Install Gear

TDH and HP pick the pump. Torque arrestors, well-rated cable, and a pressure switch calibrated to the tank you actually have are why a “right-size” pump still cycles every 15 seconds or can't reach the second floor.

Submersible Well Pump (1/2 HP Class)

Typical shallow-to-moderate depth residential. Confirm the curve at your total dynamic head, not the HP alone.

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Convertible Jet Pump

Shallow or deep configuration depending on static lift. Above-ground service. Check if your depth is in jet or submersible territory.

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Amtrol Well-X-Trol 20 Gal Pressure Tank

Adequate drawdown for typical household demand. Prevents short-cycling when matched to the pressure switch range.

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Square D Pumptrol 40/60 Pressure Switch

Standard residential band. Cut-in at 40 PSI, cut-out at 60. Must match your tank drawdown capacity and plumbing fixture minimums.

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Torque Arrestor

Prevents submersible pump from spinning on start-stop. Unanchored motors twist the drop pipe and stress wiring.

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Well Pump Cable

Submersible-rated, UV-resistant jacket. Must handle depth, voltage drop, and wet environments. Size by depth and pump load.

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How to Use This Well Pump Sizing Calculator

Enter the pumping (or static) water level, the rise from grade to the highest fixture, the GPM you need (or a bathroom-count estimate), drop/supply pipe diameter and developed length, and the pressure-switch cut-in/cut-out. The tool adds vertical lift, Hazen-Williams friction (C=150 PVC), and pressure head (cut-out PSI × 2.31) into total dynamic head, then picks the smallest typical 1/2–1.5 HP residential band that still makes that GPM at that TDH and sizes a bladder tank for roughly one minute of drawdown.

TDH = (well depth + fixture lift) + friction head + (cut-out PSI × 2.31)

Why those three terms matter: sizing guide. Short-cycling and waterlogged tanks: troubleshooting. Submersible vs jet is depth architecture, not the GPM formula: comparison. Ballpark before you measure pipe: sizing chart.

Well Pump Sizing Calculator