A submersible borehole pump with its motor and control box is listed from R2,920 for a small 3-inch unit to R6,580 for a 2.2 kW 4-inch set, and pre-assembled kits run R3,599–R9,843. Installation adds cable, riser pipe, often a pressure tank, and the installer's time. These are listed retail prices, collected on 13 September 2026, not installer quotes.
Borehole Pump Prices by Size
| Motor | Pump, motor & control box | Borehole pump kits | Depth stated on listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.18 kW | — | R3,599 (1 listed) | 35 m (JoJo) |
| 0.25 kW | R2,920 | R4,299 (1 listed) | 48 m (JoJo) |
| 0.37 kW | R3,635 | R3,899–R7,817 (3 listed) | 65 m (JoJo) · 40 m (Waterpumps.co.za) |
| 0.55 kW | R3,430 | R4,199–R8,911 (3 listed) | 54 m (Jordan Group) · 91 m (JoJo) |
| 0.75 kW | R3,935 | R4,999–R9,843 (3 listed) | 69 m (Jordan Group) · 117 m (JoJo) · 70 m (Waterpumps.co.za) |
| 1.1 kW | R4,399 | — | 97 m (Jordan Group) |
| 1.5 kW | R5,300 | — | 138 m (Jordan Group) |
| 2.2 kW | R6,580 | — | 190 m (Jordan Group) |
Kits are not like for like. Some are a pre-assembled pump and motor, others add a starter box, cable, rope and fittings for a set depth, which is most of the price gap between the cheapest and dearest kit at the same size. The full listing table shows what each one includes.
How to Size a Borehole Pump
Three numbers decide the pump, and two of them come from your borehole, not the shop:
- Sustainable yield — how much the borehole can give, in litres per second, from a proper yield test. The pump must not draw more than this. See yield testing explained.
- Total head — the height the pump lifts water: from the pumping water level up to the surface, plus the rise to your tank, plus friction in the pipe.
- Daily demand — what the household, garden or pool actually uses.
On the listings checked, depth ratings climb with motor size: the Jordan Group 4-inch sets are listed for 54 m at 0.55 kW, 69 m at 0.75 kW, 97 m at 1.1 kW, 138 m at 1.5 kW, 190 m at 2.2 kW. For the site's 60 m reference borehole, the smallest set rated past that depth was 0.75 kW and the smallest kit 0.37 kW. A depth rating is typically the most a pump can manage at low flow, so your installer should still check the pump curve at the flow you need. An oversized pump is not the safe option: pulling water faster than the borehole recovers draws it down and can damage the borehole.
What Installation Adds
The only installed pump price we hold comes from a dated, itemised quote by Numzaan Drilling on the KZN South Coast:
| Item | Quoted rate | At 60 m |
|---|---|---|
| Submersible pump 0.75 kW, supply and install | R6,500 | R6,500 |
| Submersible cable | R49.50/m | R2,970 |
| HDPE riser pipe | R35/m | R2,100 |
| Sum of these lines | R11,570 | |
That total leaves out the control box, a pressure tank and switch, and the electrical connection, which the price guide lists as estimates. Use the listed prices above as a check on any quote that prices the pump alone well above retail.
Control Boxes and Pump Protection
The control box starts and protects the motor. The Jordan Group 220 V sets above are listed with one; its 400 V sets are listed as pump and motor only. Protection features vary by model, so ask what yours covers. Dry-run protection matters most on a borehole with a modest yield, because it stops the pump when the water level drops to it.
Solar Borehole Pumps
| Pump | Listed price | Stated head | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 210 W · JoJo | R5,999 | — | 3-inch solar pump kit |
| 210 W · The Sun Pays | R6,274 | 77 m | 210 W screw pump and controller; panels not included |
| 120 W · The Sun Pays | R6,350 | 56 m | 120 W screw pump and controller; panels not included |
| 500 W · The Sun Pays | R6,990 | 109 m | 500 W screw pump and controller; panels not included |
| 750 W · The Sun Pays | R7,590 | 95 m | 750 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included |
| 1100 W · The Sun Pays | R8,290 | 123 m | 1,100 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included |
| 1500 W · The Sun Pays | R9,590 | 140 m | 1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included |
| 1500 W · The Sun Pays | R13,490 | 203 m | 1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included |
These prices cover the pump and its controller. Panels, mounting, a storage tank and installation come on top, which is why complete solar systems cost several times more than the pump; the solar borehole pump guide covers sizing the array and the cost of a full system. The Sun Pays listings also state a maximum submersion of 30 metres below the water level, so check how deep your pump would hang.
Submersible, Surface or Booster Pump?
A borehole almost always takes a submersible pump that hangs in the water. Surface pumps suit shallow wellpoints, where the water is close enough to draw up by suction; the borehole vs wellpoint guide explains the difference. A booster or pressure pump is a separate item that pushes water from a storage tank to the house, and is often part of a complete installation.
What a Borehole Pump Costs to Run
Multiply the motor rating by the hours it runs and your electricity rate. A 0.75 kW motor running 3 hours a day uses 2.25 kWh a day, about 68 kWh a month. Multiply that by the per-kWh rate on your municipal or Eskom bill for the monthly cost. Keeping the pump in good condition keeps that number honest; see the pump maintenance guide.
Every Listing Checked
Listed prices as shown on each retailer's website on 13 September 2026. Prices change; check the listing before you buy. BoreholeHub has no commercial arrangement with these retailers.
| Type | Size | Retailer | Listed price | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kit | 0.18 kW | JoJo | R3,599 | Pre-assembled 3-inch kit · for installations up to 35 m |
| Kit | 0.25 kW | JoJo | R4,299 | Pre-assembled 3-inch kit · for installations up to 48 m |
| Kit | 0.37 kW | Jordan Group | R3,899 | 4-inch combo kit, pumps to 58 m head; contents not itemised on the listing |
| Kit | 0.37 kW | JoJo | R5,908 | Pre-assembled 3-inch kit · for installations up to 65 m |
| Kit | 0.37 kW | Waterpumps.co.za | R7,817 | Complete combo for a 40 m borehole · kit for a borehole of 40 m |
| Kit | 0.55 kW | Jordan Group | R4,199 | 4-inch combo kit, pumps to 80 m head; contents not itemised on the listing |
| Kit | 0.55 kW | JoJo | R6,868 | Pre-assembled 3-inch kit · for installations up to 91 m |
| Kit | 0.55 kW | Waterpumps.co.za | R8,911 | Complete combo |
| Kit | 0.75 kW | Jordan Group | R4,999 | 4-inch combo kit, pumps to 110 m head; contents not itemised on the listing |
| Kit | 0.75 kW | Waterpumps.co.za | R9,193 | Pump, motor, starter box, 70 m cable, rope, fittings and splice kit · kit for a borehole of 70 m |
| Kit | 0.75 kW | JoJo | R9,843 | Pre-assembled 3-inch kit · for installations up to 117 m |
| Pump set | 0.25 kW | Jordan Group | R2,920 | 3-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V |
| Pump set | 0.37 kW | Jordan Group | R3,635 | 3-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V |
| Pump set | 0.55 kW | Jordan Group | R3,430 | 4-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V · maximum installation depth 54 m |
| Pump set | 0.75 kW | Jordan Group | R3,935 | 4-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V · maximum installation depth 69 m |
| Pump set | 1.1 kW | Jordan Group | R4,399 | 4-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V · maximum installation depth 97 m |
| Pump set | 1.5 kW | Jordan Group | R5,300 | 4-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V · maximum installation depth 138 m |
| Pump set | 2.2 kW | Jordan Group | R6,580 | 4-inch pump, motor and control box, 220 V · maximum installation depth 190 m |
| Solar | 120 W | The Sun Pays | R6,350 | 120 W screw pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 56 m |
| Solar | 210 W | JoJo | R5,999 | 3-inch solar pump kit |
| Solar | 210 W | The Sun Pays | R6,274 | 210 W screw pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 77 m |
| Solar | 500 W | The Sun Pays | R6,990 | 500 W screw pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 109 m |
| Solar | 750 W | The Sun Pays | R7,590 | 750 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 95 m |
| Solar | 1100 W | The Sun Pays | R8,290 | 1,100 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 123 m |
| Solar | 1500 W | The Sun Pays | R9,590 | 1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 140 m |
| Solar | 1500 W | The Sun Pays | R13,490 | 1,500 W centrifugal pump and controller; panels not included · maximum head 203 m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What size borehole pump do I need for a 60 m borehole?
Depth is only half of it; the pump also has to deliver the flow you need at that depth without drawing more than the borehole's tested yield. On the listings checked on 13 September 2026, the smallest pump, motor and control box set rated past 60 m was a 0.75 kW set (69 m, R3,935 at Jordan Group), and the smallest kit was a 0.37 kW kit (65 m, R5,908 at JoJo). Confirm the choice on the pump curve with your installer.
How much does a borehole pump cost in South Africa?
Listed prices on 13 September 2026: pump, motor and control box sets from R2,920–R6,580 (0.25 kW to 2.2 kW), and borehole pump kits from R3,599–R9,843. Installation is extra: a dated KZN quote we hold prices a 0.75 kW submersible at R6,500 supplied and installed, plus cable and riser pipe per metre.
How long can a borehole pump run continuously?
As long as the borehole keeps up. A pump drawing water faster than the borehole recovers will pull the water level down to the pump and run dry. Size and set the pump to the sustainable yield from a proper yield test, and make sure the control box has dry-run protection.
Can I run a borehole pump on solar power?
Yes, with a DC solar pump and controller. Listed solar borehole pumps with controllers ran R6,274–R13,490 at The Sun Pays, with panels bought separately, and those listings state a maximum submersion of 30 metres below the water level.
Should I buy a 3-inch or a 4-inch borehole pump?
It depends first on your casing. The pump has to pass freely down the inside of the casing, so check its inside diameter on the drilling log or with your driller. After that, compare the depth or head stated for the specific model: on the listings checked, ratings at the same motor size varied more between retailers than between 3-inch and 4-inch units.
Need a pump installed or replaced?
Request itemised quotes from installers, with the pump, cable, riser, control box and labour listed separately so you can compare them against the prices above.