Every fuel transfer pump gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. 12V DC and 115V AC pumps are grouped and scored on separate price scales.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | price of the pump or kit | 20% |
| Flow | rated flow in gallons a minute | 25% |
| Duty cycle | how long it may run before it has to rest | 15% |
| Safety listing | a UL listing and an explosion-proof motor | 15% |
| Kit | meter, automatic nozzle, filter, suction pipe and hose length in the box | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Flow, duty cycle, safety listings, kit contents and warranty come from the maker’s product page, catalog, spec sheet or owner’s manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s catalog and a retail listing disagree, the catalog is used. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Price is the current price of the pump or kit, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. For 12V DC pumps, $1,500 scores zero and $200 full marks. For 115V AC pumps, $1,500 scores zero and $300 full marks.
Flow is the maker’s rated flow: 5 gallons a minute scores zero and 25 gallons a minute full marks.
Duty cycle is how long the pump may run before it has to rest. A pump rated for continuous duty gets full marks. Otherwise it’s the minutes it may run out of 60, so a pump rated 30 minutes on scores half and one rated 15 minutes on scores a quarter.
Safety listing is 60% for a UL or cULus listing and 40% for an explosion-proof motor or a motor listed for hazardous locations, which is what makes a pump safe around gasoline vapor.
Kit is what comes in the box: 25% for a meter, 25% for an automatic shut-off nozzle, 10% for a fuel filter, 20% for a suction pipe or suction hose, and 20% for the discharge hose, scaled by its length from 6 ft (zero) to 18 ft (full).
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: no warranty scores zero and 5 years full marks. A limited lifetime warranty gets full marks.
What isn’t scored
Current draw, pressure and discharge head, suction lift, power cable length, mounting style, weight, fluids approved and release date are listed but not scored. A pump not approved for gasoline isn’t marked down for that alone, since many buyers only move diesel; its safety listing score shows the difference.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Kit scores neutral only when nothing about the box contents is published; an item the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. Two exceptions: a safety listing the maker doesn’t publish counts as none, and a maker that doesn’t publish a warranty gets no warranty counted. Both are marked estimated. Budget pumps often leave out their duty cycle, UL listing and warranty, so they lose points here.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.