Best Sump Pumps in Australia for Pits, Basements and Flooding
The sump pump advice we give people who ring after the first big storm of the year with water in the garage.
The best sump pump for most Australian homes is the REEFE RVS250VF vortex sump pump at $635. It is a submersible sump pump with a stainless motor housing, a cast iron vortex impeller and a vertical float switch, it moves up to 235 litres a minute, lifts to 10.5 metres, and it fits a small sump pit where a wide float would jam against the wall.
That covers a typical stormwater sump pit, a basement or a low driveway. Bigger flood events, sewage, and tight budgets each need a different sump pump, and the wrong one either burns out or blocks. Below is the best pick for each job with the real specs and the real price.
Short on time? See the REEFE RVS250VF or browse every submersible sump and sewage pump we sell.
The shortlist at a glance
Each pick below is a live Waternex sump pump chosen for one job, and the table shows power, flow, head, solids and price.
| Pick | Best for | Power | Max flow | Max head | Solids | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REEFE RVS250VF | Best overall, house sump pit | 400W, 240V | 235 L/min | 10.5m | 20mm | $635 |
| Hyjet HV180-1A | Best budget | 180W, 240V | 133 L/min | Not published | Vortex | $308 |
| Hyjet HDS25 | Stainless, light drainage | 250W, 240V | 150 L/min | Not published | Drainage | $379 |
| REEFE RVS300VF | Bigger pits and basements | 400W, 240V | 300 L/min | 10m | 30mm | $939 |
| Hyjet DB100-1A | Flooding and big volumes | 1350W, 240V | 600 L/min | 11m | Double channel | $1,413 |
| REEFE stormwater pit kit | Pit and pump in one box | 240V | Varies by pump | Varies by pump | Up to 30mm | From $799 |
Prices current as of October 2026, AUD including GST. Maximum head and maximum flow are the end points of the pump curve, not figures you get at the same time.
Best sump pump overall: REEFE RVS250VF
The REEFE RVS250VF is the best all round sump pump because it pairs real flow, up to 235 L/min, with a vertical float that works in a small sump pit, for $635.
It is a 400W, 240V submersible vortex pump drawing 2.3A. Rated duty is 132 L/min at 6 metres of head, maximum head is 10.5 metres, and it passes soft solids up to 20mm through a 40mm outlet. The motor housing and shaft are stainless, the impeller and base are cast iron, and the dual mechanical seal sits in an oil chamber. It comes with 10 metres of cable and a hosetail.
Why it wins: the vertical float. A tethered float needs room to swing, and in a 300mm or 450mm pit it catches the wall, sticks on, and the pump runs dry until it cooks. A vertical float rides straight up and down a rod. Most sump pump failures we hear about are float failures, not motor failures.
Who it does not suit: anyone pumping sewage. A vortex sump pump is for stormwater, groundwater and greywater only.
Best budget sump pump: Hyjet HV180-1A
The Hyjet HV180-1A is the cheapest sump pump worth putting in a pit, at $308 for a cast iron vortex pump with an automatic float switch.
It is a 180W, 240V pump rated to 133 L/min, made in Italy. Cast iron at this price is the point: the cheap plastic pumps from the hardware shop crack, and a vortex impeller copes with leaves and grit that jam a standard impeller. It suits a small courtyard pit, a laundry sump or a garage that takes a bit of water in heavy rain. It will not keep up with a driveway catching a whole street's runoff.
Best stainless sump pump for light drainage: Hyjet HDS25
The Hyjet HDS25 is the pick when you want a stainless steel sump pump for clean to lightly dirty water, at $379 with a float switch fitted.
It is a 250W, 240V automatic drainage pump in an SS304 stainless body, rated to 150 L/min, with a 32mm top outlet. The top outlet keeps it slim, so it drops into narrow pits and sumps where a side outlet pump will not fit. Good for rainwater pits, plant rooms and pool overflow. For water carrying sludge and leaves, the vortex pumps above are the better choice.
Best sump pump for a basement or bigger pit: REEFE RVS300VF
The REEFE RVS300VF is the best sump pump for a basement or a large sump pit, because it moves up to 300 L/min and passes 30mm soft solids, for $939.
Rated duty is 220 L/min at 5 metres of head, maximum head is 10 metres, power is 400W at 3.7A, and the outlet is 50mm. Same construction as the RVS250VF: stainless motor housing and shaft, cast iron vortex impeller, dual seals in oil, vertical float. It weighs 13kg. If your basement sump pump has to lift water up a storey to the street drain, this is the one, since the extra flow holds up better at height.
Want a lower draw option with bigger solids than the RVS250VF? The REEFE RVS200VF ($674) runs at 250W, handles 25mm solids, moves up to 200 L/min and lifts to 8 metres, with a 2 year warranty.
Best sump pump for flooding: Hyjet DB100-1A
The Hyjet DB100-1A is the sump pump for serious water, moving up to 600 L/min through a 50mm discharge on a standard 240V supply, for $1,413.
It is a 1350W cast iron double channel pump, made in Italy, with a float switch for automatic start and stop and a maximum head of 11 metres. Double channel impellers pass dirty water and solids that would choke a drainage pump. This suits a flood prone basement, a large stormwater pit, a plant room or site dewatering. The manual DB100-1 ($1,232) is the same pump without the float, for use with a separate level controller.
Construction sites and industrial pits that need more again go to three phase. The REEFE RDP550 is a 5.5kW, 415V drainage pump that moves 26.6 litres a second and lifts to 29 metres, for $6,649. That is a dewatering pump, not a house sump pump.
Best complete sump pit kit: REEFE stormwater pit and pump system
The REEFE stormwater pit and pump system is the easiest way to add a sump pit, because it arrives pre-assembled with a polyethylene pit, a Class A galvanised steel grate and an RVS155VF float pump already fitted.
Three sizes are available: 40 litre (360 x 360 x 450mm) at $799, 85 litre (560 x 560 x 505mm) at $1,099, and 180 litre (715 x 715 x 660mm) at $1,250. The outlet is 40mm, it handles water up to 40°C, and it is not suitable for raw sewage. Dig the hole, set the pit, connect the discharge and power. For working out which pit size your yard needs, read our stormwater pit sizing guide.
View the REEFE stormwater pit kit →
How to choose a sump pump
The right sump pump is set by four things: what is in the water, how much water arrives, how high it has to lift, and how much room is in the pit.
1. What is in the water
A sump pump is for stormwater, groundwater and greywater, never toilet waste. Clean water suits a drainage pump like the HDS25. Leaves, silt and grit suit a vortex or double channel pump. Anything from a toilet needs a cutter or grinder pump such as the REEFE RCE90 cutter pump ($1,302) or the Aline SABRE ALC750-1A ($1,501), usually inside a proper pump station. Our grinder pump vs drainage pump guide explains the difference.
2. How much water arrives
Sump pump flow should beat the peak inflow, not the average. A small courtyard pit is happy with 130 to 150 L/min. A driveway, a basement ramp or a block that takes runoff from neighbours needs 250 L/min or more, and a flood prone basement justifies the 600 L/min DB100-1A.
3. How high it has to lift
Sump pump head is the vertical lift from the pit to the discharge point plus friction in the pipe. A pump moves far less water near its maximum head, so pick one whose rated duty point covers your lift. Lifting 5 metres out of a basement? The RVS300VF is rated at 220 L/min at exactly that height.
4. How much room is in the pit
Pit size decides the float type and how often the pump cycles. A small sump pit needs a vertical float or a fitted float switch. A very small pit makes the pump start and stop constantly, which wears it out, so give it as much volume as the site allows.
What about Davey, Grundfos and Zoeller
Davey, Grundfos and Zoeller all make good sump pumps and they are the names people search first.
We do not stock them. For a house sump pit, a REEFE vortex pump or an Italian made Hyjet does the same job in cast iron and stainless at a sharp price. What matters more than the badge is matching the impeller to the water and the float to the pit.
Sump pump installation
Sump pump installation in Australia needs a licensed electrician for any hardwired power or new outlet, and a licensed plumber for connection to stormwater.
Discharge has to go to a legal point, usually the stormwater system, never the sewer. Fit a non-return valve on the discharge so water does not drain back into the pit, and an alarm if a failure would flood something expensive. For basements, see our guide to basement pump-away systems. For bigger stormwater jobs, there are packaged stormwater pit and pump systems, including dual pump stations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sump pump in Australia?
For most homes, the best sump pump is the REEFE RVS250VF at $635, a 400W submersible vortex pump with a vertical float that moves up to 235 L/min and lifts to 10.5 metres. For tight budgets the Hyjet HV180-1A costs $308, and for flooding the Hyjet DB100-1A moves up to 600 L/min.
How much does a sump pump cost in Australia?
A quality submersible sump pump in Australia costs from about $308 to $940 for a house pit and around $1,400 for a 600 L/min flood pump, as of October 2026. A pre-assembled pit and pump kit costs $799 to $1,250, plus installation.
Can a sump pump handle sewage?
No, a standard sump pump should not be used for sewage, because toilet waste blocks vortex and drainage impellers. Sewage needs a cutter or grinder pump, normally inside a sewer pump station installed by a licensed plumber.
What size sump pit do I need?
A sump pit should be big enough that the pump runs for at least a minute or so each cycle instead of switching on and off constantly. Small courtyard pits often use 40 to 85 litres, while driveways and basements suit 180 litres or more.
Do I need a plumber to install a sump pump?
Yes, in Australia a licensed plumber should connect a sump pump discharge to the stormwater system, and a licensed electrician must do any hardwired electrical work. A plug in pump on an existing outdoor outlet is simpler, but the discharge still has to go to a legal point.
Still not sure which sump pump fits? Ask us
Tell us the pit size, how high the water has to go, where it discharges and what is in it, and we will match the pump. Five minutes now saves a flooded garage later.
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Pumping from a bore instead of a pit? See the best submersible bore pumps or our submersible bore pump range.
This guide is general information for Australian property owners and is not a substitute for advice on your specific site. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician and stormwater or sewer connections by a licensed plumber. Confirm final sizing with us before you buy.