Best Solar Bore Pumps in Australia
Picked by casing size and bore depth, because that is what actually decides it.
The best solar bore pump for most Australian bores is the Tuhorse 4S1000 package with 1600W of panels at $4,993. It suits 4 inch casings, delivers 45 L/min at 40 metres and still gives 12 L/min at 120 metres, and it arrives as a complete kit with panels, controller, sensors and cable.
But a 4 inch pump is useless in a 3 inch bore, and a 60 metre pump is useless in a 150 metre bore. So the shortlist below is sorted by the two numbers that matter: your casing size and your pumping depth. Every pick is a live product with its real price.
Short on time? See the Tuhorse 4S1000 kit, the 3 inch Tuhorse 3S500 kit, or every solar pump we sell.
The best solar bore pumps at a glance
The table below lists eight solar bore pumps, each the best pick for one casing size, depth or budget.
| Pick | Best for | Casing | Key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuhorse 4S1000 + 1600W panels | Best overall | 4 inch | 45 L/min at 40m, 12 L/min at 120m | $4,993 |
| Tuhorse 3S500 + 800W panels | Best for 3 inch bores | 3 inch | 30 L/min at 10 to 20m, 20 L/min at 50m | $3,448 |
| Outback Joey 1-60 DC | Cheapest complete kit | 3 inch | Up to 18 L/min, 60m max head | $1,992 |
| Outback Nomad 1.5-110 AC/DC | Solar plus generator backup | 3 inch | Up to 26 L/min, 110m max head | $4,292 |
| REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP | Deep bores | 3 inch | Up to 37 L/min, 180m max head | $7,572.85 |
| REEFE RS4C7.5-101.SP | High flow, irrigation | 4 inch | Up to 125 L/min, 100m max head | $9,458.92 |
| Tuhorse 2S370 + 800W panels | Narrow 2 inch bores | 2 inch | 33 L/min at 10m, 10 L/min at 80m | $3,448 |
| REEFE RS3S1.7-120 (pump only) | Already own panels | 3 inch | Up to 28 L/min, 120m max head | $1,131.19 |
Prices current as of October 2026, AUD including GST.
Best solar bore pump overall: Tuhorse 4S1000 package
The Tuhorse 4S1000 with 1600W of panels is the best solar bore pump overall because it gives useful flow across the whole 10 to 120 metre range that most Australian stock and house bores sit in.
It is a 4 inch, 1000W helical rotor pump at 110V DC with eight 200W panels, an MPPT control box with bore and tank level sensors, 40 metres of fitted cable and a spare rotor. The spec sheet flow: 55 L/min at 10m, 45 L/min at 40m, 40 L/min at 60m, 30 L/min at 80m, 23 L/min at 100m and 12 L/min at 120m. Warranty is 24 months back to base on the pump and controller.
Buy the 1600W kit, not the 800W one. The 800W version is $1,095 cheaper and pumps fine at noon in January. In June, it pumps for a lot fewer hours. Panels are the cheapest litres you will ever buy.
Shallow bore and want more water? The 4S1000C centrifugal package is the same price and gives 80 L/min at 10m and 62 L/min at 40m, but drops to 15 L/min by 100m.
View the Tuhorse 4S1000 + 1600W package →
Best solar bore pump for 3 inch bores: Tuhorse 3S500 package
The Tuhorse 3S500 with 800W of panels is the best solar bore pump for a 3 inch casing on a bore between 20 and 80 metres, at $3,448 as a complete kit.
It is a 3 inch, 500W, 48V helical rotor pump with four 200W panels, the same MPPT control box and sensors as the bigger Tuhorse kits, and a spare rotor. Flow: 30 L/min at 10 to 20m, 24 L/min at 30 to 40m, 20 L/min at 50m, 16 L/min at 60m and 7 L/min at 80m. That is a house tank and a few troughs comfortably. It is not an irrigation pump.
View the Tuhorse 3S500 + 800W package →
Cheapest complete solar bore pump kit: Outback Joey 1-60
The Outback Joey 1-60 is the cheapest complete solar bore pump kit we would put in the ground, at $1,992 for a 3 inch pump, one 450W panel, a DC MPPT controller and 40 metres of cable.
It is a 300W brushless helical rotor pump rated to 60 metres of head and 18 L/min maximum, with dry run and low water protection. Good for a shallow bore feeding a house tank or a small mob. Put it on a 70 metre bore and you will be disappointed, because maximum head means almost no flow at that depth.
Best AC/DC hybrid solar bore pump: Outback Nomad 1.5-110
The Outback Nomad 1.5-110 is the best hybrid solar bore pump for a 3 inch casing, because the controller runs the pump from solar and switches to mains or a generator when the sky will not cooperate.
The kit is a 1000W brushless helical rotor pump, three 450W panels (1350W total), an AC/DC MPPT controller and 40 metres of cable. Rated to 110 metres of head and 26 L/min. A pure DC pump in a grey Gippsland July just slows down. A hybrid keeps the trough full. For bigger demand in a 4 inch bore, the Tuhorse 4H2200 hybrid package ($6,648) is rated to 220 metres and 5,400 litres an hour.
Best solar bore pump for deep bores: REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP
The REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP is the best solar bore pump for deep bores, rated to 180 metres of head and up to 37 L/min from a 3 inch casing.
It is a 1100W, 72V helical rotor pump with an MPPT controller, under and over voltage protection, dead head protection, four 440W panels, a pole mounting kit and a 15 metre plug and play array cable. Warranty is 2 years. Deep bores are where helical rotors earn their keep: an impeller pump of the same wattage simply runs out of pressure. If your bore is closer to 150 metres, the RS3S2.0-150.SP saves about $980.
View the REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP →
Best high flow solar bore pump: REEFE RS4C7.5-101.SP
The REEFE RS4C7.5-101.SP is the best high flow solar bore pump, rated to 125 L/min with a maximum head of 100 metres from a 4 inch casing.
It is a 1500W, 110V centrifugal pump with five 440W panels, a pole mount, an MPPT controller and a 32mm outlet. This is the pump for a good shallow to medium bore feeding irrigation or a big stock operation. The other option at this end is the Tuhorse 4S3000C package ($8,198), a 3000W centrifugal pump with 4750W of panels rated to 130 metres and 12,000 litres an hour.
View the REEFE RS4C7.5-101.SP →
Best solar bore pump for 2 inch bores: Tuhorse 2S370
The Tuhorse 2S370 with 800W of panels is the solar bore pump for narrow 2 inch casings, which most solar kits simply will not fit.
It is a 370W, 36V DC stainless helical rotor pump with four 200W panels, the MPPT control box and 40 metres of cable. Flow is 33 L/min at 10m, 25 L/min at 40m, 18 L/min at 60m and 10 L/min at 80m. Old 2 inch bores are common on older farms, and the usual answer is to redrill. This is cheaper.
View the Tuhorse 2S370 package →
Best solar bore pump if you already have panels: REEFE RS3S1.7-120
The REEFE RS3S1.7-120 is the best value pump only option at $1,131.19, a 3 inch, 500W, 48V helical rotor pump rated to 120 metres and 28 L/min.
The MPPT controller is included. The two 440W panels it needs are not. If you have spare panels on a shed or a dead system to replace, this is the cheapest way to get a proper helical rotor pump down the hole.
How to choose a solar bore pump
Choose a solar bore pump by casing size first, total head second and daily litres third, in that order.
Casing size
A solar bore pump must be smaller than the bore casing: a 4 inch pump needs a 4 inch or larger casing, a 3 inch pump a 3 inch or larger. Measure the inside diameter, not what someone remembers being drilled in 1987.
Total head
Total head for a solar bore pump is the pumping water level, plus the lift from the bore head to the top of the tank, plus pipe friction. Water at 45 metres, a tank 6 metres above the bore head and a long poly run is roughly a 55 metre job. Read the flow at 55 metres on the spec sheet, not the headline maximum.
Daily litres
Daily litres from a solar bore pump are roughly the flow at your head multiplied by about 6 hours of useful winter sun. A pump giving 20 L/min at your head moves around 7,200 litres a day in winter. As a rule of thumb only, cattle drink 50 to 100 litres a head a day in summer and sheep 5 to 10. Size for winter and put a tank in, because the tank is your battery.
Helical rotor or centrifugal
A helical rotor solar bore pump suits deep bores and modest flow, and a centrifugal solar bore pump suits shallow bores and high flow. That is why the 4S1000 and the 4S1000C cost the same but suit different bores.
For the wider picture, including pond, pool and transfer pumps, read our best solar water pumps in Australia shortlist. If you have mains power at the bore, a 240V pump is often cheaper: see the best submersible bore pumps guide.
What about Grundfos SQFlex and Lorentz
Grundfos SQFlex and Lorentz are well proven solar bore pumps and are priced at the top of the market.
We do not stock them. For a house tank or a stock trough, a complete Tuhorse, REEFE or Outback kit with a 2 year warranty lifts the same water for considerably less money. On a large irrigation or station job, get the system engineered whatever brand you choose, and we can quote that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best solar bore pump in Australia?
The best solar bore pump for most Australian bores is the Tuhorse 4S1000 package with 1600W of panels at $4,993, which delivers 45 L/min at 40 metres and 12 L/min at 120 metres from a 4 inch casing. For 3 inch bores the Tuhorse 3S500 kit at $3,448 is the pick, and for bores deeper than 120 metres the REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP.
How deep can a solar bore pump go?
Solar bore pumps sold in Australia are rated from about 60 metres of head on entry kits to 180 to 220 metres on larger helical rotor kits. The Outback Joey is rated to 60m, the REEFE RS3S2.2-180.SP to 180m and the Tuhorse 4H2200 hybrid to 220m, with flow falling as depth increases.
How much does a solar bore pump cost in Australia?
A complete solar bore pump kit with panels costs from about $2,000 to $10,000 in Australia as of October 2026, and a pump with controller only starts around $1,130. Most house and stock bore kits land between $3,400 and $5,000.
Will a solar bore pump work in winter?
A solar bore pump works in winter but pumps for fewer hours, so it delivers noticeably fewer litres a day than in summer. Oversizing the panel array, using a helical rotor pump and storing water in a tank covers most winters, and an AC/DC hybrid controller adds generator or mains backup.
Can I put a solar pump in my existing bore?
A solar pump can go in an existing bore if the pump diameter fits inside the casing and the pump is rated for your pumping depth. Measure the casing inside diameter and the pumping water level first, and have the electrical connection done by a licensed electrician.
Not sure which solar bore pump fits? Send us the numbers
Send us your casing size, standing and pumping water level, tank height, distance from bore to tank and how many litres a day you need. We will match the pump and the panel array and tell you plainly if a kit will not do the job.
Get a solar bore pump recommendation →
This guide is general information for Australian property owners and is not a substitute for advice on your specific bore and site. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and bore work by a licensed driller where your state requires it. Confirm final sizing with us before you buy.