Pool Salt Calculator
Saltwater pool not producing enough chlorine? Your salt level is probably low. Enter your pool volume, current salt reading, and target level, and this calculator tells you exactly how many pounds of salt to dump in.
The formula for calculating pool salt is:
Salt (lbs) = Pool Gallons x PPM Increase / 120,000 x 8.35
Ideal Salt Levels
- 2700-3400 ppm: Ideal range for most salt chlorine generators
- 3200 ppm: The sweet spot most manufacturers recommend
- Below 2500 ppm: Generator may shut off or produce less chlorine
- Above 4000 ppm: Risk of corrosion and salty taste
Quick Reference
For a typical 15,000-gallon pool going from 0 to 3200 ppm, you'll need about 400 lbs of salt (ten 40-lb bags). That sounds like a lot, but ocean water is about 35,000 ppm, so your pool water is still only about one-tenth as salty.
Tips for Adding Salt
- Broadcast salt directly into the pool, walking around the perimeter
- Run the pump for 24 hours to dissolve and circulate
- Wait 24 hours, then retest before adding more
- Use pool-grade salt (99.8% pure NaCl, no anti-caking agents)