Calculate exactly how much salt to add to your saltwater pool to reach the ideal PPM level for your chlorine generator.
Don't know? Use our Pool Volume Calculator
Test with salt strips or meter
Most cells: 2700-3400 PPM
Check your cell's manual for ideal range
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pounds of pool salt
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Broadcast salt evenly around the pool with the pump running. Wait 24 hours before retesting.
Maintaining the correct salt level is essential for saltwater chlorine generators to function properly. This calculator tells you exactly how much salt to add based on your current level, target level, and pool volume.
Saltwater pools use a salt chlorine generator (also called a salt cell) to convert dissolved salt (sodium chloride) into chlorine through electrolysis. The salt itself doesn't sanitize the pool—it's converted into chlorine, which does the sanitizing work, then converts back to salt in a continuous cycle.
For this process to work efficiently, salt levels must be maintained within the manufacturer's specified range, typically between 2,700 and 3,500 PPM (parts per million).
Different salt cell manufacturers recommend slightly different salt ranges:
Always check your specific model's manual for the recommended range. Operating outside the range can damage the cell or reduce chlorine production.
The amount of salt needed is calculated using:
Pounds of Salt = (Target PPM - Current PPM) × Pool Volume (gal) × 0.00000834
Or more simply: approximately 0.83 pounds of salt per 100 gallons per 100 PPM increase.
For example, to raise a 10,000-gallon pool from 2,000 PPM to 3,200 PPM:
(3,200 - 2,000) × 10,000 × 0.00000834 = 100 pounds of salt
Always use salt specifically labeled for pools:
Do NOT use:
Unlike raising salt, lowering it requires dilution:
To calculate how much to drain: if you need to lower from 4,000 PPM to 3,200 PPM, you need to drain (4,000-3,200)/4,000 = 20% of the pool water and replace with fresh.
It depends on your pool volume and current salt level. As a rough guide, starting from zero, most pools need about 200-300 lbs of salt per 10,000 gallons to reach 3,200 PPM. Use the calculator above for your specific situation.
For initial fill of a 20,000-gallon pool (starting at 0 PPM), you'll need about 530 lbs or approximately 13-14 bags of 40 lb pool salt to reach 3,200 PPM. After that, you'll only need to add salt periodically to replace losses.
Salt doesn't get "used up" in the chlorination process—it recycles continuously. You only lose salt through splash-out, backwashing, and dilution from rain or adding water. Most pools need salt added 1-3 times per season.
Yes. Salt levels above 4,000-4,500 PPM can damage your salt cell and cause corrosion. If you add too much, you'll need to partially drain the pool and refill with fresh water to dilute the salt level.
Pool salt typically dissolves within 24 hours with the pump running. Coarser salt may take up to 48 hours. Brush any undissolved salt on the pool floor to speed the process.
Salt cells can give false low readings if the cell is dirty, water temperature is low, or the cell is aging. Clean the cell, check water temperature (below 60°F can affect readings), or have the cell inspected.
Both are sodium chloride, but pool salt is more pure (99.8%+) and lacks the iodine and anti-caking agents in table salt. Table salt additives can cloud your water and stain surfaces.
Use salt test strips, a digital salt meter, or take a water sample to a pool store. Most salt cells have a built-in display that shows current salt level, though this may not be as accurate as independent testing.
Yes, heavy rain dilutes pool water and lowers salt concentration. After significant rainfall, test and adjust salt levels as needed. A pool cover helps prevent dilution.
Yes! You'll need to install a salt chlorine generator and add salt to reach the required level. The initial salt addition for a typical 20,000-gallon pool costs about $75-100 in salt.
Here's how much salt a typical pool needs to reach 3,200 PPM from zero:
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