Pool Salt Calculator
Calculate how much salt to add to your saltwater pool. Enter your pool volume, current salt reading, and target level.
Ideal salt range: 2,700–3,400 ppm
| Sweet spot: 3,200 ppm
Salt Needed
Pure Pool Salt (99.8% NaCl)
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40 lb Bags Needed
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PPM Increase
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After Adding Salt
- Pour salt directly into the pool while the pump is running — spread it around the perimeter.
- Run your pump for 24 hours before retesting to allow salt to fully dissolve and distribute.
- Use only pure pool salt or water softener salt — never table salt or rock salt (contains impurities).
Saltwater Pool Salt Guide
Saltwater pools use a salt chlorine generator (SWG) to convert dissolved salt into chlorine. Maintaining the correct salt level is essential for your SWG to operate efficiently and produce enough chlorine to sanitize your pool.
Recommended Salt Levels by SWG Brand
| Brand | Recommended Level |
|---|---|
| Hayward | 3,200 ppm |
| Pentair | 3,200 ppm |
| Jandy | 3,400 ppm |
| CircuPool | 3,500 ppm |
Always check your SWG manual for the manufacturer's recommended range.
Understanding Salt Levels
- Below 2,700 ppm — your SWG will not produce enough chlorine. Most units display a "low salt" warning and may shut down to protect the cell.
- 2,700–3,400 ppm — the ideal operating range for most salt chlorine generators. Your SWG will produce chlorine efficiently.
- Above 3,400 ppm — excess salt can cause corrosion to metal fixtures, pool equipment, and the SWG cell itself. Some units will display a "high salt" warning.
The Salt Dosing Formula
The amount of salt needed is based on the weight of water and the desired ppm increase:
Salt (lbs) = Pool Gallons × PPM Increase ÷ 1,000,000 × 8.34 ÷ Purity
The constant 8.34 is the weight of one gallon of water in pounds. Dividing by purity accounts for the fact that pool salt is not 100% pure sodium chloride.
Tips for Adding Salt
- Always use pool-grade salt or water softener salt — never table salt, rock salt, or deicing salt, as these contain anti-caking agents and impurities.
- Add salt gradually. Pour it around the pool perimeter while the pump is running.
- Wait 24 hours after adding salt before retesting. Salt takes time to fully dissolve and circulate.
- It's better to slightly undershoot your target. You can always add more, but removing salt requires draining water.
- Salt doesn't evaporate — you mainly lose salt through splash-out, backwashing, and water replacement.