Pool Salt Calculator (Salt Water Chlorinator)
Enter the pool volume, the current salt reading and the target from your chlorinator manual.
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Pool Salt Calculator (Salt Water Chlorinator) by TheCalcTools
How the Pool Salt Calculator (Salt Water Chlorinator) works
Salt level in ppm is pounds of salt per million pounds of water. A US gallon of water weighs about 8.34 lb, so salt needed = (target − current) × gallons × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000.
Add about two-thirds, let it dissolve and circulate for 24 hours, then test and top up: removing excess salt means draining water.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Pool volume (US gallons) | 15000 |
|---|---|
| Current salt level (ppm) | 1200 |
| Target salt level (ppm) | 3200 |
| Bag size (lb) | 40 |
- 15,000 gallons from 1,200 to 3,200 ppm: 250 lb (7 bags of 40 lb).
Result:
| Salt to add (lb) | 250 |
|---|---|
| Salt to add (kg) | 113.5 |
| Bags | 7 |
| If you overshoot | Only dilution lowers salt: drain part of the water and refill |
Frequently asked questions
Is a saltwater pool chlorine-free?
No. The cell makes chlorine from the salt by electrolysis.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.