Pool Salt Calculator
Dial in the perfect salt level for your pool. Enter volume, current salinity, and your target to see exactly how many bags to add.
Not sure? Length × width × average depth × 7.5 (for gallons) gives a good estimate.
Use a salt test strip or digital meter for accurate readings.
Salt Addition Results
Salt Needed
250.4 lb
(113.6 kg)
Bags Required
7
Each bag adds about 320 ppm
Estimated Cost
$52.50
7 × $7.50
Application Tips
- Turn off the salt chlorine generator before adding salt to prevent high-concentration damage.
- Broadcast salt bags evenly around the pool perimeter; brush any piles until dissolved.
- Run the pump for 24 hours to circulate before retesting salt levels.
- Add salt in stages—retest after each bag near the target to avoid overshooting.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter pool volume
Use gallons or liters. Estimate using length × width × average depth × 7.5 (for gallons) if you do not know.
Measure current salinity
Test strips or digital readers give ppm readings. Enter your generator's recommended target (usually 3200 ppm).
Review salt and bag totals
Purchase the recommended number of bags and add gradually, brushing until dissolved and retesting after circulation.
Formula
Salt (lb) = (Target ppm − Current ppm) × Pool Gallons × 0.000008345
Salt (kg) = (Target ppm − Current ppm) × Pool Liters × 0.001 ÷ 1000
Example: Raise a 15,000 gallon pool from 1200 ppm to 3200 ppm → Δ=2000 ppm → 2000 × 15000 × 0.000008345 ≈ 250 lb (~6.25 bags at 40 lb each).
Metric example: 60,000 liter pool from 1500 ppm to 3200 ppm → Δ=1700 ppm → 1700 × 60000 × 0.001 ÷ 1000 ≈ 102 kg.
About Pool Salt Levels
Saltwater pools still use chlorine, but the salt system generates it automatically from dissolved salt. Keeping salinity within the manufacturer's recommended range maximizes cell life, bather comfort, and sanitizing performance.
What affects salt demand?
- Rain and splash-out: Dilutes salt and lowers ppm.
- Backwashing: Removes salty water from the system.
- Fresh fill water: Initially has ~0 ppm salt, so new pools need large salt doses.
- Drains/refills: Reduce salt concentration quickly.
Maintenance tips
- Retest salt after heavy rain or 1–2 weeks of use.
- Log additions—knowing previous adjustments helps avoid oversalting.
- Keep calcium and stabilizer balanced; they impact generator efficiency.
- Clean the salt cell each season to preserve output.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I overshoot the salt level?
Yes. Too much salt corrodes equipment and can trigger high-salt errors. Add bags slowly and retest after circulation before adding more.
Do different brands of salt matter?
Use pool-grade or food-grade solar salt with no additives. Avoid pellets with anti-caking agents—they can stain or cloud the water.
Will evaporation change ppm?
No. Evaporation removes only water, not salt. When the pool refills with tap water, the concentration stays the same.
How often should I add salt?
Once the pool is dialed in, topping off a few times per season is typical. Losses mostly happen after draining, backwashing, or heavy rains.