Salt Calculator
Enter your pool volume and current and target salt readings to estimate how many pounds of pool salt to add for your salt-water chlorinator.
Salt to add
How the dose is calculated
A part-per-million reading is a concentration by weight, and a US gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds. So the pounds of salt needed to raise the level by a given ppm is: (target ppm − current ppm) × pool gallons × 8.34, divided by one million. For example, raising a 10,000-gallon pool by 100 ppm takes about 8.3 lb of salt — a figure that matches the standard rule of thumb published across salt-system dosing charts.
Add salt gradually around the perimeter of the pool with the pump running, and let it fully dissolve and circulate (often several hours) before re-testing, since a fresh reading taken too soon can under-report the true level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What salt level does my salt-water pool need?
It depends on your specific chlorinator model — most residential units are designed to run somewhere between about 2,700 and 3,400 ppm, with many defaulting to a target around 3,200 ppm. Check your chlorinator's manual or the label on the control unit for its exact recommended range before dosing.
How do I find my pool's current salt level?
Most salt-cell control panels display a live salt reading. You can cross-check it with a dedicated salt test strip or a drop-based salt test kit, since cell sensors can drift out of calibration over time.
What kind of salt should I use?
Use salt sold specifically for pool chlorinators — a high-purity (typically 99%+) sodium chloride, non-iodized, without anti-caking additives that can cloud the water or interfere with the cell. Avoid table salt, rock salt, or water-softener salt, which often carry additives not meant for a pool system.
Does salt ever need to be removed instead of added?
Not by chemical means — there's no practical additive that lowers salt. If your reading is above the chlorinator's maximum, the only way down is diluting with fresh water (partially draining and refilling), which also happens naturally over time through backwashing, splash-out, and rain overflow.
Dosing guidance only, not a substitute for your chlorinator's manual or a professional water test. Always confirm the recommended salt range for your specific system before dosing, and re-test after the salt has fully dissolved and circulated.