Guide
How much salt to add to a pool
Pool salt dose per 10,000 gallons and per 10,000 litres, the salt level your chlorine generator wants, how many bags that is, and how to add it without upsetting the cell.
Updated · 3 min read
Raising salt by 1,000 ppm takes 83.7 lb of pool salt per 10,000 US gallons, or 10 kg per 10,000 litres. Most salt chlorine generators want 2,700 to 3,600 ppm, and 3,200 ppm is a safe goal when you don't know your cell's range. Test first, subtract your reading from the goal, and add only the difference.
The dose table
| Raise salt by | Per 10,000 US gal | Per 10,000 litres |
|---|---|---|
| 500 ppm | 41.8 lb | 5.0 kg |
| 1,000 ppm | 83.7 lb | 10.0 kg |
| 1,500 ppm | 125.5 lb | 15.0 kg |
| 2,000 ppm | 167.4 lb | 20.1 kg |
| 3,000 ppm | 251.0 lb | 30.1 kg |
Scale it to your pool: a 15,000-gallon pool takes 1.5 times the 10,000-gallon amount. As a check, one 40-lb bag raises a 10,000-gallon pool by about 478 ppm.
What salt level to aim for
Your cell's manual gives its range. Across common cells, the published ranges run from 2,700 to 4,500 ppm, with ideal levels between 3,000 and 3,600 ppm. If you don't know your cell, aim for 3,200 ppm and keep within 2,700 to 3,600. Above 4,000 ppm some cells warn or shut down, and the water starts to taste salty.
Ranges from the makers' manuals for common cells:
| Cell | Range (ppm) | Ideal (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Hayward AquaRite / TurboCell | 2,700 to 3,400 | 3,200 |
| Pentair IntelliChlor | 2,800 to 4,500 | 3,600 |
| Jandy AquaPure | 3,000 to 3,500 | 3,200 |
| Jandy TruClear | 3,000 to 3,500 | 3,000 |
| CircuPool | 3,000 to 4,000 | 3,500 |
| Solaxx Reliant | 3,000 to 4,000 | 3,500 |
| Unknown cell | 2,700 to 3,600 | 3,200 |
Your own manual wins if it gives a different number; models change between generations. Product names are trademarks of their owners, and Pool Almanac is not affiliated with them.
How to add salt, step by step
- Test the salt level. Use a salt test kit or strips; the cell's own reading takes about 24 hours to catch up after any change.
- Pick your goal. Use your cell's ideal level, or 3,200 ppm if you don't know it.
- Work out the dose. Subtract your reading from the goal and scale the table to your pool.
- Turn the salt cell off. Leave it off while you add the salt and for 24 hours after.
- Add the salt separately, with the pump running. Pour it into the shallow end and brush it around until it dissolves. If chlorine drops meanwhile, top it up with liquid chlorine.
- Retest after 24 hours. Confirm the level, then turn the cell back on at its usual output.
A worked example
A newly filled 15,000-gallon pool reads 0 ppm and the goal is 3,200 ppm.
- Dose: 3,200 ppm × 15,000 gal ÷ 7,468.64 = 6,427 oz, which is 401.7 lb
- In bags: about ten 40-lb bags
In metric, a newly filled 50,000-litre pool needs about 160 kg to reach 3,200 ppm.
Why salt is added so rarely
The cell turns salt into chlorine, and used chlorine turns back into salt, so salt isn't used up. It only leaves with water: backwashing, splash-out and overflow after heavy rain. That's why you top it up from a test reading, not on a schedule.
The rest of a salt pool's balance
- pH rises steadily while the cell runs. When it reaches 7.8, add acid to bring it back to about 7.5.
- Total alkalinity: 60 to 80 ppm.
- CYA (stabilizer): 60 to 80 ppm, aiming for 70, higher than a pool dosed by hand.
Questions people ask
How many bags of salt for a 15,000-gallon pool?
From a fresh fill to 3,200 ppm, about 400 lb: roughly ten 40-lb bags. From an existing reading, add only the difference, at 83.7 lb per 10,000 gallons for each 1,000 ppm.
How soon can I trust the cell's salt reading?
Wait about 24 hours after adding salt. The cell's reading lags the real level by about a day, so check with a test kit before adding more.
What if I add too much salt?
The only way down is to replace water. The fraction to replace is 1 − (goal ÷ current): from 4,500 ppm to 3,400 ppm, replace about 24% of the water.
Does a pool without a salt cell need salt?
No. These levels are for salt chlorine generators only. A pool dosed with liquid chlorine or tablets has no salt target.
For a plan that includes salt, pH and chlorine together, enter your readings in the water check.