PoolCalc

Pool Salt Calculator

Pounds of salt — and whole bags to buy — to hit your chlorinator's target, from a true mass balance rather than a lookup chart.

Your pool

401 lbs
salt to add
raises 15,000 gal from 0 to 3,200 ppm
11
40 lb bags to buy
each bag adds ~320 ppm in your pool
Current0 ppm
Target3,200 ppm
Shopping list: 11 × 40 lb bags of pool salt (99%+ pure, no additives).
See the math

Salt ppm is mg of salt per liter of water. lbs = gallons × Δppm × 3.78541 ÷ 453,592 (liters per gallon ÷ mg per pound). For your pool: 15,000 × 3,200 × 8.345e-6 = 401 lbs. Add in 2–3 doses, brushing to dissolve, and retest after 24 h of circulation before trusting the reading.

Frequently asked questions

How much salt does my pool need?

Most salt chlorinators want 2,700–3,400 ppm. A fresh 15,000-gallon fill to 3,200 ppm needs about 400 lbs — ten 40 lb bags. The calculator does the exact mass balance for your volume and current level.

What kind of salt should I use?

Plain sodium chloride pool salt, 99%+ pure, no additives — no iodized table salt, no rock salt with anti-caking agents, never calcium chloride. Solar salt crystals are fine if they're additive-free.

What if my salt level is too high?

You can't remove salt chemically — partially drain and refill with fresh water. Going 500 ppm over target usually isn't harmful, but follow your cell manufacturer's maximum.