How much salt you need depends on two things: how many gallons your pool holds, and how much salt is already in the water. The chart and tables below give you both the pounds of salt and the number of 40 lb bags to add.
Before you use the chart
- Test your current salt level. Do not assume your pool is at zero. A pool that has run on chlorine for a while may already carry salt, and an established saltwater pool almost certainly does. Reading from the wrong row is the easiest way to add far too much. Test with a salt test kit or take a water sample to your local pool store. If your salt system is showing a reading, treat that as a prompt to test rather than a number to dose against.
- Know your pool volume in gallons. Every column on the chart depends on it.
- Use pool-grade salt. Evaporated food-grade pool salt is the purest option and dissolves fastest. Solar salt can leave a coffee colored stain that is difficult to remove, and rock salt leaves gray sand on the pool bottom once it dissolves.
- Check your system's target. The chart is built around 3,200 ppm, which is optimal for Hayward salt systems, whose operating range is 2,700 to 3,400 ppm. Other manufacturers publish different targets, so check your owner's manual before dosing.
How to read the chart
The chart below shows every pool size at once. If you would rather not read across a wide grid, the tables underneath it hold the same figures split by pool size, with pounds and bags together in one cell.
Either way the method is the same. Find your current salt level, find your pool volume, and read the cell where they meet.
The note under the chart reading 1lb salt 37.55 ppm is a reference figure used to build it. It is not a rule of thumb for your pool. Use the chart or the tables.
Salt demand tables
Find the table for your pool size, then read across from your current salt level. Each cell shows the pounds of salt to add, with the number of 40 lb bags in parentheses.
Pools 8,000 to 14,000 gallons
| Salt level (ppm) | 8,000 gal | 10,000 gal | 12,000 gal | 14,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 213 lb (5.3) | 266 lb (6.7) | 320 lb (8.0) | 373 lb (9.3) |
| 200 | 200 lb (5.0) | 250 lb (6.2) | 300 lb (7.5) | 350 lb (8.7) |
| 400 | 186 lb (4.7) | 233 lb (5.8) | 280 lb (7.0) | 326 lb (8.2) |
| 600 | 173 lb (4.3) | 216 lb (5.4) | 260 lb (6.5) | 303 lb (7.6) |
| 800 | 160 lb (4.0) | 200 lb (5.0) | 240 lb (6.0) | 280 lb (7.0) |
| 1,000 | 146 lb (3.7) | 183 lb (4.6) | 220 lb (5.5) | 256 lb (6.4) |
| 1,200 | 133 lb (3.3) | 166 lb (4.2) | 200 lb (5.0) | 233 lb (5.8) |
| 1,400 | 120 lb (3.0) | 150 lb (3.7) | 180 lb (4.5) | 210 lb (5.2) |
| 1,600 | 107 lb (2.7) | 133 lb (3.3) | 160 lb (4.0) | 186 lb (4.7) |
| 1,800 | 93 lb (2.3) | 117 lb (2.9) | 140 lb (3.5) | 163 lb (4.1) |
| 2,000 | 80 lb (2.0) | 100 lb (2.5) | 120 lb (3.0) | 140 lb (3.5) |
| 2,200 | 67 lb (1.7) | 83 lb (2.1) | 100 lb (2.5) | 117 lb (2.9) |
| 2,400 | 53 lb (1.3) | 67 lb (1.7) | 80 lb (2.0) | 93 lb (2.3) |
| 2,600 | 40 lb (1.0) | 50 lb (1.2) | 60 lb (1.5) | 70 lb (1.7) |
| 2,800 | 27 lb (0.7) | 33 lb (0.8) | 40 lb (1.0) | 47 lb (1.2) |
| 3,000 | 13 lb (0.3) | 17 lb (0.4) | 20 lb (0.5) | 23 lb (0.6) |
| 3,200 | At target | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,400 | At target | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,600 | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute |
Pools 16,000 to 22,000 gallons
| Salt level (ppm) | 16,000 gal | 18,000 gal | 20,000 gal | 22,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 426 lb (10.7) | 479 lb (12.0) | 533 lb (13.3) | 586 lb (14.6) |
| 200 | 399 lb (10.0) | 449 lb (11.2) | 499 lb (12.5) | 549 lb (13.7) |
| 400 | 373 lb (9.3) | 419 lb (10.5) | 466 lb (11.7) | 513 lb (12.8) |
| 600 | 346 lb (8.7) | 389 lb (9.7) | 433 lb (10.8) | 476 lb (11.9) |
| 800 | 320 lb (8.0) | 360 lb (9.0) | 399 lb (10.0) | 439 lb (11.0) |
| 1,000 | 293 lb (7.3) | 330 lb (8.2) | 366 lb (9.2) | 403 lb (10.1) |
| 1,200 | 266 lb (6.7) | 300 lb (7.5) | 333 lb (8.3) | 366 lb (9.2) |
| 1,400 | 240 lb (6.0) | 270 lb (6.7) | 300 lb (7.5) | 330 lb (8.2) |
| 1,600 | 213 lb (5.3) | 240 lb (6.0) | 266 lb (6.7) | 293 lb (7.3) |
| 1,800 | 186 lb (4.7) | 210 lb (5.2) | 233 lb (5.8) | 256 lb (6.4) |
| 2,000 | 160 lb (4.0) | 180 lb (4.5) | 200 lb (5.0) | 220 lb (5.5) |
| 2,200 | 133 lb (3.3) | 150 lb (3.7) | 166 lb (4.2) | 183 lb (4.6) |
| 2,400 | 107 lb (2.7) | 120 lb (3.0) | 133 lb (3.3) | 146 lb (3.7) |
| 2,600 | 80 lb (2.0) | 90 lb (2.2) | 100 lb (2.5) | 110 lb (2.7) |
| 2,800 | 53 lb (1.3) | 60 lb (1.5) | 67 lb (1.7) | 73 lb (1.8) |
| 3,000 | 27 lb (0.7) | 30 lb (0.7) | 33 lb (0.8) | 37 lb (0.9) |
| 3,200 | At target | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,400 | At target | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,600 | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute |
Pools 24,000 to 28,000 gallons
| Salt level (ppm) | 24,000 gal | 26,000 gal | 28,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 639 lb (16.0) | 692 lb (17.3) | 746 lb (18.6) |
| 200 | 599 lb (15.0) | 649 lb (16.2) | 699 lb (17.5) |
| 400 | 559 lb (14.0) | 606 lb (15.1) | 652 lb (16.3) |
| 600 | 519 lb (13.0) | 563 lb (14.1) | 606 lb (15.1) |
| 800 | 479 lb (12.0) | 519 lb (13.0) | 559 lb (14.0) |
| 1,000 | 439 lb (11.0) | 476 lb (11.9) | 513 lb (12.8) |
| 1,200 | 399 lb (10.0) | 433 lb (10.8) | 466 lb (11.7) |
| 1,400 | 360 lb (9.0) | 389 lb (9.7) | 419 lb (10.5) |
| 1,600 | 320 lb (8.0) | 346 lb (8.7) | 373 lb (9.3) |
| 1,800 | 280 lb (7.0) | 303 lb (7.6) | 326 lb (8.2) |
| 2,000 | 240 lb (6.0) | 260 lb (6.5) | 280 lb (7.0) |
| 2,200 | 200 lb (5.0) | 216 lb (5.4) | 233 lb (5.8) |
| 2,400 | 160 lb (4.0) | 173 lb (4.3) | 186 lb (4.7) |
| 2,600 | 120 lb (3.0) | 130 lb (3.2) | 140 lb (3.5) |
| 2,800 | 80 lb (2.0) | 87 lb (2.2) | 93 lb (2.3) |
| 3,000 | 40 lb (1.0) | 43 lb (1.1) | 47 lb (1.2) |
| 3,200 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,400 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,600 | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute |
Pools 30,000 to 34,000 gallons
| Salt level (ppm) | 30,000 gal | 32,000 gal | 34,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 799 lb (20.0) | 852 lb (21.3) | 905 lb (22.6) |
| 200 | 749 lb (18.7) | 799 lb (20.0) | 849 lb (21.2) |
| 400 | 699 lb (17.5) | 746 lb (18.6) | 792 lb (19.8) |
| 600 | 649 lb (16.2) | 692 lb (17.3) | 736 lb (18.4) |
| 800 | 599 lb (15.0) | 639 lb (16.0) | 679 lb (17.0) |
| 1,000 | 549 lb (13.7) | 586 lb (14.6) | 623 lb (15.6) |
| 1,200 | 499 lb (12.5) | 533 lb (13.3) | 566 lb (14.1) |
| 1,400 | 449 lb (11.2) | 479 lb (12.0) | 509 lb (12.7) |
| 1,600 | 399 lb (10.0) | 426 lb (10.7) | 453 lb (11.3) |
| 1,800 | 350 lb (8.7) | 373 lb (9.3) | 396 lb (9.9) |
| 2,000 | 300 lb (7.5) | 320 lb (8.0) | 340 lb (8.5) |
| 2,200 | 250 lb (6.2) | 266 lb (6.7) | 283 lb (7.1) |
| 2,400 | 200 lb (5.0) | 213 lb (5.3) | 226 lb (5.7) |
| 2,600 | 150 lb (3.7) | 160 lb (4.0) | 170 lb (4.2) |
| 2,800 | 100 lb (2.5) | 107 lb (2.7) | 113 lb (2.8) |
| 3,000 | 50 lb (1.2) | 53 lb (1.3) | 57 lb (1.4) |
| 3,200 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,400 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,600 | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute |
Pools 36,000 to 40,000 gallons
| Salt level (ppm) | 36,000 gal | 38,000 gal | 40,000 gal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 959 lb (24.0) | 1012 lb (25.3) | 1065 lb (26.6) |
| 200 | 899 lb (22.5) | 949 lb (23.7) | 999 lb (25.0) |
| 400 | 839 lb (21.0) | 885 lb (22.1) | 932 lb (23.3) |
| 600 | 779 lb (19.5) | 822 lb (20.6) | 866 lb (21.6) |
| 800 | 719 lb (18.0) | 759 lb (19.0) | 799 lb (20.0) |
| 1,000 | 659 lb (16.5) | 696 lb (17.4) | 732 lb (18.3) |
| 1,200 | 599 lb (15.0) | 632 lb (15.8) | 666 lb (16.6) |
| 1,400 | 539 lb (13.5) | 569 lb (14.2) | 599 lb (15.0) |
| 1,600 | 479 lb (12.0) | 506 lb (12.6) | 533 lb (13.3) |
| 1,800 | 419 lb (10.5) | 443 lb (11.1) | 466 lb (11.7) |
| 2,000 | 360 lb (9.0) | 379 lb (9.5) | 399 lb (10.0) |
| 2,200 | 300 lb (7.5) | 316 lb (7.9) | 333 lb (8.3) |
| 2,400 | 240 lb (6.0) | 253 lb (6.3) | 266 lb (6.7) |
| 2,600 | 180 lb (4.5) | 190 lb (4.7) | 200 lb (5.0) |
| 2,800 | 120 lb (3.0) | 126 lb (3.2) | 133 lb (3.3) |
| 3,000 | 60 lb (1.5) | 63 lb (1.6) | 67 lb (1.7) |
| 3,200 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,400 | At target | At target | At target |
| 3,600 | Dilute | Dilute | Dilute |
If your level is already at or above target
At 3,400 ppm the chart reads OK, which means no salt is needed. At 3,600 ppm it reads Dilute. Salt does not evaporate and cannot be removed with chemicals, so the only way to bring the level down is to drain some water and replace it with fresh.
Add less than you think, then retest
Under-dosing costs you another bag. Over-dosing costs you a partial drain and refill. If you are unsure of your pool volume or your current reading, add less than the chart shows, retest, and top up from there.
A low salt level reduces chlorine production. A high salt level can cause the system to shut down, and salt generally becomes noticeable to taste somewhere around 3,500 to 4,000 ppm.
You can order Aqua Salt Pool Salt in 40 lb bags from Royal Swimming Pools.
Still need help?
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