How much salt do I add to my pool?

Pounds of salt equal gallons times the ppm increase times 8.34, divided by one million. A 20,000 gallon pool going from 0 to 3,200 ppm needs about 534 pounds, which is about fourteen 40 pound bags.

What salt level should a salt water pool be?

Most salt chlorine generators want about 2,700 to 3,400 ppm, with 3,200 ppm a common target. Check your salt cell manual, since the ideal range varies by brand.

How many bags of salt do I need?

Pool salt usually comes in 40 pound bags. Divide the pounds needed by 40 and round up. The calculator above gives both the pounds and the number of bags.

Home / Pool Salt Calculator

Pool Salt Calculator

A pool salt calculator tells you how much salt to add to a salt water pool. It takes the pool gallons, the current salt level, and the target, and returns the pounds and the number of bags. Enter your numbers below. Everything runs in your browser, with no signup.

Updated for 2026

Your pool and target

Enter the gallons and the salt levels. Results update instantly.

Pool volume

gal

Current salt level

ppm

Target salt level

ppm

Salt to add

Raise needed

0 ppm

40 lb bags

In kilograms

0 kg

Pool volume

0 gal

Add about half, run the pump, retest, then add the rest

Use pool grade salt only.

Salt to go from zero to 3,200 ppm

Pounds and 40 lb bags of salt for a fresh fill at common pool sizes. Tap a row to load the gallons.

Pool	Gallons	Bags (40 lb)	Salt

How the salt amount is calculated

Salt is dosed by parts per million, the same as other pool chemistry. The pounds needed come from the gallons and the increase you want:

Pounds of salt = Gallons × ( Target − Current ) ppm × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000

Water weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon, and one ppm is one milligram per liter, which works out to this simple formula. Most salt cells target around 3,200 ppm. You cannot lower salt by adding anything, only by draining and refilling with fresh water.

Worked example (Stand: 2026)

Pool20,000 gallons
Current salt0 ppm (fresh fill)
Target salt3,200 ppm
Raise needed3,200 ppm
Salt (20,000 × 3,200 × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000)534 lb
Bags (534 ÷ 40)14 bags

Frequently asked questions

How much salt do I add?

Pounds equal gallons times the ppm increase times 8.34, divided by one million. The calculator above does this and gives the number of 40 pound bags.

What salt level should I target?

Most salt chlorine generators want about 2,700 to 3,400 ppm, with 3,200 a common target. Check your salt cell manual for the exact range.

How many bags is that?

Pool salt comes in 40 pound bags. Divide the pounds by 40 and round up. The calculator gives both numbers.

How do I lower the salt?

You cannot remove salt by adding anything. Drain part of the pool and refill with fresh water to dilute it. Adding salt only raises the level.

Does this calculator store my numbers?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to a server or saved.

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