Converting to a saltwater pool system is a game-changer for backyard comfort, offering silkier water and fewer chemical odors. However, the most daunting part of the transition (or the spring opening) is determining exactly how many pounds of salt to toss in. Undershooting means your salt cell won’t generate chlorine; overshooting means your pool water will taste like the ocean and could potentially corrode your equipment.
Use our Pool Salt Calculator to determine the exact number of 40lb bags required to reach your target salinity. Simply enter your volume and current readings to get an instant material list.
Pool Salt Calculator
How to Use the Pool Salt Calculator
- Pool Volume: Enter the total capacity of your pool in gallons. (If you aren't sure, use our Pool Volume Calculator first!).
- Current Salt Level: Enter your current salinity reading in ppm (parts per million). If this is a fresh fill, enter 0.
- Target Salt Level: Most saltwater generators (SWG) require a level between 3000 and 3400 ppm. Check your manufacturer's manual—3200 ppm is the standard industry baseline.
Why We Built This: Preventing the "Overshoot"
The "Secret Sauce" of this tool is the built-in safety logic. High salt levels cannot be corrected with chemicals; the only way to lower salinity is to drain a portion of your pool and refill it with fresh water. This is expensive and time-consuming.
Our tool provides a 75% Circulation Warning. We recommend adding three-quarters of the calculated dose, letting the pool pump circulate for 24 hours to fully dissolve the salt, and re-testing before adding the final bags.
Educational Guide: Maintaining Saltwater Chemistry
A common misconception is that a saltwater pool is "chlorine-free." In reality, the salt cell uses electrolysis to convert the salt (sodium chloride) into pure chlorine.
Tips for Adding Salt
- Buy the Right Salt: Only use 99.8% pure non-iodized granulated pool salt. Never use rock salt or water softener pellets, as they contain impurities that will stain your liner.
- Brush it in: Do not just let the salt sit at the bottom. Use a pool brush to spread the salt around until it is invisible to prevent damage to the pool surface.
- Keep the Pump On: Run your filtration system for at least 24 hours after adding salt to ensure an even distribution before turning on the chlorine generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many bags of salt do I need for a 15,000-gallon pool?
A: For a fresh fill (0 ppm) to reach 3200 ppm, you would need approximately 400 lbs of salt, or 10 bags (40lb each).
Q: Do I need to add salt every year?
A: Only if you have drained water for winterizing or experienced heavy splash-out and rain overflow. Salt does not evaporate; it stays in the water unless it is physically removed.
Q: What happens if I add too much salt?
A: If your levels exceed 4500-5000 ppm, your saltwater generator will likely shut down to protect itself. You will need to partially drain the pool to bring the levels back into the safe operating range.
