Pool Ratio

Pool Salt Chart

Pounds of salt to reach 3,200 ppm, by pool size and current salt reading. Bags assume 40 lb. For any other target, use the salt calculator.

Last updated · Checked against published product doses · How we calculate

Poolfrom 0 ppmfrom 1,000 ppmfrom 2,000 ppmfrom 2,500 ppmfrom 3,000 ppm
5,000 gal134 lb
4 bags		92 lb
3 bags		50 lb
2 bags		29 lb
1 bags		8 lb
1 bags
7,500 gal200 lb
6 bags		138 lb
4 bags		75 lb
2 bags		44 lb
2 bags		13 lb
1 bags
10,000 gal267 lb
7 bags		184 lb
5 bags		100 lb
3 bags		58 lb
2 bags		17 lb
1 bags
12,500 gal334 lb
9 bags		229 lb
6 bags		125 lb
4 bags		73 lb
2 bags		21 lb
1 bags
15,000 gal401 lb
11 bags		275 lb
7 bags		150 lb
4 bags		88 lb
3 bags		25 lb
1 bags
17,500 gal467 lb
12 bags		321 lb
9 bags		175 lb
5 bags		102 lb
3 bags		29 lb
1 bags
20,000 gal534 lb
14 bags		367 lb
10 bags		200 lb
6 bags		117 lb
3 bags		33 lb
1 bags
25,000 gal668 lb
17 bags		459 lb
12 bags		250 lb
7 bags		146 lb
4 bags		42 lb
2 bags
30,000 gal801 lb
21 bags		551 lb
14 bags		300 lb
8 bags		175 lb
5 bags		50 lb
2 bags
35,000 gal935 lb
24 bags		643 lb
17 bags		351 lb
9 bags		204 lb
6 bags		58 lb
2 bags
40,000 gal1,068 lb
27 bags		734 lb
19 bags		401 lb
11 bags		234 lb
6 bags		67 lb
2 bags

How to read it

Find your pool’s volume on the left and your current salt reading across the top. Round up to whole bags, but add about three quarters first, let it dissolve for 24 hours with the pump running, then retest before adding the rest. Salt only leaves the pool when water does (splash-out, backwashing, rain overflow), so after the first fill you rarely need more than a bag or two at a time.

The formula

  1. lb of salt = ppm to add × gallons × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000
  2. 15,000 gal from 0 ppm: 3,200 × 15,000 × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000

= 401 lb

Frequently asked questions

How many bags of salt for a 15,000 gallon pool?

About 401 lb from fresh water to 3,200 ppm, which is 11 bags of 40 lb.

How much salt to raise 100 ppm?

About 8.3 lb per 10,000 gallons.

Is my cell target 3,200 ppm?

Many cells (Hayward, Pentair, CircuPool) want about 3,000–3,400 ppm; some want 2,700–3,400. Use the number on your cell’s label, and the salt calculator for other targets.

Related

Pool salt calculatorHow many gallons is my pool?Chlorine dose chart