How Much Salt Should You Add to Your Saltwater Pool?

Adding the right amount of salt is essential for keeping your saltwater pool properly chlorinated and your salt chlorine generator running efficiently. If the salt level drops too low, your generator may stop producing chlorine altogether. Too much salt, on the other hand, can damage your pool’s surfaces and equipment.

Ideal Salt Level for a Saltwater Pool

The recommended salt level for most saltwater pools is between 2,700 and 3,400 parts per million (PPM), with 3,200 PPM being the sweet spot. Once you’ve added the correct amount of salt at the start of the season, you likely won’t need to add more—unless there’s dilution from rain, splashout, or fresh water.

For example, if you’re starting from zero (0 PPM) and have a 10,000-gallon pool, you’ll need about six to seven 40-pound bags of pool-grade salt to reach 3,200 PPM.

How to Know How Much Salt to Add

Before adding salt, you’ll need to know your current salt level. Most salt chlorine generators display a digital salinity reading. However, for the most accurate results, use a digital salinity tester, test strips, or a liquid reagent kit.

If your salt level is lower than it should be, here’s a quick formula to calculate how much salt to add:

Salt to Add (lbs) = Pool Volume (in gallons) × 8.35 × (0.0032 – Current Salt PPM ÷ 1,000,000)

Example: For a 12,000-gallon pool with a current salt level of 1,200 PPM:12,000 × 8.35 × (0.0032 – 0.0012) = 200.4 pounds of saltThat means you’ll need five 40-pound bags of salt.

Step-by-Step: Adding Salt to Your Pool

1. Test Your Water: Make sure your pool’s pH and alkalinity are balanced before adding salt.

2. Turn Off the Chlorine Generator: Leave the pool pump and filter running to circulate water.

3. Add the Salt: Pour the salt evenly around the pool, ideally in the shallow end. Never pour it directly into the skimmer.

4. Let It Dissolve: Depending on the salt granule size, it may take up to 24 hours to fully dissolve.

5. Turn Your Generator Back On: After the salt dissolves, restart your salt chlorinator and recheck salt levels.

Tips for Choosing the Right Salt

Use only pool-grade salt that is:

• At least 99.8% pure sodium chloride

• Evaporated, granulated, and food-grade

• Non-iodized and free of anti-caking agents

Impurities or additives can stain pool surfaces and damage equipment.

A Note from Plebian Pools

We install and service saltwater pools all season long, and we always recommend starting early so your pool is ready for summer fun. If you ever need help testing or adjusting your pool salt levels, stop by our store—we offer in-store water testing, pool-grade salt, and expert advice.