Managing Your Saltwater Pool
Saltwater pools rely on a Salt Water Generator (SWG) to convert dissolved salt into chlorine, keeping your water clean and clear. To work efficiently, the generator needs a very specific salinity level. Our Pool Salt Calculator helps you avoid the common mistake of over-salting, which can only be fixed by draining water.
If you need to measure your pool's surface area for a new deck or patio, check out our Square Footage Calculator.
What is the Ideal Salt Level?
Most standard salt water generators require a salinity level between 2,700 and 3,400 ppm (parts per million).
The universally accepted "ideal" target for the majority of residential systems is 3,200 ppm. At this level, the water has about 1/10th the salinity of ocean water—similar to a human tear. It is soft on the skin and eyes while providing plenty of raw material for the generator to create chlorine.
The Salt Math Formula
If you are working in US standard units (Gallons and Pounds), the formula to calculate required salt is based on the weight of water (8.33 lbs per gallon):
Salt (lbs) = Gallons × 8.33 × (Target ppm - Current ppm) ÷ 1,000,000
If you use Liters and Kilograms, the math is even simpler since 1 Liter of water weighs exactly 1 Kilogram:
Salt (kg) = Liters × (Target - Current) ÷ 1,000,000