---
title: "About Pool Salt Level"
description: "What Pool Salt Level is, how the pool salt calculator works out its numbers, where the salt ranges come from, and how to report a mistake."
canonical: https://poolsaltlevel.com/about
language: en
updated: 2026-11-12
source_revision: 869a7bb
maintainer: Pool Salt Level (hello@poolsaltlevel.com)
---

# About Pool Salt Level

Pool Salt Level is a small, independent site with one job: telling you how much salt to add to your pool, in pounds and in bags, without making you do the sums.

## Why this site exists

Adding salt is simple once you know the number, but the number depends on your pool size, how salty the water already is and what your salt chlorine generator wants. Most charts only cover a few sizes and assume you are starting from zero. We wanted a calculator that handles any size and any starting level, shows the result as bags you can actually buy, and lets you see where your salt level will land.

## How the numbers are worked out

Salt level is parts per million by weight, and a gallon of water weighs 8.34 lb. So the salt to add is gallons × 8.34 × (target ppm − current ppm) ÷ 1,000,000. For a 10,000 gallon pool going from fresh water to 3,200 ppm that comes to 267 lb, or 7 bags of 40 lb.

Every figure in our tables and answers is produced by the same code as the [pool salt calculator](https://poolsaltlevel.com/) when the site is built, so the text and the calculator cannot disagree. That code is covered by automated tests with examples worked out by hand.

## Where the salt ranges come from

The recommended ranges on the [pool salt level chart](https://poolsaltlevel.com/pool-salt-level-chart) are taken from each maker's own documentation:

-   [Hayward: how much salt does the system require](https://www.hayward.com/knowledge-base/how-much-salt-does-the-system-require/)
-   [Pentair IntelliChlor IC60 manual, salt level section](https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1207972/Pentair-Ic60.html?page=17)
-   [Jandy AquaPure PureLink manual, salt concentration section](https://www.manualslib.com/manual/772276/Jandy-Purelink.html?page=22)

Models differ, and the manual for your own unit always wins over a general figure.

## Independence

We do not sell salt or pool equipment and no manufacturer has paid to be mentioned. The site is free to use and has no sign-up. In future it may show clearly labelled advertising to cover its costs; ads will not change how anything is calculated.

## Privacy

The calculator runs entirely in your browser. What you type is not sent to us. Details are in the [privacy policy](https://poolsaltlevel.com/privacy-policy).

## Contact and corrections

Found a mistake, or have a manual that disagrees with our ranges? Email [hello@poolsaltlevel.com](mailto:hello@poolsaltlevel.com). We read everything and correct errors quickly.

## Disclaimer

Results are estimates. Pool volume figures are often off by 10% or more, so add most of the calculated salt, let the water circulate, then test again before adding the rest.