---
title: "Pool Salt Level Chart: Ideal ppm by Salt System"
description: "Ideal pool salt levels in ppm for Hayward, Pentair and Jandy salt systems, plus how many pounds of salt raise each pool size by 200, 500 and 1,000 ppm."
canonical: https://poolsaltlevel.com/pool-salt-level-chart
language: en
updated: 2026-11-12
source_revision: 869a7bb
maintainer: Pool Salt Level (hello@poolsaltlevel.com)
---

# Pool salt level chart

Most saltwater pools run best at about **3,200 ppm**, within2,700 to 3,400 ppm. Here is what the big three brands recommend.

## Hayward AquaRite

2,700 to 3,400 ppm

02,5005,000 ppm

Calculator target: 3,200 ppm. Hayward states about 3,200 ppm is ideal.

## Pentair IntelliChlor

3,000 to 3,500 ppm

02,5005,000 ppm

Calculator target: 3,250 ppm. Target is the middle of the recommended band.

## Jandy AquaPure

3,000 to 3,500 ppm

02,5005,000 ppm

Calculator target: 3,250 ppm. Target is the middle of the recommended band.

## Pounds of salt to raise your level

How much salt lifts each pool size by a given amount. Use the [pool salt calculator](https://poolsaltlevel.com/) for your exact numbers.

| Pool size | +200 ppm | +500 ppm | +1,000 ppm |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5,000 gal | 8.3 lb | 21 lb | 42 lb |
| 7,500 gal | 12.5 lb | 31 lb | 63 lb |
| 10,000 gal | 16.7 lb | 42 lb | 83 lb |
| 12,000 gal | 20 lb | 50 lb | 100 lb |
| 15,000 gal | 25 lb | 63 lb | 125 lb |
| 18,000 gal | 30 lb | 75 lb | 150 lb |
| 20,000 gal | 33 lb | 83 lb | 167 lb |
| 25,000 gal | 42 lb | 104 lb | 209 lb |
| 30,000 gal | 50 lb | 125 lb | 250 lb |
| 40,000 gal | 67 lb | 167 lb | 334 lb |

## Where these ranges come from

The bands are taken from each maker's own documentation. Models differ, so check the manual for yours.

-   [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)

## Questions people ask

What is the ideal salt level for a pool?

About 3,200 ppm suits most salt chlorine generators, inside a working range of 2,700 to 3,400 ppm. Your own unit's manual is the final word.

What happens if pool salt is too low?

The chlorine generator makes less chlorine and most units show a low-salt warning or shut the cell off to protect it. The Pentair IntelliChlor manual, for example, says the unit turns off below 2,600 ppm.

What happens if pool salt is too high?

The water can taste salty and very high levels raise the risk of corrosion on metal fittings. Pentair flags levels above 4,500 ppm and Jandy warns above 4,000 ppm. The only fix is to dilute with fresh water.