Salt needed for a 20,000 gallon pool by starting level
Pounds and 40 lb bags to reach 3,200 ppm. Each 40 lb bag adds about 240 ppm to 20,000 gallons.
| Current salt | Salt to add | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ppm | 534 lb | 14 |
| 500 ppm | 450 lb | 12 |
| 1,000 ppm | 367 lb | 10 |
| 1,500 ppm | 284 lb | 8 |
| 2,000 ppm | 200 lb | 5 |
| 2,500 ppm | 117 lb | 3 |
| 2,800 ppm | 67 lb | 2 |
| 3,000 ppm | 33 lb | 1 |
If your salt system wants a different target
| Target | Salt from 0 ppm | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 ppm | 500 lb | 13 |
| 3,200 ppm | 534 lb | 14 |
| 3,400 ppm | 567 lb | 15 |
| 3,500 ppm | 584 lb | 15 |
The working: 20,000 × 8.34 × 3,200 ÷ 1,000,000 = 534 lb. Target ranges by brand are on the pool salt level chart.
Other pool sizes
Questions people ask
How many bags of salt for a 20,000 gallon pool?
Starting from fresh water, a 20,000 gallon pool needs 14 bags of 40 lb (534 lb) to reach 3,200 ppm. If the water already reads 2,000 ppm you need 5 bags.
How much does one bag raise a 20,000 gallon pool?
One 40 lb bag raises a 20,000 gallon pool by about 240 ppm. A 25 lb bag adds about 150 ppm.
Is my pool really 20,000 gallons?
Volume estimates are often off by 10% or more, which changes the answer by the same amount. If you are not sure, use the Measure it option in the calculator, add most of the salt, then retest before adding the rest.