Salt needed for a 5,000 gallon pool by starting level
Pounds and 40 lb bags to reach 3,200 ppm. Each 40 lb bag adds about 959 ppm to 5,000 gallons.
| Current salt | Salt to add | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ppm | 133 lb | 4 |
| 500 ppm | 113 lb | 3 |
| 1,000 ppm | 92 lb | 3 |
| 1,500 ppm | 71 lb | 2 |
| 2,000 ppm | 50 lb | 2 |
| 2,500 ppm | 29 lb | 1 |
| 2,800 ppm | 16.7 lb | 1 |
| 3,000 ppm | 8.3 lb | 1 |
If your salt system wants a different target
| Target | Salt from 0 ppm | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 ppm | 125 lb | 4 |
| 3,200 ppm | 133 lb | 4 |
| 3,400 ppm | 142 lb | 4 |
| 3,500 ppm | 146 lb | 4 |
The working: 5,000 × 8.34 × 3,200 ÷ 1,000,000 = 133 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 5,000 gallon pool?
Starting from fresh water, a 5,000 gallon pool needs 4 bags of 40 lb (133 lb) to reach 3,200 ppm. If the water already reads 2,000 ppm you need 2 bags.
How much does one bag raise a 5,000 gallon pool?
One 40 lb bag raises a 5,000 gallon pool by about 959 ppm. A 25 lb bag adds about 600 ppm.
Is my pool really 5,000 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.