Salt for Swimming Pools: How to Choose and Calculate Dosage
How salt electrolysis works
If your pool has a chlorine generator (salt electrolysis), you don't add chlorine manually. The system passes salt water through an electrolytic cell, breaking NaCl into sodium and chlorine. Chlorine sanitizes the water, then recombines with sodium - a closed cycle.
Required concentration
Most chlorine generators: 3000-4000 ppm. Low-salt systems (Intex, some Bestway): 1500-2000 ppm. Check your unit's manual.
How much salt to add
| Pool volume | Standard (3500 ppm) | Low-salt (2000 ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m³ | 35 kg | 20 kg |
| 30 m³ | 105 kg | 60 kg |
| 50 m³ | 175 kg | 100 kg |
This is for first fill. Salt doesn't evaporate - you only lose it through splashing, filter backwash, and partial water changes.
Which salt to use
Rule: no iodine, no anti-caking agents, NaCl 99.5%+. Tablet salt for regular top-ups, granulated for first fill (dissolves faster).
Never use: iodized kitchen salt, sea salt, or technical salt.
See our pool salt catalog or order wholesale.