Salt needed for an 18,000 gallon pool by starting level
Pounds and 40 lb bags to reach 3,200 ppm. Each 40 lb bag adds about 266 ppm to 18,000 gallons.
| Current salt | Salt to add | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ppm | 480 lb | 12 |
| 500 ppm | 405 lb | 11 |
| 1,000 ppm | 330 lb | 9 |
| 1,500 ppm | 255 lb | 7 |
| 2,000 ppm | 180 lb | 5 |
| 2,500 ppm | 105 lb | 3 |
| 2,800 ppm | 60 lb | 2 |
| 3,000 ppm | 30 lb | 1 |
If your salt system wants a different target
| Target | Salt from 0 ppm | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 ppm | 450 lb | 12 |
| 3,200 ppm | 480 lb | 12 |
| 3,400 ppm | 510 lb | 13 |
| 3,500 ppm | 525 lb | 14 |
The working: 18,000 × 8.34 × 3,200 ÷ 1,000,000 = 480 lb. Target ranges by brand are on the pool salt level chart.
Other pool sizes
Questions people ask
How many bags of salt for an 18,000 gallon pool?
Starting from fresh water, an 18,000 gallon pool needs 12 bags of 40 lb (480 lb) to reach 3,200 ppm. If the water already reads 2,000 ppm you need 5 bags.
How much does one bag raise an 18,000 gallon pool?
One 40 lb bag raises an 18,000 gallon pool by about 266 ppm. A 25 lb bag adds about 167 ppm.
Is my pool really 18,000 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.