In this guide: How it works · How much salt · Cost to convert · Maintenance · Calculators
A "saltwater pool" is not chlorine-free — it's a pool that makes its own chlorine. A salt chlorine generator (SWG) passes the water over an electrified cell that splits dissolved salt into chlorine, sanitizes the pool, and then reverts to salt to do it again. You get steadier chlorine and softer-feeling water without handling chlorine jugs.
You dissolve salt to a target concentration (commonly ~3,000–3,500 ppm — about a third as salty as the ocean, roughly the taste threshold). The cell generates chlorine continuously while the pump runs, so sanitizer stays consistent. You still test and balance pH, alkalinity, and stabilizer exactly as with a traditional pool; salt just replaces the chlorine source.
Salt is dosed in ppm, which depends entirely on gallons. To reach 3,200 ppm in a fresh pool: pounds of salt ≈ gallons × 3,200 × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000. Get your exact volume from the shape calculator first, then buy in 40-lb bags.
A 15,000-gallon pool to 3,200 ppm from zero: 15,000 × 3,200 × 8.34 ÷ 1,000,000 ≈ 400 lb → ten 40-lb bags. If the water already has some salt, subtract the current ppm first.
The main cost is the generator and cell (equipment plus install), then the initial salt charge (inexpensive). The ongoing trade-off: you buy little to no chlorine, but the cell is a wear item that typically needs replacing every 3–7 years, and that replacement is the biggest recurring expense. Run the numbers over 5–10 years rather than year one — the cost tool helps you compare against buying chlorine.
Upsides: consistent chlorination, gentler feel, less chemical handling. Watch-outs: salt is mildly corrosive to some stone, metal fittings, and heaters, so rinse surfaces and check sacrificial anodes; keep stabilizer in range so the generated chlorine isn't wasted; and clean the cell of calcium scale periodically. pH tends to drift up with salt systems, so expect regular acid additions.
These calculators turn the steps above into your exact numbers:
This guide is built on published health codes, national standards, and government energy guidance. For the exact equations behind the linked calculators, see our formula reference.
This guide is general information, not a substitute for your local health code or a licensed professional. Always follow the dosing instructions on your chemical labels and confirm readings with a test kit.