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Pool Water Chemical Level Charts

These are the ideal levels for pool chemistry, or the most acceptable range for proper pool water chemistry. However, while these are the average ideal ranges, certain situations may call for certain levels to be slightly elevated or decreased. Here are the pool chemical level charts for the most common chemicals!

Ideal Pool Water Chemical Levels

  • pH: 7.4 to 7.6
  • Total Alkalinity: 80–120 parts per million (ppm)
  • Calcium Hardness: 200–400 ppm
  • Cyanuric Acid: 30–50 ppm
  • Free Available Chlorine: 2.0–4.0 ppm

pH Chart

Use this pool pH dosage chart to determine how to properly adjust the pH level in your pool. A low pH of 7.1 is desirable when using chlorine and sock, but 7.4 is best for swimmer comfort, surface protection, and overall water balance.

Lowering pH with pH Reducer

Pool Volume
Reduce to 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
8.5–7.5 8 oz 1 lb 1 lb 8 oz 2 lb
8.0–7.5 5.1 oz 10.2 oz 15 oz 1 lb 5 oz
7.7–7.5 2.6 oz 5.2 oz 7.7 oz 10.5 oz
7.5–7.1 9 oz 1 lb 1 oz 1 lb 10 oz 2 lb

Raising pH with pH Increaser

Pool Volume
Increase to 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
7.2–7.4 1.7 oz 3.4 lb 5.1 oz 6.8 oz
7.0–7.5 4.6 oz 9.2 oz 13.8 oz 1 lb 2 oz
6.5–7.5 14 oz 1 lb 12 oz 2 lb 10 oz 4 lb 7 oz

Total Alkalinity Chart

Use this Total Alkalinity (TA) dosage chart to determine the correct amount of adjustment chemical to use for a desired change in TA levels. Remember — TA buffers pH — so too little TA makes pH erratic, and too much makes pH resistant to change. Use pH Reducer to lower Total Alkalinity, and Alkalinity Increaser to raise the level.

Lowering Total Alkalinity with pH Reducer

Pool Volume
Reduce by 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
10 ppm 12.8 oz 1 lb 9 oz 2 lb 6 oz 3 lb 3 oz
20 ppm 1 lb 9 oz 3 lb 3 oz 4 lb 13 oz 6 lb 7 oz
30 ppm 2 lb 7 oz 4 lb 13 oz 7 lb 3 oz 9 lb 10 oz
40 ppm 3 lb 3 oz 6 lb 6 oz 9 lb 10 oz 12 lb 15 oz
50 ppm 4 lb 8 lb 12 lb 16 lb
60 ppm 4 lb 13 oz 9 lb 10 oz 14 lb 6 oz 19 lb 4 oz
70 ppm 5 lb 10 oz 11 lb 4 oz 16 lb 13 oz 22 lb 6 oz
80 ppm 6 lb 6 oz 12 lb 13 oz 19 lb 13 oz 25 lb 8 oz
90 ppm 7 lb 4 oz 14 lb 8 oz 21 lb 10 oz 28 lb
100 ppm 8 lb 16 lb 24 lb 32 lb

Raising Total Alkalinity with Alkalinity Increaser

Pool Volume
Increase by 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
10 ppm 12 oz 1 lb 8 oz 2 lb 4 oz 3 lb
20 ppm 1 lb 8 oz 3 lb 4 lb 8 oz 6 lb
30 ppm 2 lb 4 oz 4 lb 8 oz 6 lb 12 oz 9 lb
40 ppm 3 lb 6 lb 9 lb 12 lb
50 ppm 3 lb 12 oz 7 lb 8 oz 11 lb 4 oz 15 lb
60 ppm 4 lb 8 oz 9 lb 13 lb 18 lb
70 ppm 5 lb 4 oz 10 lb 8 oz 15 lb 12 oz 21 lb
80 ppm 6 lb 12 lb 18 lb 24 lb
90 ppm 6 lb 12 oz 13 lb 8 oz 20 lb 4 oz 27 lb
100 ppm 7 lb 8 oz 15 lb 22 lb 8 oz 30 lb

Calcium Hardness Chart

Use this Calcium Hardness chart to determine the correct amount of increaser to add for a desired change in hardness levels. To lower pool water hardness, the solution is dilution! If your water has less than 200 ppm of total hardness, add Calcium Increaser.

Raising Calcium Hardness with Calcium Increaser

calcium hardnes increaser

Pool Volume
Increase by 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
10 ppm 10 oz 1 lb 4 oz 1 lb 14 oz 2 lb 8 oz
20 ppm 1 lb 4 oz 2 lb 8 oz 3 lb 12 oz 5 lb
30 ppm 1 lb 14 oz 3 lb 12 oz 5 lb 10 oz 7 lb 8 oz
40 ppm 2 lb 8 oz 5 lb 7 lb 8 oz 10 lb
50 ppm 3 lb 2 oz 6 lb 4 oz 9 lb 6 oz 12 lb 8 oz
60 ppm 3 lb 12 oz 7 lb 8 oz 11 lb 4 oz 15 lb
70 ppm 4 lb 6 oz 8 lb 12 oz 13 lb 2 oz 17 lb 8 oz
80 ppm 5 lb 10 lb 15 lb 20 lb
90 ppm 5 lb 10 oz 11 lb 4 oz 16 lb 4 oz 22 lb 8 oz
100 ppm 6 lb 4 oz 12 lb 8 oz 18 lb 12 oz 25 lb

Chlorine Chart

Use this pool shock dosage chart to determine the correct amount of pool shock treatment. 30 ppm chlorine shock chart for killing algae and bacteria, and the 3.0 ppm super chlorination chart, used for cloudy water, after rain or heavy use, or low chlorine levels.

Raising Chlorine Level to 30 ppm with Shock

pool shock

Pool Volume
Shock type 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
Di Chlor 56% 2.1 lb 4.25 lb 6.4 lb 8.5 lb
Cal-Hypo 65% 1.8 lb 3.63 lb 5.45 lb 7.25 lb
Cal-Hypo 73% 1.65 lb 3.25 lb 4.90 lb 6.50 lb

Raising Chlorine Level by 3.0 ppm with Shock

Pool Volume
Shock type 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
Di Chlor 56% 3.3 oz 6.5 oz 10 oz 13 oz
Cal-Hypo 65% 3 oz 6 oz 9 oz 12 oz
Cal-Hypo 73% 2.6 oz 5.2 oz 8 oz 10 oz

Cyanuric Acid Chart

Use this Stabilizer dosage chart to determine the correct amount of Cyanuric Acid  stabilizer or conditioner to add for a desired increase. To lower stabilizer levels, the solution is dilution! If you use stabilized pool chlorine tablets, you will add 10 ppm per month.

Raising Cyanuric Acid with Stabilizer

Pool Volume
Increase by 5,000 gallons 10,000 gallons 15,000 gallons 20,000 gallons
10 ppm 6.5 oz 13 oz 19.5 oz 26 oz
20 ppm 13 oz 26 oz 39 oz 52 oz
30 ppm 19.5 oz 39 oz 58.5 oz 78 oz
40 ppm 26 oz 52 oz 78 oz 104 oz
50 ppm 32.5 oz 65 oz 97 oz 130 oz

Students of pool-ology can find these pool chemical dosage charts useful in balancing pool water correctly. Bookmark this page (Ctrl-D) for easy reference later! Or, click this link and type Ctrl-P for a printer-friendly pool chemical chart you can use as a study guide.

You can also find these pool chemical charts useful to display nicely on a mobile device, when you are by the pool, wondering how much pool chemical to add...

Don't play fast and loose with your pool chemistry! Consult a pool chemical table for accurate pool chemical dosing!




In The Swim makes every effort to provide accurate recommendations based upon current ANSI/APSP/ICC-5 2011 (R2022) standards, but codes and regulations change, and In The Swim assumes no liability for any omissions or errors in this article or the outcome of any project. You must always exercise reasonable caution, carefully read the label on all products, follow all product directions, follow any current codes and regulations that may apply, and consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. In The Swim assumes no legal responsibility for your reliance or interpretation of the data contained herein, and makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning the quality, safety, or suitability of the information, whether express or implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.