Pool Chemical Dosing Calculator
Calculate chlorine, pH, and alkalinity doses for your pool size. Keep water balanced and safe.
Pool Water Balance
Three critical measurements: Free Chlorine: 1-3 ppm (sanitizer). pH: 7.2-7.6 (comfort and chlorine effectiveness — chlorine is 50% less effective at pH 8.0 vs 7.2). Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm (prevents pH from fluctuating). Test 2-3 times per week in swim season. A $10 test kit is the most important pool maintenance tool you own.
Common Dosing Mistakes
Adding chemicals without testing: Guessing leads to over- or under-treatment. Pouring chemicals directly into the pool: Pre-dissolve granular chemicals in a bucket of water, then pour around the perimeter. Adding chemicals in direct sunlight: UV destroys unstabilized chlorine within hours. Add chlorine at dusk for maximum effectiveness. Ignoring CYA (stabilizer): Without 30-50 ppm of cyanuric acid, sunlight destroys chlorine 5x faster.
The most cost-effective pool chemical: liquid chlorine (12.5% sodium hypochlorite). At $4-6 per gallon, it is cheaper per dose than tablets or granular, and it does not add cyanuric acid (CYA) — which builds up from tablets and eventually makes chlorine ineffective. Use liquid chlorine for daily dosing and cal-hypo for shocking.
