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Best Pool Salt for Your Salt Chlorine Generator
If you have a salt chlorine generator — or you are thinking about switching to one — the salt you put in your pool matters more than you might think. The wrong salt can leave residue, cloud your water, stain your pool surfaces, or clog your salt cell. The right salt dissolves quickly, is 99.8%+ pure, and keeps your pool crystal clear all season.
This guide covers the best pool salt brands, how much salt you need, and the maintenance tips that keep your salt system running efficiently for years.
Top Pool Salt Brands
1. Morton Pool Salt — Best Overall
Morton is the most trusted name in salt, and their pool salt is the gold standard for salt chlorine generators. It is 99.8% pure sodium chloride with no additives, dissolves quickly without leaving residue, and is specifically formulated to be gentle on salt cells. Available in 40-pound bags at most pool supply stores and Amazon.
Purity: 99.8% NaCl
Form: Evaporated granular (dissolves fast)
Best for: All salt chlorine generators
Buy Morton Pool Salt on Amazon
2. Clorox Pool&Spa Salt — Best for Quick Dissolving
Clorox Pool and Spa Salt is ultra-fine granular salt that dissolves faster than any other pool salt we have tested. If you are adding salt mid-season and want it dissolved and circulating within hours rather than days, Clorox is the best choice. The 99.8% purity ensures no residue or buildup.
Buy Clorox Pool Salt on Amazon
3. In The Swim Pool Salt — Best Value
In The Swim offers premium pool salt at a lower price per pound than Morton or Clorox. Their 99.8% pure evaporated salt is specifically designed for salt chlorine generators and comes in convenient 40-pound bags. A great option if you are filling a large pool and need to buy in bulk.
Buy In The Swim Pool Salt on Amazon
How Much Pool Salt Do You Need?
Most salt chlorine generators require a salt level between 2,700-3,400 ppm (parts per million). Here is a quick reference for initial salt addition based on pool size:
| Pool Size (gallons) | Salt Needed (to reach 3,200 ppm) | 40-lb Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | 267 lbs | 7 bags |
| 15,000 | 400 lbs | 10 bags |
| 20,000 | 534 lbs | 14 bags |
| 25,000 | 667 lbs | 17 bags |
| 30,000 | 800 lbs | 20 bags |
Important: Always test your current salt level with a digital salt tester before adding salt. Over-salting is harder to fix than under-salting — the only way to lower salt is to drain and add fresh water.
Pool Salt Maintenance Tips
- Test salt levels monthly — salt does not evaporate, but it leaves the pool through splash-out, backwashing, and rain dilution
- Clean your salt cell every 3 months — calcium buildup reduces chlorine generation efficiency. Soak in a 4:1 water-to-muriatic-acid solution
- Never use rock salt or table salt — they contain anti-caking agents and impurities that will damage your salt cell and cloud your water
- Add salt gradually — pour around the pool perimeter with the pump running, not all in one spot
- Keep your cell clean with a dedicated salt cell cleaning kit
Essential Pool Salt Accessories
- Digital Salt Tester — accurate ppm readings without test strips
- Complete Pool Test Kit — test chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and salt
- Salt Cell Cleaning Kit — extend the life of your salt cell
What pool salt do you use? Share your experience in the comments!