Pool Chlorine Calculator
Find out how much chlorine to add to raise your pool's free chlorine to a target level. Enter the pool volume, your current and target free chlorine and the product you use: liquid chlorine, bleach, cal-hypo, dichlor or trichlor.
Use the pool volume calculator if you don't know it.
Used only for guidance on the right FC level.
How to use the Pool Chlorine Calculator
- Enter the pool volume in US gallons or liters.
- Test the water and enter the current free chlorine (FC) and the level you want.
- Choose your chlorine product, or enter the available chlorine percentage from the label.
- Optionally enter CYA (stabilizer) to see the recommended minimum and shock levels.
- Add the amount shown with the pump running, then retest after the water circulates.
Pool chlorine formula
1 ppm = 1 mg of chlorine per liter of water. So the chlorine you need is:
grams of available chlorine = (target FC − current FC) × pool volume (L) ÷ 1000
Then divide by the strength of the product: mL of liquid = grams ÷ (trade % ÷ 100), or grams of dry product = grams ÷ (% available chlorine ÷ 100).
Example: a 15,000 gallon pool (56,781 L) at 1 ppm, target 4 ppm. Chlorine = 3 × 56,781 ÷ 1000 = 170.3 g. With 12.5% liquid chlorine: 170.3 ÷ 0.125 = 1,363 mL = 46.1 fl oz. With 65% cal-hypo: 170.3 ÷ 0.65 = 262 g = 9.2 oz.
Amount to raise 10,000 US gallons by 1 ppm
| Product | Amount | Metric | Side effect per 1 ppm FC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid chlorine 12.5% | 10.2 fl oz | 303 mL | adds salt |
| Liquid chlorine 10% | 12.8 fl oz | 379 mL | adds salt |
| Bleach 8.25% | 15.5 fl oz | 459 mL | adds salt |
| Bleach 6% | 21.3 fl oz | 631 mL | adds salt |
| Cal-hypo 65% | 2.05 oz | 58 g | +0.7 ppm calcium hardness |
| Cal-hypo 73% | 1.83 oz | 52 g | +0.7 ppm calcium hardness |
| Dichlor 56% | 2.38 oz | 68 g | +0.9 ppm CYA |
| Trichlor 90% | 1.48 oz | 42 g | +0.6 ppm CYA, lowers pH |
Liquid strengths are trade percent (grams of available chlorine per 100 mL). Bleach labelled by weight percent is slightly stronger than the same number in trade percent, so the estimate errs on the side of a little extra. Store chlorine cool and out of sunlight, keep different products apart, and never mix them.
Frequently asked questions
How much chlorine do I need to raise free chlorine by 1 ppm?
In 10,000 US gallons, 1 ppm is about 37.9 grams of available chlorine. That is about 10.2 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine, 21 fl oz of 6% bleach, or 2.1 oz of 65% cal-hypo. Scale it by your pool volume and the ppm increase you need.
How is the amount of chlorine calculated?
1 ppm equals 1 mg per liter. Grams of chlorine needed = ppm increase × pool liters ÷ 1000. Divide by the product strength: for liquids, the trade percentage is grams per 100 mL, and for dry products it is the percent by weight.
Can I use household bleach in my pool?
Yes. Plain unscented bleach is sodium hypochlorite, the same chemical as pool liquid chlorine, just weaker (usually 6-8.25%). Avoid scented, splash-less or thickened bleach, which contain additives.
What should my free chlorine level be?
Many pool guides recommend 1-3 ppm as a minimum for unstabilized pools. With stabilizer (CYA), a widely used guideline keeps FC at least 7.5% of the CYA level, for example 2.3 ppm with 30 ppm CYA, and shocks at about 40% of CYA.
Why does dichlor or trichlor raise stabilizer?
Dichlor and trichlor contain cyanuric acid. Each 1 ppm of FC from dichlor adds about 0.9 ppm CYA, and from trichlor about 0.6 ppm. Over a season this can build CYA up so high that chlorine becomes less effective.
Does cal-hypo affect calcium hardness?
Yes. Calcium hypochlorite adds about 0.7 ppm of calcium hardness for each 1 ppm of free chlorine. That is useful in soft water but can lead to scaling where the water is already hard.
Is the result exact?
It is a close estimate. Bleach and liquid chlorine lose strength as they age and in heat, so a bottle may be weaker than the label. Add the amount, let it circulate, retest and adjust.