Exact material estimates for every home & DIY project.

Pool Chemical Calculator

This is the one pool calculator that does it all: enter your pool volume and your test readings — free chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and stabiliser (CYA) — and it tells you exactly which chemical to add and how much, for every reading that is out of range. No more guessing or running five separate calculations.

Your measurements

Result
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Test, type in the numbers, and follow the list. Each line names the product and the dose; the note tells you what order to add things in. It is the fastest way to get your water balanced and safe to swim.

How it is calculated

Each reading is compared to its ideal range (FC 2-4, pH 7.2-7.8, TA 80-120, CH 200-400, CYA 30-50) and dosed toward the mid-target using standard per-10,000-gallon rates (e.g. baking soda ~1.5 lb raises TA ~10 ppm; calcium chloride ~1.25 lb raises CH ~10 ppm; cyanuric acid ~13 oz raises CYA ~10 ppm). Doses are approximate — always follow the product label and add in stages.

Steps

  1. Enter your pool volume in gallons (use the pool volume calculator if unsure).
  2. Type in your test readings: chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium, stabiliser.
  3. Read each line — 'OK' is fine; otherwise it names the chemical and dose.
  4. Add chemicals in the order shown, one at a time, pump running.
  5. Re-test after a few hours before adding more or swimming.

Worked example

A 15,000-gallon pool reading low chlorine (1 ppm), low alkalinity (70) and low stabiliser (20) returns three fixes: add liquid chlorine, baking soda for alkalinity, and cyanuric acid for stabiliser — with the amount for each.

Common questions

What order do I add pool chemicals?
Alkalinity first, then pH, then calcium and stabiliser, and chlorine last. Add one at a time with the pump running and re-test between.
What are the ideal pool levels?
Roughly: free chlorine 2-4 ppm, pH 7.2-7.8, alkalinity 80-120 ppm, calcium hardness 200-400 ppm, stabiliser (CYA) 30-50 ppm.
How do I lower pH or alkalinity?
Both come down with acid (muriatic or dry acid), added in stages. Lowering alkalinity also lowers pH, so go slowly and re-test.
Why can't I lower calcium or stabiliser with a chemical?
Nothing removes calcium hardness or CYA from the water — the only fix for high levels is partly draining and refilling with fresh water.

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