Pool Chemical Levels Chart
What are ideal pool levels?
Ideal pool levels are:
Chlorine: 1–3 ppm
pH: 7.2–7.6
Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
Calculate Your Levels
Use this chart to keep your pool water balanced. Test regularly and adjust with our chlorine, pH, and alkalinity calculators.
Ideal levels
| Chemical | Ideal range | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Free Chlorine | 1–3 ppm | Good |
| pH | 7.2–7.6 | Good |
| Total Alkalinity | 80–120 ppm | Good |
| Calcium Hardness | 200–400 ppm | Good |
| Cyanuric Acid (CYA) | 30–50 ppm | Good |
What happens if levels are too high
- Chlorine: Skin and eye irritation, bleached swimwear, strong odor.
- pH: Scaling, cloudy water, reduced chlorine effectiveness.
- Alkalinity: pH becomes hard to adjust; can cause scaling.
- Calcium: Scaling on surfaces and equipment.
- CYA: Chlorine loses effectiveness; may need to drain some water.
What happens if levels are too low
- Chlorine: Bacteria and algae can grow. Use our Pool Chlorine Calculator to add more.
- pH: Corrosion, etching, skin irritation. Use pH calculator to raise it.
- Alkalinity: pH swings. Add alkalinity increaser — Alkalinity Calculator.
- Calcium: Water can become aggressive and damage plaster or equipment.
- CYA: Chlorine burns off quickly in sunlight; add stabilizer.
Last updated: April 2026