📊Reference cheat sheet
Ideal Pool Chemistry Levels
Target ranges for a balanced residential pool. Print and keep by the test kit.
Target ranges
| Parameter | Ideal range | Test how often |
|---|---|---|
| Free chlorine (FC) | Scaled to your CYA (often 2–4 ppm) | 2–3x / week |
| pH | 7.2 – 7.8 (aim 7.4 – 7.6) | 2–3x / week |
| Total alkalinity (TA) | 60 – 120 ppm | Weekly |
| Calcium hardness (CH) | 200 – 400 ppm | Monthly |
| Cyanuric acid (CYA) | 30 – 50 ppm (outdoor chlorine) | Monthly |
| Salt (SWG pools) | Per your chlorinator (often 2,700 – 3,400 ppm) | Monthly |
Ideal ranges for a typical residential pool. Your pool type, sanitizer, and local water can shift the exact target.
Note: Free chlorine is not a fixed number: the more cyanuric acid (stabilizer) in the water, the more FC you need to keep it effective. Use the chlorine calculator rather than a single target.
Quick reading
- Balanced water protects surfaces and equipment and keeps chlorine working.
- pH drifts up on most pools; a slow, steady acid dose is normal maintenance.
- Low CYA burns off chlorine fast in sun; high CYA weakens it. Keep it in range.
Sources
Figures and safety guidance on this page draw on the following public references.
- 1.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC)
- 2.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Swimming: Pool Chemistry & Disinfection
- 3.The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (ANSI/APSP/ICC-11). American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools & Spas
General reference for residential pools. Product labels and local guidance override any figure here. See our methodology and editorial policy. Skimmer · skimmer pool care.