5,000 gallon pool: how much of each chemical
To raise free chlorine (FC) by 1 ppm in a 5,000-gallon pool, add 6.4 fl oz of 10% liquid chlorine or 5.1 fl oz of 12.5%.
Always follow your product’s label directions. Pool and spa chlorine, bromine, shock and algaecides are EPA-registered pesticides: use products labeled for pool or spa use, and don’t swim or soak until levels are within the limit on your product’s label. If this page and a label disagree, the label wins.
| Product | +1 ppm FC | +2 ppm FC | +5 ppm FC | +10 ppm FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool liquid chlorine 12.5% | 5.1 fl oz151 mL | 10 fl oz303 mL | 26 fl oz757 mL | 51 fl oz1.51 L |
| Pool liquid chlorine 10% | 6.4 fl oz189 mL | 13 fl oz379 mL | 32 fl oz946 mL | 64 fl oz1.89 L |
| Household bleach 6% | 10 fl oz305 mL | 21 fl oz609 mL | 52 fl oz1.52 L | 103 fl oz3.05 L |
| Household bleach 8.25% | 7.2 fl oz214 mL | 14 fl oz429 mL | 36 fl oz1.07 L | 72 fl oz2.14 L |
| Cal-hypo 65% | 1.0 oz29 g | 2.1 oz58 g | 5.1 oz146 g | 10.3 oz291 g |
| Dichlor 56% | 1.2 oz34 g | 2.4 oz68 g | 6.0 oz169 g | 11.9 oz338 g |
| Trichlor 90% | 0.75 oz21 g | 1.5 oz42 g | 3.7 oz105 g | 7.4 oz210 g |
Liquid chlorine percent is the trade percent on pool chlorine jugs; bleach percent is by weight. Cal-hypo adds calcium. Dichlor and trichlor add stabilizer (CYA). To shock, follow the directions on your product’s label.
| Product | Change | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | TA +10 ppm | 11.2 oz318 g |
| Muriatic acid 31.45% | TA −10 ppm | 12 fl oz379 mL |
| Dry acid 93.2% | TA −10 ppm | 1.05 lb487 g |
| Muriatic acid 31.45% | pH 7.8 → 7.5 (TA 100, CYA 40) | 4.8 fl oz142 mL |
| Dry acid 93.2% | pH 7.8 → 7.5 (TA 100, CYA 40) | 6.4 oz182 g |
| Soda ash | pH 7.2 → 7.5 (TA 80, CYA 30) | 7.4 oz210 g |
pH doses depend on your TA and CYA, so use the calculator for your numbers. Acid and pH-up amounts are rounded down.
| Product | Change | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stabilizer (CYA) | +10 ppm | 6.7 oz189 g |
| Stabilizer (CYA) | 0 → 40 ppm (new fill) | 1.65 lb757 g |
| Calcium chloride 77% | CH +10 ppm | 9.6 oz273 g |
| Calcium chloride 77% | CH +50 ppm (one step) | 3.0 lb1.36 kg |
| Pool salt | 0 → 3,200 ppm (new fill) | 134 lb60.57 kg · 4 × 40 lb bags |
| Pool salt | +500 ppm | 20.9 lb9.46 kg |
| Model | Capacity (manufacturer) |
|---|---|
| Intex Easy Set 18ft x 48in | 5,455 gal |
| Intex Prism Frame 15ft x 48in | 4,440 gal |
| Intex Clearview Prism Frame 16ft x 48in | 5,061 gal |
| Intex Prism Frame 20ft x 10ft x 48in (oval) | 4,809 gal |
| Intex Ultra XTR Frame 16ft x 48in | 5,061 gal |
| Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR Frame 18ft x 9ft x 52in | 4,545 gal |
On this page (9 sections)
Other products for the same 1 ppm: 10 fl oz of 6% bleach or about 1 oz of 65% cal-hypo. From FC 1 to 4, that is about 19 fl oz of 10% chlorine.
Quick answer: chlorine for a 5,000 gallon pool (depends on product)
5,000 gallons is one of the most searched pool sizes. It is roughly what a 15- to 18-foot above-ground pool holds. For a routine top-up of 3 ppm you need about 19 fl oz of 10% liquid chlorine, 15 fl oz of 12.5%, or 31 fl oz (just under a quart) of 6% bleach. Your target depends on stabilizer (CYA): 3–5 ppm at CYA 40, 2–4 ppm with none.
Dose table: chlorine by product for +1/+2/+5/+10 ppm
A standard 1-gallon jug covers a lot at this size: +10 ppm is 64 fl oz of 10% chlorine, half the jug. Cal-hypo takes about 1 oz per ppm, dichlor 1.2 oz, and trichlor 0.75 oz. The dry forms each leave something behind: cal-hypo adds calcium, and dichlor and trichlor add stabilizer. For a vinyl-lined above-ground pool that you chlorinate daily, liquid chlorine keeps CYA and calcium where you set them. More on the trade-offs in how much chlorine to add.
Shock: half the "per 10,000 gallons" amount
The shock dose comes from the product label. At 5,000 gallons you need half of any "per 10,000 gallons" amount. For a liquid chlorine label that calls for 1 gallon per 10,000 gallons, that is 64 fl oz, half a jug. For a cal-hypo label that calls for 1 lb, it is 8 oz, half a bag.
Using cal-hypo? A whole 1 lb bag of 65% cal-hypo adds about 15.6 ppm of chlorine to 5,000 gallons and about 11 ppm of calcium. If you shock often, that calcium builds up over a season, which is one reason many vinyl pool owners shock with liquid chlorine. Wait to swim until chlorine is back at or below the label's limit, often 4 ppm. Step-by-step: how to shock a pool.
pH and alkalinity: acid and baking soda
To lower pH from 7.8 to 7.5 when total alkalinity (TA) is 100 and CYA is 40, add about 4.8 fl oz of 31.45% muriatic acid. To lower alkalinity by 10 ppm, about 12 fl oz; to raise it by 10 ppm, about 11.2 oz of baking soda. If pH is low and alkalinity is fine, soda ash raises pH from 7.2 to 7.5 with about 7.4 oz (at TA 80 and CYA 30). pH tends to drift up as carbon dioxide leaves the water, and PHTA notes that lower alkalinity slows that rise, so many pools need acid more often than base. Enter your own readings in the muriatic acid calculator; alkalinity steps are in baking soda for pools.
Stabilizer, calcium, and salt
- Stabilizer: 6.7 oz per 10 ppm; about 1.65 lb takes a new fill to 40 ppm. See the stabilizer calculator.
- Calcium chloride (77%): 9.6 oz per 10 ppm; the table's 3.0 lb is one +50 ppm step, the most we add at once.
- Salt: a new salt pool needs about 134 lb to reach 3,200 ppm. That is three 40 lb bags plus about 14 lb from a fourth. Add the exact amount, wait 24 hours, then test. The pool salt calculator handles partial top-ups.
Pools that hold about 5,000 gallons
Six models in our list, in five sizes, sit near this volume. They differ by 23% even though all are sold as "about 5,000 gallons" pools:
- Intex Prism Frame 15 ft × 48 in: 4,440 gallons
- Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR 18 ft × 9 ft × 52 in: 4,545 gallons
- Intex Prism Frame oval 20 ft × 10 ft × 48 in: 4,809 gallons
- Intex Clearview Prism Frame and Ultra XTR 16 ft × 48 in: 5,061 gallons
- Intex Easy Set 18 ft × 48 in: 5,455 gallons
For a 3 ppm top-up with 12.5% chlorine, that spread means 14 fl oz for the smallest and 17 fl oz for the largest. Enter your model's own number in the calculator. More detail by diameter: 15 ft round and 16 ft round pools.
Calculator preset to this volume
The calculator at the top is set to 5,000 gallons. Enter your chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and stabilizer readings, and it returns the steps in order, with amounts for the chlorine and acid you choose. Next sizes: 4,000 gallons and 6,000 gallons.
Safety. Add liquid chlorine and acid on different days or at least 30 minutes apart, each in front of a return jet with the pump on, and never from the same container. Always follow the product label. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
FAQ
How much chlorine do I put in a 5,000 gallon pool?
Per 1 ppm: 5.1 fl oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine, 6.4 fl oz of 10%, 10 fl oz of 6% bleach, or about 1 oz of 65% cal-hypo. Multiply by the ppm between your test and your target. The liquid chlorine calculator corrects for a jug that has lost strength.
How much shock for a 5,000 gallon pool?
Half of what your shock product's label says for 10,000 gallons. For example, 64 fl oz (half a gallon) where a liquid chlorine label says 1 gallon per 10,000 gallons, or 8 oz where a cal-hypo label says 1 lb. Don't swim until chlorine is back at or below the label's swim limit.
How much muriatic acid for a 5,000 gallon pool?
About 4.8 fl oz of 31.45% acid for pH 7.8 to 7.5 at TA 100 and CYA 40, and about 12 fl oz to lower TA by 10 ppm. Higher alkalinity means more acid for the same pH change.
Sources
- Intex product pages (Prism Frame, Ultra XTR, Clearview Prism Frame, Easy Set), read 2026-09-29: intexcorp.com
- Hayward, salt dosing and 24-hour reading: hayward.com
- Formulas and reference checks: methodology