4 Steps to Calculate the Right Amount of Pool Shock

Measure your pool’s volume Multiply length × width × average depth × 7.5 to get gallons. For average depth, add shallow and deep end depths, then divide by 2. If the pool is oddly shaped, break it into rectangles and sum the volumes.

Read the shock label for dosage Most granular shocks require 1 pound per 10,000 gallons to raise chlorine by 10 ppm. Never guess — too little shock leads to algae, too much can bleach hair.

Test your water first Use a good test kit to check current chlorine levels. If it’s already at 3 ppm, you don’t need a full 10 ppm shock; a super chlorinate level of 5–10 ppm above normal is usually enough.

Apply the correct dose Divide your pool’s gallons by 10,000, then multiply by the label’s recommended pounds per 10,000 gallons. Adjust based on your target chlorine rise. Your pool doesn’t care about ego — just do the math.