The Complete Pool Chemicals List: Every Chemical Your Pool Needs in 2026

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These are products we genuinely recommend for pool maintenance.

Taylor K-2006 Complete Test Kit (~$90) — The gold standard for pool water testing. Tests chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and CYA with lab-grade accuracy.

In The Swim 3″ Chlorine Tablets (25 lbs) (~$70) — Slow-dissolving stabilized chlorine tablets. Best value per pound for daily maintenance.

Clorox Pool&Spa pH Down (5 lbs) (~$13) — Sodium bisulfate granules. Safer and easier to handle than muriatic acid for lowering pH.

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (15 lbs) (~$15) — Pure sodium bicarbonate. Identical to pool store “alkalinity increaser” at a fraction of the price.

In The Swim Cal-Hypo Pool Shock (24 x 1 lb bags) (~$65) — 68% calcium hypochlorite shock. Pre-portioned bags make weekly shocking easy.

AquaChek 7-Way Test Strips (100 ct) (~$17) — Quick daily testing for free chlorine, bromine, pH, alkalinity, hardness, and CYA. Not as precise as liquid kits but great for daily monitoring.

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Calculate It Instantly with Pool Chemical Calculator

Stop doing pool chemistry math in your head. The Pool Chemical Calculator app tells you exactly how much of each chemical to add based on your pool’s size and current readings.

Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness & more

Works for all pool types — chlorine, salt water, above ground

Free to download

Download for Android →

Download for iPhone/iPad →

Use Online →

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Quick Reference: Pool Chemical Cheat Sheet

| Chemical | Target Range | What It Does |

|—|—|—|

| Free Chlorine | 1–3 ppm | Sanitizes water |

| pH | 7.2–7.6 | Controls acidity |

| Total Alkalinity | 80–120 ppm | Buffers pH stability |

| Cyanuric Acid | 30–50 ppm | Protects chlorine from UV |

| Calcium Hardness | 200–400 ppm | Prevents surface damage |

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