The pool filter sand guide

Pool filter sand: what to buy, how much, and when to change it

Most sand filters take #20 silica pool filter sand, sold in 50 lb bags. How much depends on the tank: published figures run from 50 lb for a 12 inch tank to over 900 lb for a 36 inch tank. Glass and zeolite fill the same space at a lower weight. Your filter’s label has the exact number.

How much sand do I need? Sand chart

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Fig. 1 Inside a sand filter: water enters at the top, passes down through the sand bed, and leaves through the laterals.

Pick your media

Three media fit a standard sand filter. Silica sand is the default; glass and zeolite are alternatives with tradeoffs. Play sand is not one of them.

The default#20 silica sandWhat most sand filters are built for. Low cost, sold in 50 lb bags.Lighter, longer claimed lifeFilter glassCrushed, tumbled glass. Use your filter maker’s glass figure.About half the weightZeoliteA porous mineral sold as ZeoSand and other brands.Do not usePlay sandToo fine and too mixed. Why it does not belong in a filter.

Side by side: sand vs glass vs zeolite. Our picks by situation: best pool filter sand.

How much sand: the chart

Figures from filter maker manuals and specs where we could find them, and from retailer charts where we could not. The label on your tank beats every row here.

Fig. 2 Three common tank sizes drawn to scale. Sand needed climbs fast with diameter: about 77 lb, 175 lb and 300 to 325 lb.

Typical sand by tank diameter (guidance only)

Tank diameter	Typical #20 sand	Based on
12 in	about 50 lb	One published figure: Intex SX2100.
14 in	about 77 lb	One published figure: Intex SX2800.
16 in	100 to 120 lb	Hayward S166T 100 lb; Intex 16 in 120 lb.
18 in	125 to 150 lb	Hayward S180T is listed at 150 lb on one chart and 125 lb on another.
19 in	about 175 lb	Pentair Triton II TR40.
21 in	200 to 225 lb	Hayward S210T 200 lb; Pentair TR50 225 lb.
23 in	about 250 lb	Hayward S230T.
24 in	300 to 325 lb	Hayward S244T about 300 lb; Pentair TR60 325 lb.
30 in	500 to 600 lb	Hayward 30 in listed at 500 lb; Pentair TR100 600 lb.
36 in	about 925 lb	Pentair Triton II TR140.

Every model figure, with its source, is in the full sand chart. To convert to bags or to glass or zeolite, use the sand calculator.

Sand calculator

Pick your filter, your tank diameter, or type the figure from your label. You get pounds, bags, and the glass or zeolite equivalent. Guidance only: confirm on the label or in the manual.

Guidance, not a spec

Three rules for a sand change

The job is simple. These three things are where it goes wrong.

Use the label amount
Hayward’s S200 manual says to use no more than the recommended amount: the sand should come to about the center of the tank flange. Too much sand can push sand into the pool. Hayward manual.
Water in first
Fill the tank about halfway with water before you pour. It cushions the laterals at the bottom, which crack easily. Cap the standpipe so no sand drops into it. Step-by-step guide.
Mask on when pouring
Pool filter sand is crystalline silica. OSHA links breathing fine silica dust to silicosis and lung cancer. Wear a dust mask, pour slowly, and keep your face out of the cloud. OSHA.

How-to guides and fixes

Changing sand, backwashing, valve settings, vacuuming, sand in the pool, and the main filter brands.

How-to and fixesHow to change pool filter sand How-to and fixesHow to backwash a sand filter How-to and fixesSand filter valve settings How-to and fixesVacuum a pool with a sand filter How-to and fixesSand in the pool How much and whenHow often to change sand Filters and brandsAbove-ground vs inground filters Filters and brandsIntex sand filter sand Filters and brandsHayward sand filter sand Filters and brandsPentair sand filter sand Filters and brandsQuikrete vs HTH pool filter sand

Shop by part

Straight to current listings. Read the matching guide first if you are not sure what your filter takes.

#20 silica pool filter sandRead the guide firstAmazon
Filter glass mediaRead the guide firstAmazon
Zeolite filter mediaRead the guide firstAmazon
Lid o-ringsRead the guide firstAmazon
Replacement lateralsRead the guide firstAmazon
Pressure gaugesRead the guide firstAmazon
Dust masks (N95)Read the guide firstAmazon
Backwash hosesRead the guide firstAmazon

Questions people ask

What kind of sand goes in a pool filter?

Pool filter sand: a washed, narrowly graded silica sand usually sold as #20 grade. Hayward’s S200 manual lists filter sand of 0.45 to 0.55 mm, also known as No. 20 silica sand. Do not use play sand or all-purpose sand: it is finer and mixed in size, so it can clog the filter or pass back into the pool.

How much sand does my pool filter need?

It depends on the tank size. Published figures run from about 50 lb for a 12 inch Intex tank to 925 lb for a 36 inch Pentair Triton II. Most residential filters take 100 to 350 lb. The exact figure is printed on the filter label and in the manual, and that figure wins over any chart.

How often should pool filter sand be changed?

Intex says every 5 years for its sand filter pumps, and Inyo Pools suggests every 5 to 7 years. Change it sooner if the water stays cloudy, the pressure climbs back up quickly after each backwash, or the sand is clumped or crusty.

Is filter glass or zeolite better than sand?

They are alternatives, not upgrades for every pool. Glass and zeolite weigh less for the same fill level, and their makers claim finer filtering or longer life. Sand costs the least and is what most filter makers specify. Check that your filter maker allows the media you choose.

Why is there sand in my pool?

The most common cause is a cracked lateral or standpipe inside the filter. Too much sand in the tank or a worn backwash valve can do it too. A little sand after a fresh fill is normal until a thorough backwash and rinse clears the fines.

Sources: Hayward, Pentair, Intex, Inyo Pools, Leslie’s, OSHA. We have not tested these products; see how we choose.