Hot Tub Shock Calculator

Enter your spa's gallons — get the dichlor shock dose in teaspoons, the MPS alternative, and the routine that keeps the water fresh.

Unsure? Use the hot tub volume calculator.

Your shock dose
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Jets on, cover off for the first 15–20 minutes. MPS doses follow the product label (typical: ~1–2 oz per 250 gal) — brands vary.

Hot Tub Shock Calculator — free from poolcarekit.com

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Why spas need shocking more than pools

Do the density math: two people in a 350-gallon spa equals about 100 people in a backyard pool — at 102°F, with jets aerating everything. Body oils and sweat accumulate faster than daily chlorine can oxidize, so the weekly shock isn't optional maintenance; it's the reset that makes the daily routine sufficient.

A worked example

A 350-gallon spa at 1 ppm needing a weekly shock to 10: a 9 ppm rise takes about 22 grams of dichlor — four and a half level teaspoons. After a crowded evening, the to-12 dose is ~27 grams. With MPS instead, a typical label calls for ~2 oz for this size — and the tub is usable again in a quarter hour.

The shock routine that works

Weekly: test, dichlor shock at night, jets on, cover off 20 minutes, then cover on and let it settle overnight. After parties: MPS immediately, dichlor if the water still smells the next day. And because dichlor adds stabilizer with every dose, spas on this routine still want their quarterly drain and refill — the daily dosing calculator covers the between-shocks routine.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I shock my hot tub?

Weekly during regular use, plus after any heavy soak (multiple people, long session). Hot water and jets concentrate body load fast — the weekly shock is what keeps a spa from developing that gym-towel smell.

Chlorine shock or non-chlorine (MPS) shock for a spa?

Both have jobs. Dichlor (chlorine) shock sanitizes and oxidizes — the weekly workhorse. MPS (monopersulfate) oxidizes body oils without raising chlorine, so you can soak again in ~15 minutes — perfect right after a crowded session. Many spa owners alternate: MPS after soaks, dichlor weekly.

How long after shocking a hot tub can I use it?

Dichlor shock: wait until chlorine drifts back to 1–5 ppm — often several hours to overnight with the cover OFF for the first 20 minutes (high chlorine + trapped cover = degraded pillows and headrests). MPS: typically ~15 minutes.

Why does my hot tub smell even though I add chlorine?

That smell is chloramines — used-up chlorine — which regular doses can't clear. It's the classic sign you're overdue for a proper shock: the oxidizer burn-down that resets the water.

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