Top 10 Best Pool Chlorine Tablets in 2024

Pool cleaners, filters, and covers do a great job of keeping the pool clean but they don’t do it all. You also need to keep your pool free of bacteria, protozoa, and other biological organisms.

Most of these organisms are invisible and they require much attention or your pool becomes contaminated. The most effective means of control is using pool chemicals, mostly containing chlorine, particularly tablets.

In this article, I will put you through on how to select the best pool chlorine tablets for your pool. I have also researched ten best pool chlorine tablets you should consider for your pool.

Types of Pool Chlorine Tablets

Chlorine is the major constituent and it is highly reactive. Due to this fact, pool chlorine tablets can either be stabilized or not. This section covers the two types of chlorine tablets and their differences and advantages are discussed.

Stabilized Chlorine Tablets

As I said earlier, Chlorine is highly reactive and the presence of sunlight further makes things worse. As sunlight heats up the water and UV-rays reaches the pool, chlorine dissolves very rapidly.

As a result, chlorine levels may drop and you will need to spend more to maintain your pool. Hence, most manufacturers now stabilize their tablets with stabilizers. The most common stabilizers are Cyanuric acid and sodium.

They help to slow down the effect of the sun and the dissolution process entirely. However, high levels of stabilizers may hinder the sanitization process as dissolution may become extremely slower than desired.

They are the best if you want to maintain steady pH and chlorine levels. They are not harsh on the pool and the piping system. Also, they are ideal for outdoor pools and sunny climates.

Unstabilized Chlorine Tablets

The unstabilized chlorine tablets are just like the exact opposite of the stabilized ones. This means there is no form of stabilizers and, of course, they will dissolve faster.

Due to the absence of stabilizers, they are very susceptible to deterioration by heat and sunlight. Who uses them anyway and why will anyone use them?

It’s a great choice if you own an indoor pool or would like to apply routine treatments to your pool. They are quick in action and can clear off contaminants in no time.

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What Is the Best Pool Chlorine Tablets?

For healthy water for your pool users, adding pool chemicals (chlorine) to your pool is very necessary. With the best pool chlorine tablets, you can conveniently keep your pool healthy. Below are some of the best pool chlorine tablets available in the market.

• Best Overall: Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue 3″ Chlorinating Tablets
  “Long-lasting, value for money, tablets are individually wrapped to preserve quality.”
• Best Budget: In The Swim 3-inch Pool Chlorine Tablets
  “Easy to apply, the bucket comes with anti-child locks, works with feeders, floaters and skimmers.”
• Best Clorox Chlorine Tablets: Clorox Pool&Spa Active99 3″ Chlorinating Tablets
  “High performance, slow-dissolving, less susceptible to disintegration in sunlight.”
• Best 3-Inch Chlorine Tablets: NAVA 3” Swimming Pool Chlorine Tablets
  “High concentration, easy to use, economical, suitable for big pools.”
• Best for Inground Pools: Swim Best U009050050 Pool Chlorine Tablets
  “UV-resistant, EPA-certified, doesn’t cloud the water or leave residues and stains.”
• Best for Small Pools: Clorox Pool&Spa 1″ Pool Chlorine Tablets
  “Effective, good value for money, ideal for inflatable and small pools.”
• Best for Above Ground Pools: Kem-Tek 2815-6 1-Inch Chlorinating Tablets
  “Long-lasting action, good value for money, doesn’t form scales or coloration.”

Comparison Chart

The aim is to help you find the best pool chlorine tablets in the market that suits your needs. My guide contains ten different options you can consider. Below is a highlight of the key features of each product.

The 10 Best Pool Chlorine Tablets Reviews

Pool waters are apparently stagnant and can accumulate a lot of things ranging from debris, sand, particles, and microbes. Swimming in a pool contaminated with bacteria, protozoan, etc. will definitely make one sick.

By purchasing pool chlorine tablets, you can keep your pool users from infections. Below are the reviews of the best pool chlorine tablets available in the market.

Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue 3″ Chlorinating Tablets

(Best Overall – Editor’s Choice)

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The Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue chlorinating tablets are sized three inches each in diameter. As a result, they will fit into most floating dispensers and even automated systems.

It is a perfect choice for swimming pools of any condition as they do not corrode or stain surfaces. The tablets are slow-dissolving and of high concentration, keeping it fresh and disinfected.

The Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue chlorinating tablets are UV-stabilized to ensure long-lasting effects. The tablets are sold in user-friendly rectangular buckets in four different weights – 5-pound, 12-pound, 25-pound, and 35-pound buckets.

Clorox Pool&Spa Active99 3″ Chlorinating Tablets

(Best Clorox Chlorine Tablets)

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The Clorox Pool&Spa Active 99 chlorinating tablets come with Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione which makes it a potent pool chemical. It is highly concentrated and can be effective in eliminating bacteria and algae from your pool.

For excellent purifying power, the tablets are UV-stabilized and are less susceptible to disintegration by sunlight. Due to the three-inch diameter of the tablets, they can be used by almost any chlorine dispenser.

Considering its price, Clorox Pool&Spa Active 99 3-inch chlorinating tablets are somewhat economical, having long-lasting effects. The product is sold in four different packagings based on weight – 5-pound, 12-pound, 25-pound, and 35-pound.

It is important to know that adequate caution should be taken when handling as it can be corrosive and irritating. The concentration is high and it can disturb your pool’s pH if not carefully used.

NAVA 3” Swimming Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best 3-Inch Chlorine Tablets)

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The NAVA swimming pool chlorine tablets are another decent choice for large pools. The product has a reliable chemical formulation that is friendly to most pool types and the environment (EPA-approved).

The tablets are of high concentration to ensure effectiveness and are also UV-stabilized to help retain quality and performance. Each tablet is three inches in diameter and they are wrapped individually.

The NAVA swimming pool chlorine tablets come in a bucket packaging with varying sizes to suit your budget. The buckets are easy to open and lock, and are able to preserve the tablets.

With the diameter of the tablets, they are compatible with most chlorinators and floaters. In addition, the tablets are slow-dissolving but crumble easily especially when close to the expiry date.

Swim Best U009050050 Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best for Inground Pools)

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Together with an excellent price, the Swim Best pool chlorine tablets are an excellent choice for pool owners. Each tablet is three inches and they are individually packed, making it easy to quantify and apply.

Whilst being economical, its effect lasts longer and offers a much better level of concentration. For top-notch performance, each tablet is barely affected by sunlight as they are made UV-resistant.

The tablets dissolve slowly are compatible with floaters, feeders, and skimmers. Overall, the product is EPA-certified and considered safe for humans and the environment.

Furthermore, the tablets do not cause any mineral build-up or leave behind any coloration or residue. However, it may emit an unpleasant smell and the packaging may be awkward sometimes.

Clorox Pool&Spa 1″ Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best for Small Pools)

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If you own a tiny pool of about 5,000-gallon capacity or less, this product should be your priority. Due to the one-inch diameter of the Clorox Pool&Spa chlorine tablets, it is quite convenient and easy to use.

Whilst being made to last long even against sunlight, it works great in keeping algae and other microbes out. It can help in achieving clear water in backyard splash pools or when used with larger tablet sizes.

The Clorox Pool&Spa chlorine tablets are best applied using feeders and floater but they won’t work well with most skimmers. It has a moderate absorption rate and excellent value for money.

It comes in a tightly sealed container that can be recapped several times without losing its airtightness. The tablets are not individually packed and may become powdered.

Kem-Tek 2815-6 1-Inch Chlorinating Tablets

(Best for Above Ground Pools)

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You do not need the bigger chlorinating tablets for small or above-ground pools and tubs. Just the small 1-inch diameter tablets like the Kem-tek 2815-6 will do the job.

The tablets have a chemical formulation that allows chemical stability even in the presence of the sun’s UV rays. They do not create any coloration or deposit any residue in the water, scales, and stains on pool walls.

They have a high level of chlorine to keep algae and bacteria and sustain a strong residual of chlorine. Also, they do not disturb the water’s pH due to their fairly slow-dissolving nature.

In The Swim 3-inch Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best Budget)

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The In The Swim Chlorine tablets contain about 90-percent stabilized chlorine, allowing you to maintain optimum chlorine levels. The tablets have a diameter of three inches each and just two are perfect for your 10000-gallon pool per week.

The tablets come with individual packaging, hence, there is less occurrence of chlorine dust in the bucket. Due to their size, they fit properly into automatic feeders, floaters, and skimmers.

The product is sold in four different bucket sizes based on weight, 10, 25, 50, and 100 pounds. The buckets are reliable and airtight to preserve the tablets and feature child-lock for safety.

Rx Clear 1-Inch Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best for Inflatable Pools)

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Small pool owners will definitely find the Rx Clear pool chlorine tablets are a good option. The tablets have a small diameter of about one inch, hence, they won’t work with standard skimmers.

Containing 90% chlorine and 99% Trichloro-s-triazinetrione, it offers a high chlorine concentration capable of effectively disinfecting your pool. Furthermore, it doesn’t cause bleaching or stain the liner.

For added efficiency, it is UV-stabilized to prevent loss of chlorine due to sunlight, eliminating the need to increase doses. Interestingly, the Rx Clear pool chlorine tablets have a longer shelf-life, minimal odor, and doesn’t really disturb the pH of your water.

Depending on your budget, you can pick from five different packaging weights. However, you need to exercise caution as it can irritate the eyes and skin.

Pool Mate 1-1405M Swimming Pool 3″ Chlorinating Tablets

(Best for Descaling)

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The Pool Mate 1-1405M swimming pool chlorinating tablets are another popular choice among domestic and commercial pool owners. They are highly concentrated to inhibit the growth of pathogens, algae, bacteria, and more.

The tablets are slow-dissolving, long-lasting, and effective, hence, you do not need any extra chemicals to manage your pool. Each tablet has a diameter of three inches and will definitely fit into skimmers, floaters, and automatic feeders.

The Pool Mate tablets do not stain your pool but act as a stain inhibitor which removes and prevents stains. They also act as a descaler, preventing the accumulation of scales that might lead to corrosion.

They are sold in reliable buckets and each tablet is wrapped individually to preserve quality. The tablets are quite susceptible to crumble, however, their effectiveness is not affected.

Doheny’s 3 Inch Swimming Pool Chlorine Tablets

(Best With Safety Lock)

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To achieve a clean and microbe-free water in your large pool, you can try the Doheny’s pool chlorine tablets. Whilst offering good value for money, they are sold in various packaging sizes so you can pick depending on your budget.

The active ingredients, 99% pure Trichloro-S-Trianzinetrione and 90% available chlorine, perform excellently in cleaning and disinfecting the pool. The 3-inch tablets also last long in terms of dissolution.

Each tablet has some form of individual packaging that helps to preserve quality. You also do not have to worry about sunlight since the chlorine is UV-stabilized and doesn’t deteriorate easily.

For safety, the bucket comes with child-proof locks to keep children out. On the other hand, the tablets are very fragile and one can receive many broken tablets.

Choosing the Best Pool Chlorine Tablets

Due to the numerous products available, it might be pretty confusing when it comes to decision-making. So far, I have fully reviewed ten different options you might want to consider.

The right products plus the correct application will help you achieve your heart desire – a clean, healthy pool. Right away, I will be discussing three things to consider when buying pool chlorine tablets.

Type of Chlorine Tablet

There are two types of chlorine tablets, stabilized and unstabilized. Although both are very effective, their functions are quite different.

Stabilized chlorine tablets are known to ensure pool consistency as they do not disturb the pool’s pH. In addition, they are more stable in sunlight than the unstabilized ones. The unstabilized chlorine tablets are best used as quick treatment options for pools.

Tablet Size

As you may have noticed in the sections above, Chlorine tablets come in different sizes. The most common sizes are the three inches and one inch.

The three-inch tablets are bigger. Due to their high amounts of chlorine, they are more economical and ideal for large or outdoor pools.

One the other hand, the one-inch tablets have a lesser concentration of chlorine than the larger ones. This makes it ideal for above-ground or inflatable pools, tubs, and spas.

The tablet size also matters when it comes to application. The three-inch tablets are very easy to apply as they can work with most chlorinating systems such as floaters, skimmers, and feeders.

Tablet Packaging

Tablets are sold in different packaging materials (e.g. nylon and plastics) and sizes. Since you need to chlorinate your pool at least every week, buying bigger packaging sizes will help you save money and timer.

However, the tendency of broken tablets increases with the size of the packaging. Therefore, if you have a reliable store nearby, you can purchase small to medium-sized packaging to avoid that.

If at all you must buy bigger packaging sizes, ensure the packaging buckets are reliable. The buckets should be durable and the lid should be able to keep the container as airtight as possible to preserve the tablets. Some buckets even come with anti-child locks for safety.

How to Use Pool Chlorine Tablets?

Adding pool chlorine tablets to your pool is pretty simple. However, it doesn’t mean that you should just throw them into the pool.

Indeed, they are means to go into the pool, but that doesn’t mean they will perform effectively if left on the pool floor. In fact, you may stain your pool or bleach your liners while dissolving unevenly and slowly.

Improper and excessive addition of chlorine can affect your piping system and may also even cause the release of harmful gases. Improper handling can also result in irritation and allergies, hence, hand gloves are important.

You should determine the pH and chlorine levels with water test kits before adding. The ideal pH values should fall between 7.3 and 7.6 and chlorine levels in the range of 1 to 1.5 ppm.

Before you start applying pool chlorine tablets, you need to know the quantity or dosage that works for your pool. To know the best dosage for your pool, you need to know the cubic size of your pool. Below is a chart to determine the dosage.

So then, how do you use pool chlorine tablets? There are three ways to apply chlorine tablets to your pools. These chlorine dispensers are effective and economical.

Using a Skimmer

This is actually the simplest way to use chlorine tablets. Indeed, pool skimmers are designed to remove debris such as leaves, they can also do the dispensing job too.

The water reaches the skimmer before it gets to the pump, then the filter and heater before returning to the pool. This makes the skimmer an ideal spot to place the chorine tablets.

With the arrangement of the system, there is enough time for the chlorine to mix perfectly with the pool water. However, if your pool isn’t running, the tablets will continue dissolving and concentration will be high enough to corrode pipes and equipment.

One way to prevent such a scenario is by running your pump at a slower speed. Also, you may remove the tablets when the pool water’s concentration is ideal.

Using a Floater

Floaters are those plastic containers that float on the pool surface. You only need to place some tables into the floater, place it on the pool and the tablets start dissolving.

The only downside is that; the floater might get stuck in one position for long and distribution may not be efficient. In newer models, you can regulate the opening to increase or decrease chlorine levels.

Using a Chlorinator/Feeder

The chlorinator or feeder is a more automated means that gives you control over the amount of chlorine released into the pool. It works in junction with the filtration and uses a knob for control.

It is the most advanced and efficient way, and it is more expensive. It is fitted in the piping system of the pool and it requires some installation procedure to get it installed. There are basically two types, the inline and the offline chlorinators.

Inline Chlorinators are installed in line with the piping system. It is often positioned after the pump and the pool filter or the last part that leads water into the pool. It is best for new pools. Offline Chlorinators are like an attachment type and are best for already existing pools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In case you skipped some cogent points in the article. I’ve compiled some frequently asked questions to help clear your mind.

Swim Network Overview

Maintaining your pool isn’t really stressful but that’s if you have the right and necessary materials. While pool covers, filters, and pumps remove debris and particles, pool chemicals take care of germs and pathogens.

Pool chlorine tablets will help you keep microbes out but its efficiency depends on the quality and needs of your pool. Not every product is good as you might even damage your pool instead of the other way.

With my buying guide, you should be able to sort and prioritize your options until you get the best pool chlorine tablets. Among the ten research best pool chlorine tablets, the Clorox Pool&Spa XtraBlue 3″ Chlorinating Tablets is best overall in terms of performance.

For you are looking for budget-friendly options, the In The Swim 3-inch Pool Chlorine Tablets should top your list. Small pool owner don’t need the 3-inch tablets and can settle for a product like the Clorox Pool&Spa 1″ Pool Chlorine Tablets.

Have you used any of these pool chlorine tablets? Do you have any questions? Please share your experience with other readers or questions in the comments section. Help your friends know about pool chlorine tablets by sharing this article with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.