Water softener size and cost calculator

Answer three questions to get the right softener size, an installed price range and your yearly salt cost.

Omaha (MUD) about 9 · Lincoln 11.2 · Not sure? Use 10, or look up your ZIP.
City water is usually 0. Private wells often have some, so check your well test.
Type of system

Your estimate

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installed price range

Recommended size
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Hardness removed daily
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Salt per year (40-lb bags)
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Regenerations
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Get quotes for this system

How we calculate

  1. Daily water use: people × 75 gallons.
  2. Grains to remove per day: gallons × hardness. Each 1 ppm of iron adds 4 grains per gallon.
  3. Softener size: daily grains × 4 days between regenerations (industry guidance is 3 to 5 days), rounded up to the next standard size.
  4. Salt: about 1 pound of salt per 3,000 grains removed, at $5 to $10 per 40-lb bag.

Sizing method from Nelsen Corp.; prices from Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide and Fixr 2025–2026 data. This is an estimate, not a quote.