Chlorine Prices Are Up 40% Since 2021. Are You Still Charging 2019 Prices?
Between 2021 and 2026, the price of trichlor tablets went from roughly $45 for a 25-pound bucket to $63. That's not just a supplier price increase — that's a structural shift in your cost per stop, and most pool service owners haven't adjusted their pricing to match.
The actual cost increase breakdown
| Chemical | 2021 Cost | 2026 Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trichlor (25 lb) | $45 | $63 | +40% |
| Liquid chlorine (1 gal) | $4.50 | $6.75 | +50% |
| Muriatic acid (1 gal) | $8 | $11 | +37% |
| CYA stabilizer (4 lb) | $18 | $25 | +39% |
For a mid-size residential pool, the average chemical cost per stop went from about $8.50 in 2021 to $12.00 in 2026. If you were charging $35/week in 2021 and haven't raised prices, you've absorbed that entire increase out of your margin.
Your real margin erosion
Let's say you charged $35/week in 2021 with $8.50 chemicals and $10.50 labor. Your gross profit per stop was $16.00 (46% margin). Today's chemical cost of $12.00 cuts that to $12.55 (36% margin). That's a 22% reduction in margin without you changing anything.
If you're still at $35/week: you're working a quarter harder for the same money as 2021. That's not a sustainable business — that's a slow-motion wind-down.
How to raise prices without losing customers
Most pool service owners dread the price increase conversation. Here's how to do it right:
- Give 30 days written notice. Not a text, not an email. A printed letter in their hand. "Chemical cost adjustments effective [date]."
- Cite your actual cost increase. "Our chemical costs have increased 40% since 2021. To maintain the service level you expect, our weekly rate is moving from $35 to $42 effective November 1."
- Don't apologize. You're running a business, not a charity. You're explaining economics, not asking permission.
- Offer a prepay option. 10% off if they prepay quarterly. This locks them in and helps your cash flow.
The bottom line
If you're reading this and you haven't raised prices since 2023, here's your action: open your pricing sheet this week and recalculate your cost per stop at today's chemical prices. The number will surprise you. Then send a professional, factual price adjustment letter. You'll lose fewer customers than you fear — and the ones you keep will be worth the math.
Pool Desk is an independent resource. We don't sell chemicals, software, or anything else. We just watch the numbers.