How much sand does a Hayward S166T take?
The Hayward ProSeries S166T takes 100 pounds of #20 silica pool filter sand, which is 2 bags of 50 pounds.
How to work it out
- Hayward ProSeries S166T: 100 lb (45 kg) of #20 silica sand (Hayward ProSeries manual)
- 100 lb ÷ 50 lb per bag = 2 → 2 bags
The S166T is Hayward’s 16 in ProSeries filter, part of its above-ground line. Hayward’s own product page puts it simply: this filter requires 100 lbs of #20 silica pool filter sand.
Adjust for your project
- Bags of 50 lb (22.7 kg)
- 2 bags
- Filter area
- 1.4 sq ft
- Design flow
- 30 gpm (114 L/min)
- Where the number comes from
- Hayward ProSeries manual
- Hayward’s Q&A says it recommends only filter sand in its filters, so glass is not listed here for Hayward models.
- Use the grade the label calls for — #20 silica pool filter sand (about 0.45–0.55 mm) for every model here. Play sand and builder’s sand are the wrong size and will pass through the laterals or clog the bed.
Sand for popular filters
| Model | Filter sand (#20 silica) | Bags of 50 lb (22.7 kg) | Design flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward S144T | 50 lb | 1 bag | 25 gpm (95 L/min) |
| Hayward S166T | 100 lb | 2 bags | 30 gpm (114 L/min) |
| Hayward S180T | 150 lb | 3 bags | 35 gpm (132 L/min) |
| Hayward S210T | 200 lb | 4 bags | 44 gpm (167 L/min) |
| Hayward S244T | 300 lb | 6 bags | 62 gpm (235 L/min) |
| Pentair Triton II TR40 | 175 lb | 4 bags | 38 gpm (144 L/min) |
| Pentair Triton II TR60 | 325 lb | 7 bags | 63 gpm (238 L/min) |
| Pentair Sand Dollar SD60 | 250 lb | 5 bags | 60 gpm (227 L/min) |
| Intex SX2100 | 50 lb | 1 bag | 1,600 gal per hour system flow (about 27 gpm) |
| Intex SX2800 | 77 lb | 2 bags | 2,150 gal per hour system flow (about 36 gpm) |
Sand and sizing for the S166T
One hundred pounds is two standard bags, which makes the S166T one of the easiest filters to re-sand: two trips from the car, about ten minutes of pouring. The manual lists 45 kg for metric buyers.
- Design flow 30 gpm (Hayward’s above-ground sell sheet), from 1.4 sq ft of filter area. It handles pumps up to 30 gpm, or about 20 gpm with DOE’s optional 50% efficiency margin.
- Above-ground pools. That 20 gpm turns over about 9,600 gallons in 8 hours — an 18 ft round or a small oval. For a 24 ft round, the S210T or larger is the better match.
- Glass. Hayward says it recommends only filter sand in its filters, so stick with #20 silica.
- Old sand. Small tanks are easy to empty with a cup and a wet/dry vacuum. Bag the old sand and check your local rules for disposing of it.
If your filter is the 24 in model, see how much sand a Hayward S244T takes. Intex owners comparing tank sizes can look at how much sand for an Intex SX2100, which takes half as much.
Different size? Use the full Pool Filter Sand Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Pool filter sand (#20 silica, 50 lb)Budget price
The grade most sand filters are designed for (about 0.45–0.55 mm). Check your filter’s label for the exact amount.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Above-ground pool pumpMid-range price
Sized for above-ground plumbing and filters. Match the flow to the filter’s rated maximum.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Sand filter (top-mount)Premium price
Simple and durable. Size by flow: the filter’s rated maximum should be at or above your pump’s flow.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand for a Hayward S144T?
50 pounds — a single 50 pound bag — for the 1.1 sq ft S144T.
How much sand for a Hayward S180T?
150 pounds, which is 3 bags of 50 pounds, with a design flow of 35 gpm (132 L/min).
Other common sizes
- How much sand a Hayward S244T takes — 300 lb
- How much sand for a Hayward S210T — 200 lb
- How much sand an Intex SX2800 takes — 77 lb
- How much sand for an Intex SX2100 — 50 lb
Sources
- Hayward ProSeries high-rate sand filter manual (IS210TS Rev A) (opens in a new tab) — Filter area and pounds of sand for S144T to S360T2; sand 0.45–0.55 mm, “No. 20 Silica Pool”; cap the internal pipe, fill the tank about half with water, keep sand at least 10 in below the top; backwash at 8–10 psi over clean pressure.
- Hayward — ProSeries 16 in sand filter (S166T) product page (opens in a new tab) — “This filter requires 100 lbs of #20 silica pool filter sand”; in its Q&A Hayward recommends only filter sand in its filters.
- Hayward ProSeries sand filter brochure (2011) (opens in a new tab) — Design flows based on 20 gpm per sq ft: S180T 35, S210T 44, S220T 52, S244T 62, S270T 74 gpm.
- Hayward ProSeries above-ground sand filter sell sheet (2025) (opens in a new tab) — Design flows S144T 25 and S166T 30 gpm.
- Pentair Triton II sand filter brochure (opens in a new tab) — Filter area, tank diameter, pounds of standard #20 silica sand and design flow for TR40 to TR140.
- Pentair Sand Dollar sand filter brochure (2020) (opens in a new tab) — Filter area, pounds of sand and flow for SD35 to SD80. An older (2014) brochure lists 200 lb for the SD60.
- Intex — Krystal Clear sand filter pumps (product pages for SX1500, SX2100, SX2800, SX3000) (opens in a new tab) — Tank size, #20 silica sand capacity, glass media capacity, system flow rate and maximum pool size for each model.