Escalator Capacity Calculator

Persons per hour from step width, speed, and loading.

Step width

Speed (m/s)

Vertical rise (m)

Incline angle (°)

Step utilization (%)

Tab to move between fields

Practical capacity (persons/hr)

4,725

Theoretical max (persons/hr)6,750

Visible steps25

Total steps (including flat)31

Slope length (m)10

Horizontal run (m)8.66

Motor power (kW)3.4

Travel time (s)20

Step width (mm)1,000

How to Use This Calculator

Select Step Width (600, 800, or 1000 mm) based on the installation.
Enter Speed (m/s) — typically 0.5 m/s for standard escalators.
Set Vertical Rise (m) and Incline Angle (30 or 35 degrees).
Enter Step Utilization (%) based on observed passenger loading patterns.
Review Practical Capacity (persons/hr) vs. Theoretical Maximum to verify the escalator meets peak demand.

How the result changes with Speed (m/s)

Speed (m/s)	Practical capacity (persons/hr)
0.35	3,260
0.46	4,328
0.59	5,604
0.71	6,662

Step width: 0 = 600 mm (single file), 1 = 800 mm (single + passing), 2 = 1000 mm (two abreast).
Speed (m/s): Escalator travel speed (standard 0.5 m/s, max 0.65 m/s per EN 115).
Vertical rise (m): Total vertical height from bottom to top landing.
Incline angle (°): Escalator angle of inclination (30° standard, max 35° for rise < 6m).
Step utilization (%): Fraction of steps occupied (60-80% typical, 100% = crush load).

Practical capacity (persons/hr): Realistic throughput at the specified utilization rate.
Theoretical max (persons/hr): Maximum capacity if every step were occupied.
Visible steps: Number of steps visible on the incline.
Total steps (including flat): Total step count including flat sections at top and bottom.
Slope length (m): Total length along the incline from bottom to top.
Horizontal run (m): Horizontal distance from pit edge to upper support.
Motor power (kW): Estimated drive motor power requirement.
Travel time (s): Time for a passenger to ride from bottom to top.
Step width (mm): Nominal step width.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Step width = 2, Speed (m/s) = 0.5, Vertical rise (m) = 5, Incline angle (°) = 30 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Practical capacity
Practical capacity = theoreticalCapacity * (utilizationPct / 100)
4725 = 4725
Calculate Theoretical max
Theoretical max = (pps * speed * 3600) / stepSpacing
6750 = 6750
Calculate Visible steps
Visible steps
25 = 25