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Calcimator

Hydraulic Cylinder Force Calculator

Calculate extend and retract forces for hydraulic cylinders based on bore diameter, rod diameter, and system pressure.

Inputs

in
in
psi

Results

Extend Force (Push)

37,699 lb

≈ 11 small cars

Retract Force (Pull)

28,274 lb

≈ 9 small cars

Bore Area12.57 in²
Rod Area3.14 in²
Annular Area9.42 in²
Speed Ratio (Ret/Ext)1.33
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the Bore Diameter in inches — the inside diameter of the cylinder barrel. Standard industrial sizes range from 1.5" to 14".
  2. Enter the Rod Diameter in inches. The rod must be smaller than the bore; typically 50–70% of the bore diameter.
  3. Enter the System Pressure in psi — standard industrial hydraulics operate at 3,000 psi; mobile equipment up to 5,000 psi.
  4. Read the Extend Force (Push) in lb — this is the full bore area times pressure, providing maximum push force.
  5. Read the Retract Force (Pull) in lb — lower than extend force because pressure acts only on the annular area.
  6. Use the Speed Ratio to understand that retract stroke will be faster than extend at the same pump flow rate.

How the result changes with Bore Diameter

Bore DiameterExtend Force (Push)Retract Force (Pull)
2.8519,138 lb9,713 lb
8.72179,161 lb169,736 lb
16603,186 lb593,761 lb
221,140,398 lb1,130,973 lb

What each input means

Bore Diameter
Inside diameter of the cylinder barrel. Standard bore sizes range from 1.5" to 14" for most industrial applications.
Rod Diameter
Diameter of the piston rod. Typically 50-70% of bore diameter. Must be less than bore diameter.
System Pressure
Hydraulic system operating pressure. Standard industrial: 3000 psi; mobile equipment: 3000-5000 psi.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Bore Diameter = 4, Rod Diameter = 2, System Pressure = 3000 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Extend Force
    Extend Force
    37699 = 37699
  3. Calculate Retract Force
    Retract Force
    28274 = 28274
  4. Calculate Bore Area
    Bore Area
    12.5664 = 12.5664
  5. Calculate Rod Area
    Rod Area
    3.1416 = 3.1416

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