Hydraulic Cylinder Force Calculator
Find how hard a hydraulic cylinder pushes and pulls, and how fast it moves on your pump’s flow.
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Lb. Push
- Extend (push)
- Retract (pull)
- Areas
- Extend speed
- Retract speed
- Cycle time
- Oil per stroke
- Push in Tons
Saved Cylinders
Items you add are saved in this browser.
| Cylinder | Bore × Rod | PSI | Push (Lb.) | Pull (Lb.) | Remove |
|---|
How to Calculate Hydraulic Cylinder Force
Pressure is force per square inch, so the force a cylinder makes is the pressure times the area it pushes on. Extending, the oil pushes on the whole piston. Retracting, the rod takes up part of that area, so the force is lower and the speed is higher.
Extend force (lb) = PSI × π × bore² ÷ 4
Retract force (lb) = PSI × π × (bore² − rod²) ÷ 4
Speed (in/sec) = GPM × 231 ÷ (area × 60)
Worked Example
Extend Force at 2,500 PSI
| Bore | Area (Sq. In.) | Force (Lb.) | Tons |
|---|
Tips
Use the relief valve setting as the pressure for maximum force. Real force is a little lower because of seal friction and back pressure on the other side of the piston. Check the rod for buckling on long strokes, and never exceed the cylinder's rated pressure.