Work out hydraulic cylinder force instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Hydraulic force is pressure multiplied by effective area, exactly as in pneumatics, but with pressures an order of magnitude higher the numbers become large quickly: a three inch bore at 2000 psi pushes over seven tons. Retract force uses the annulus area left after the rod is subtracted.
Cylinder force
Extend F = p x pi/4 x D²; retract F = p x pi/4 x (D² - d²)
Tons
tons = lbf / 2000
Preliminary estimate only. Cylinder, mounting and structure selection must be verified by a qualified engineer including buckling, side load and pressure-rating checks.
Extend F = p x pi/4 x D²; retract F = p x pi/4 x (D² - d²). Hydraulic force is pressure multiplied by effective area, exactly as in pneumatics, but with pressures an order of magnitude higher the numbers become large quickly: a three inch bore at 2000 psi pushes over seven tons.
The rod is sized for buckling and tension, not for area. A rod near bore size would leave almost no annulus, making the retract stroke very weak.
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Cylinder bore, Rod diameter, System pressure. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.