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Estimate push and pull force from working PSI, bore, rod diameter, and force efficiency. Switch this hydraulic cylinder calculator to Bore for required piston diameter, or Rod limit for the largest rod that still meets a pull-force target. These are planning estimates for a conventional single-rod cylinder, not a safe working-load rating.
Estimated extension force
22,619.47lbf
Planning estimate for a conventional single-rod cylinder with negligible return-side pressure. Not a pressure rating, buckling check, or engineering specification. Dengaro is a financing broker and a brand of Funding Routes LLC, not the lender. No approval or rate is promised.
How it works
The hydraulic cylinder force calculator multiplies pressure by effective piston area and your efficiency assumption. Full piston area is π × bore² ÷ 4. Retraction uses the annulus, π × (bore² − rod²) ÷ 4. Efficiency is entered as a percent: use 100 for theoretical force before friction. The hydraulic cylinder bore calculator reverses this relation for a required force. For extension, bore = √(4F ÷ (πPη)); for retraction, add rod² inside the square root. Here η is efficiency divided by 100. The hydraulic cylinder rod calculator instead solves the maximum rod diameter allowed by a required retraction force. A larger rod reduces available pull force. This upper force limit is not the minimum rod size needed to resist bending or buckling. All three modes assume negligible opposing chamber pressure, axial loading, and no regenerative circuit.
Formula
Fpush = P × πB² ÷ 4 × η. Fpull = P × π(B² − R²) ÷ 4 × η. Bore for pull = √(4F ÷ (πPη) + R²). Maximum rod for pull = √(B² − 4F ÷ (πPη)). Use PSI, inches, and efficiency as a decimal to obtain pounds-force.
Example
At 90% force efficiency, the full piston area is 12.566 square inches and rod-side area is 9.425 square inches. Estimated extension force is 22,619.47 lbf; retraction is 16,964.60 lbf. In Bore mode, 20,000 lbf at the same PSI and efficiency needs 3.761 inches for push, or 4.260 inches for pull with a 2-inch rod. Select an adequately rated standard bore above the calculated minimum.
Tips
Use pressure available at the cylinder, not the pump's maximum rating. Return-side backpressure subtracts a separate pressure-times-area force and is not modeled here. A long exposed rod, side load, mounting geometry, and acceleration can govern selection even when this force estimate looks sufficient. Have the equipment manufacturer verify rod buckling, seals, mounts, and pressure ratings.
Equipment
A press, hydraulic power unit, or other eligible hydraulic equipment purchase is the financing context. No force or diameter result is passed as a loan amount. Dengaro is a financing broker and a brand of Funding Routes LLC, not the lender. Approval, rates, and terms are not promised.
Important questions
The piston rod occupies part of the rod-side area. At equal supply pressure and efficiency, a 4-inch bore and 2-inch rod have 75% as much effective area on retraction as on extension. Backpressure can change the actual net force further.
Use the cylinder manufacturer's force-loss data when available. The 90% default is only a planning assumption for friction and other force losses, not a universal cylinder efficiency. Enter 100% to see theoretical pressure-times-area force.
No. It finds the largest rod that leaves enough annular area for the pull force you specify. Structural design can require a minimum diameter for buckling or tensile stress. Both requirements must be satisfied, and this calculator does not perform the structural checks.
No. Speed also needs flow and effective area, and cycle time needs stroke length. Use the GPM and horsepower calculators for related pump planning, then verify cylinder speed with the supplier. This page covers force and diameter only.
Hydraulic equipment financing