Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator

Calculate cylinder force, pressure, piston diameter and oil volume

Hydraulic Calculator (JavaScript)

Formulas

1) Force:
\[F = p \cdot A\]

With A = \frac{\pi d^2}{4}. Pressure in Pa, area in m², force in N.

2) Pressure:
\[p = \frac{F}{A}\]

Pressure is force per area.

3) Diameter:
\[d = \sqrt{\frac{4F}{\pi p}}\]

Required piston diameter for a given force and pressure.

4) Cylinder volume:
\[V = A \cdot s\]

With stroke s; result shown here in liters.

Units:
  • 1 bar = 100000 Pa
  • 1 mm = 0.001 m
  • 1 L = 0.001 m³


Detailed description

What is a hydraulic cylinder?

A hydraulic cylinder converts fluid pressure into linear motion. The generated cylinder force depends directly on operating pressure and effective piston area. This calculator page helps estimate key values for design and practical sizing.

Core relationships
  • Higher pressure gives more force at the same area.
  • Larger piston area gives more force at the same pressure.
  • Longer stroke increases required oil volume.
Practical example

Given: p = 160 bar, d = 80 mm. This yields an area of about 0.00503 m² and a theoretical force of around 80425 N (≈ 80.43 kN). In real systems, include efficiency losses from seals, friction and line pressure drops.

Design notes
  • Add a typical safety margin of 10–30% for practical sizing.
  • For high loads, also check buckling length and rod diameter.
  • For fast cycles, required flow rate is as important as force.
  • In double-acting cylinders, extension and retraction forces differ due to rod area.
FAQ

Why is real force lower than theoretical force?

Because of friction, seal losses and pressure drops in the hydraulic circuit.

Which force unit is common?

kN is common in hydraulics. 1 kN = 1000 N.

Why calculate oil volume?

To estimate pump flow, cycle time and reservoir sizing.

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