Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator

Inputs

Bore diameter (B)

Inside diameter of the cylinder barrel (the piston diameter).

Rod diameter (d)

Piston-rod diameter. Subtracted from the piston area on the pull (retract) stroke.

System pressure (P)

Working hydraulic pressure.

bar

Mechanical efficiency (eta)

Derates theoretical pressure × area for seal friction and pressure losses. Use 100 for ideal force.

Stroke

Push (extend, full bore) or pull (retract, annulus area).

Flow (optional) (Q)

Oil flow into the cylinder — used for the stroke speed.

L/min

Default result

Usable force(F_use)

28,270N

Pass

28.27 kN · 6,356 lbf · 2.88 t

Push stroke (full bore) after 90% efficiency.

Selected stroke after the efficiency allowance.

Also computed

Theoretical force(F)31,420N

31.42 kN · 7,063 lbf · 3.2 t

Push stroke (full bore).

Selected stroke before efficiency losses.

Push force (theoretical)31,420N

7,063 lbf

Pull force (theoretical)25,330N

5,695 lbf

Rod area subtracted.

Rod-area differential6,082N

1,367 lbf

Force the rod removes on the pull stroke (P × rod area).

Piston area1,963mm²

Rod area380.1mm²

Method notes 2 notes

Usable force applies the entered mechanical efficiency to pressure × area. Set efficiency to 100% for ideal theoretical force.
Pull (retract) force is lower than push by exactly the rod-area differential, because the rod removes area on the rod side.