Shear Pin Diameter Calculator

Inputs

Shear force (F)

Total load the pin must carry.

Allowable shear stress (tau_allow)

Material allowable shear stress before applying the safety factor. If already derated, set safety factor to 1.

MPa

Shear planes (n)

Single shear = 1 plane; double shear = 2 planes, as in a clevis.

planes

Safety factor (N)

Design shear stress is allowable shear stress divided by this factor.

Default result

Required pin diameter(d)

10.3mm

Pass

2 shear planes; round up to a standard pin size.

Round up to the next available pin diameter.

Also computed

Load per shear plane(F/n)5,000N

5 kN · 1,124 lbf

Design shear stress(tau_d)60MPa

allowable shear / safety factor.

Area per plane(A)83.33mm²

Total shear area(nA)166.7mm²

Method notes 3 notes

Average pin shear stress is tau = F/(n*A), where A = pi*d^2/4 and n is the number of shear planes.
Solving for diameter gives d = sqrt(4F/(pi*n*tau_d)), with tau_d = allowable shear / safety factor.
This checks direct shear only. Pin bending, hole bearing pressure, edge distance, shock loading, fatigue, fit/clearance and retaining hardware need separate checks.