Hydraulic cylinder force calculator
Pull force is lower than push force because the rod takes up part of the piston area. Enter the pressure and both diameters.
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How to use it
- Enter working pressure, bore diameter and rod diameter.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Piston area = π D² ÷ 4. Push force = p × π D² ÷ 4. Pull force = p × π (D² − d²) ÷ 4, with 1 bar = 0.1 N/mm².
Example
Inputs: Working pressure = 100 bar, Bore diameter = 50 mm, Rod diameter = 28 mm. Result: Push force: 19.635 kN; Pull force: 13.477 kN; Push force in tonne-force: 2.002 tf.
Limits and caveats
- Theoretical force that ignores seal friction and back pressure on the other side.
- Use the real working pressure at the cylinder, not the relief valve setting.
Questions about this tool
Why is the pull force lower?
On the return stroke the pressure acts only on the annulus, the piston area minus the rod area.
How do I convert between bar and PSI?
1 bar is about 14.504 PSI, and 1 PSI is about 0.0689 bar.
Does a single-acting cylinder pull under pressure?
No. A single-acting cylinder pushes under pressure and returns by spring or load, so the pull figure does not apply.