Taper Calculator

A taper is a gradual reduction in diameter along the length of a cylindrical or conical workpiece — a critical measurement in machining and manufacturing. Enter your Large End Diameter, Small End Diameter, and Taper Length (or a known Taper Per Foot rate) into the Taper Calculator to get the Taper Angle in degrees. Secondary outputs include the calculated Large Diameter, Small Diameter, Taper Length, Taper Per Foot, and Taper Per Inch — with support for both imperial and metric units.

in

Diameter at the larger end of the taper

in

Diameter at the smaller end of the taper

in

Total length of the tapered section

in/ft

Rate of taper change per foot of length

Results

Taper Angle

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Large Diameter

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Small Diameter

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Taper Length

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Taper Per Foot

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Taper Per Inch

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is taper in machining?

A taper is a gradual change in diameter or width along the length of a workpiece, creating a conical shape. It's commonly used in drill chucks, arbors, and various mechanical components to provide secure fitting and easy assembly.

How do I calculate taper per foot?

Taper per foot is calculated by dividing the difference between the large and small diameters by the length in feet. The formula is: Taper per foot = (Large Diameter - Small Diameter) ÷ (Length in feet).

What does taper 1 in 48 mean?

A taper of 1 in 48 means the diameter decreases by 1 unit for every 48 units of length. This is equivalent to approximately 0.021 inches per inch or 1.2° taper angle.

How do I find taper per inch?

Taper per inch is calculated by dividing the difference in diameters by the total length in inches. Formula: TPI = (Large Diameter - Small Diameter) ÷ Length in inches.

How do I calculate taper angle?

Taper angle is calculated using the arctangent function: Angle = arctan((Large Diameter - Small Diameter) ÷ (2 × Length)). This gives the half-angle of the taper in degrees.

What are the common types of tapers?

Common taper types include Morse tapers (machine tools), Brown & Sharpe tapers (milling machines), Jarno tapers (lathes), and standard pipe tapers. Each has specific angles and applications in manufacturing.

Can I calculate missing taper dimensions?

Yes, if you know any three of the four main parameters (large diameter, small diameter, length, and taper rate), you can calculate the fourth using taper formulas and geometric relationships.