Calculate hydraulic cylinder force for push and pull strokes using Pascal's law. Enter the piston (bore) diameter, rod diameter, and system pressure (PSI) to get the push force (cap end) and pull force (rod end) in pounds. Switch between Imperial and Metric unit systems — the calculator handles the conversion automatically.
Push Force (Cap End)
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Pull Force (Rod End)
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Piston Area (Cap End)
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Annulus Area (Rod End)
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Push / Pull Ratio
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Pascal's principle states that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally in all directions throughout the fluid. In a hydraulic cylinder, this means the system pressure acts uniformly on the piston face area, generating force. The formula is simply Force = Pressure × Area.
During the push (extension) stroke, pressure acts on the full piston bore area. During the pull (retraction) stroke, the rod occupies part of the piston face, so pressure acts only on the annular area (bore area minus rod area). Because the annular area is smaller, the pull force is always less than the push force for the same pressure.
You can choose between Imperial units (inches for diameter, PSI for pressure, pounds-force for output) or Metric units (millimetres for diameter, bar for pressure, Newtons for output). Select your preferred system at the top of the calculator.
Push force (cap end) = P × π × D² / 4. Pull force (rod end) = P × π × (D² − d²) / 4. Where P is system pressure, D is bore diameter, and d is rod diameter. Areas are in square inches (Imperial) or square millimetres (Metric).
1 bar equals approximately 14.504 PSI. So if your system operates at 150 bar, that is roughly 2,176 PSI. Alternatively, just select the Metric unit system in the calculator and enter pressure directly in bar.
Most industrial hydraulic systems operate between 1,000 and 5,000 PSI (70–345 bar). Mobile equipment (excavators, cranes) commonly runs at 3,000–5,000 PSI, while lighter machinery may operate at 500–2,000 PSI. Always check your system's rated maximum pressure before sizing components.
Yes. For a single-acting cylinder that only pushes (no rod pulling), use only the Push Force result. The rod diameter field can be set to 0 if there is no effective rod area on the return side, or enter the actual rod diameter for a spring-return cylinder where pull force is not hydraulically driven.
This calculator provides theoretical force values based on ideal fluid mechanics. Real-world results will be lower due to seal friction, back-pressure, pressure drops in lines, and mechanical efficiency (typically 85–95%). Always have a qualified engineer review hydraulic system designs before implementation.