Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator
Calculate hydraulic cylinder push force and extension speed from pressure, bore, and flow rate.
How it works
- 1Enter the operating pressure, cylinder bore diameter, and oil flow rate.
- 2The calculator finds the piston area (π/4 × bore²) and applies F = P × A.
- 3Extension speed is v = Q ÷ A, giving force and speed in one step.
Use cases
- Selecting a cylinder for a press, clamp, or lift application.
- Verifying that a pump and cylinder meet a required force target.
- Estimating actuator cycle times from extension speed.
Frequently asked questions
How is the push force calculated?
F = pressure × full piston area (π/4 × bore²). At 200 bar on a 50 mm bore, area ≈ 19.6 cm² and force ≈ 39.3 kN.
Why is the retract force lower?
On the rod side the effective area is reduced by the rod cross-section, so the same pressure produces less force on retraction.
What flow gives a target speed?
Rearrange v = Q ÷ A to Q = v × A. To extend a 50 mm bore at 50 mm/s needs Q ≈ 0.098 L/s.
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