Calculate bearing pressure from load and contact area. This calculator works for bearing pads, base plates, footings, bolts, soil bearing checks, plates, blocks, and contact surfaces.
Load:
Enter the applied force or weight carried by the bearing surface.
Area:
Choose rectangular, circular, or custom bearing area. The calculator converts the contact area and divides load by area.
Allowable pressure:
Enter an allowable pressure to check whether the calculated bearing pressure is within the limit.
A bearing pressure calculator is useful for base plates, bearing pads, footings, soil bearing, posts, blocks, machine pads, bolts, washers, structural supports, and contact pressure checks.
This calculator is for estimates. Real designs may require code checks, load combinations, material limits, settlement checks, eccentricity checks, and safety factors.
The basic bearing pressure formula is:
Bearing Pressure = Applied Load ÷ Bearing Area
Divide the applied load by the effective bearing area. For example, pounds-force divided by square inches gives PSI.
Bearing area is the effective contact area that transfers load between two surfaces, such as a plate on concrete or a footing on soil.
You can reduce bearing pressure by increasing the contact area, reducing the load, or spreading the load over a larger pad, plate, or footing.
Bearing pressure is a type of compressive contact stress caused by load acting over a bearing area.