Calculate contact pressure from load and contact area. Use this calculator for pads, plates, tires, feet, rollers, supports, blocks, machine bases, bearing surfaces, and other contact stress estimates.
Load:
Enter the force pressing the two surfaces together.
Contact area:
Choose rectangular, circular, elliptical, or custom area. The calculator converts the area and divides the design load by that area.
Allowable pressure:
Enter an allowable pressure to compare the calculated contact pressure against a limit.
A contact pressure calculator is useful for pads, feet, plates, tires, rollers, machine bases, support blocks, bearing surfaces, protective mats, pads under equipment, and basic contact stress checks.
This calculator estimates average pressure. Real contact surfaces can have uneven loading, edge pressure, deformation, friction, impact, and local peak stress.
The basic contact pressure formula is:
Contact Pressure = Applied Load ÷ Contact Area
Divide the applied load by the effective contact area. In U.S. units, pounds-force divided by square inches gives PSI.
Contact area is the actual area where two surfaces touch and transfer load.
Increase the contact area, reduce the load, spread the load with a plate or pad, or use a softer layer that distributes pressure.
They are closely related. Bearing pressure is often used for structural or mechanical contact surfaces, while contact pressure is a broader term for pressure between touching surfaces.