Calculate estimated floor load by combining dead load, live load, floor area, tributary width, joist spacing, beam span, and point loads. Use this floor load calculator for floor joists, beams, girders, posts, footings, load-bearing walls, and preliminary structural planning.
Total floor load:
The calculator adds dead load and live load, applies factors, then multiplies by floor area.
Joist line load:
The calculator multiplies total PSF by joist spacing to estimate the line load on each joist.
Beam line load:
The calculator multiplies total PSF by tributary width to estimate the line load carried by a beam or girder.
Support reactions:
The calculator estimates simple-span reactions by dividing beam or joist total load by two.
A floor load calculator helps estimate how much load a floor system, joist, beam, post, or support may need to carry.
It can help compare floor area, dead load, live load, total PSF, joist PLF, beam PLF, total pounds, and support reactions.
Your result shows estimated floor area, dead load, live load, total floor load in PSF, total floor load in pounds, joist line load, beam line load, beam total load, and simple support reactions. These are planning estimates only.
Floor load is the weight carried by a floor system. It usually includes dead load from materials and live load from people, furniture, storage, and use.
Add dead load and live load in pounds per square foot, then multiply by the floor area. For joists or beams, multiply PSF by tributary width to get PLF.
Multiply floor load in PSF by joist spacing in feet. For example, 55 PSF at 16 inches on center equals about 73.3 PLF per joist.
No. Floor load is usually the total of dead load and live load. Live load is only the temporary or movable portion of the floor load.