Moment Calculator

Calculate force moment, bending moment, maximum beam moment, cantilever moment, point load moment, uniform load moment, and moment unit conversions. Use this moment calculator for beams, joists, rafters, headers, cantilevers, support reactions, and preliminary structural planning.

Calculate Moment

Moment = force × distance. Bending stress = moment ÷ section modulus. For a simple beam with uniform load, maximum moment = wL² ÷ 8.
Your result will appear here.

How the moment calculator works

Force moment:
The calculator multiplies force by distance to estimate the turning moment.

Simple beam moments:
The calculator uses common bending moment formulas for point loads and uniform loads on simply supported beams.

Cantilever moments:
The calculator estimates maximum fixed-end moment for cantilever point loads and uniform loads.

Bending stress:
The calculator converts moment to inch-pounds and divides by section modulus to estimate bending stress.

Why use a moment calculator?

A moment calculator helps estimate bending demand before checking beam size, section modulus, allowable stress, or structural capacity.

It can help compare force moments, beam moments, cantilever moments, unit conversions, bending stress, and simplified moment utilization.

What your result means

Your result shows calculated moment in foot-pounds, inch-pounds, kip-feet, kip-inches, newton-meters, and kilonewton-meters. It can also show estimated bending stress, moment capacity, and simplified bending utilization if section modulus and allowable stress are entered.

Moment calculator formulas

Frequently asked questions

What is a moment in structural calculations?

A moment is the turning effect of a force acting at a distance from a point. In beams, bending moment is one of the main demands used to check strength.

How do you calculate moment from force and distance?

Multiply the force by the perpendicular distance from the pivot, support, or reference point. For example, 1,000 pounds at 6 feet creates 6,000 foot-pounds of moment.

What is maximum moment for a simply supported beam with uniform load?

For a simply supported beam with a full-span uniform load, the maximum bending moment is wL² ÷ 8 and occurs at midspan.

Can this calculator design a beam?

No. This calculator estimates moment and simplified bending stress only. Final beam design should also check shear, deflection, bearing, lateral bracing, connections, load combinations, material properties, and local code requirements.