Calculate estimated total structural load by combining dead load, live load, roof load, snow load, point load, tributary width, and beam span. Use this total load calculator for beams, joists, rafters, headers, girders, posts, footings, floors, roofs, and preliminary load planning.
Area load:
The calculator combines dead load, live load, roof load, and snow load into one total PSF value.
Beam line load:
The calculator converts total PSF into PLF using tributary width.
Support reaction:
The calculator estimates simple-span support reactions by dividing total beam load by two.
Load combinations:
The calculator can use service load, common strength load combinations, or custom factors.
A total load calculator helps estimate the combined structural load before checking beams, joists, rafters, headers, posts, columns, footings, or foundations.
It can help compare dead load, live load, roof load, snow load, total PSF, beam PLF, total pounds, and support reactions.
Your result shows estimated total load in PSF, total area load in pounds, beam line load in PLF, beam total load, added point load, and estimated simple support reactions. These are planning estimates only.
Total structural load is the combined load that a structural member or area must support. It can include dead load, live load, roof load, snow load, equipment load, and point loads.
Add the applicable load components together, or apply load factors when using a factored load combination. Then multiply by area or tributary width as needed.
Multiply total load in pounds per square foot by tributary width in feet. For example, 55 PSF over a 10-foot tributary width equals 550 PLF.
No. Live load is only one part of total load. Total load may include dead load, live load, roof load, snow load, and point loads.