Cylinder Bore: 2″ | Piston Area: 3.142 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 9,425 lbs (4.7 tons)
2″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 1,571 lbs | 0.8 tons | 7.0 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 3,142 lbs | 1.6 tons | 14.0 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 4,712 lbs | 2.4 tons | 21.0 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 6,283 lbs | 3.1 tons | 27.9 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 7,854 lbs | 3.9 tons | 34.9 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 9,425 lbs | 4.7 tons | 41.9 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 10,996 lbs | 5.5 tons | 48.9 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 12,566 lbs | 6.3 tons | 55.9 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 15,708 lbs | 7.9 tons | 69.9 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 18,850 lbs | 9.4 tons | 83.8 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 25,133 lbs | 12.6 tons | 111.8 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 31,416 lbs | 15.7 tons | 139.7 kN |
How to Calculate 2″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (1)² = 3.1416 in²
To find the push force of a 2″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (3.142 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 3.1416 = 9,425 lbs (4.7 tons)
Rod-Side (Pull) Force
The retract force is always less than the push force because the rod displaces part of the piston area. To calculate pull force, subtract the rod cross-section area from the bore area:
Pull Force = Pressure × (Bore Area − Rod Area)
Important Notes
- These are theoretical forces. Real-world output is 3-5% less due to seal friction.
- Rod diameter matters for retract force — larger rods reduce pull force significantly.
- Never exceed rated pressure. Most industrial cylinders are rated for 3,000 or 5,000 PSI.
- Dynamic vs static: Moving loads require additional force to overcome inertia and friction.
Other Bore Sizes
- 1″ bore force chart
- 1.5″ bore force chart
- 2.5″ bore force chart
- 3″ bore force chart
- 3.25″ bore force chart
- 3.5″ bore force chart
- 4″ bore force chart
- 4.5″ bore force chart
Need custom calculations?
Use our Interactive Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator for any bore, rod, and pressure combination.
Stop looking it up twice — run the numbers and keep the record.
This reference is free forever. When you need to actually calculate, document, and defend the result, do it in the app — then export a clean report you can hand to a reviewer.
- ✓46 engineering calculators, unlimited
- ✓Save & reload every calculation
- ✓Organize work into project folders
- ✓Branded, PE-stamped PDF reports
Free plan, no credit card. Upgrade only when it's paying for itself.