Hydraulic Cylinder Force — 3.25″ Bore (All Pressures)

Cylinder Bore: 3.25″ | Piston Area: 8.296 in²

At 3,000 PSI → 24,887 lbs (12.4 tons)

3.25″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table

Pressure Force (lbs) Force (tons) Force (kN)
500 PSI 4,148 lbs 2.1 tons 18.5 kN
1,000 PSI 8,296 lbs 4.1 tons 36.9 kN
1,500 PSI 12,444 lbs 6.2 tons 55.4 kN
2,000 PSI 16,592 lbs 8.3 tons 73.8 kN
2,500 PSI 20,739 lbs 10.4 tons 92.3 kN
3,000 PSI 24,887 lbs 12.4 tons 110.7 kN
3,500 PSI 29,035 lbs 14.5 tons 129.2 kN
4,000 PSI 33,183 lbs 16.6 tons 147.6 kN
5,000 PSI 41,479 lbs 20.7 tons 184.5 kN
6,000 PSI 49,775 lbs 24.9 tons 221.4 kN
8,000 PSI 66,366 lbs 33.2 tons 295.2 kN
10,000 PSI 82,958 lbs 41.5 tons 369.0 kN

How to Calculate 3.25″ Bore Cylinder Force

Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (1.625)² = 8.2958 in²

To find the push force of a 3.25″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (8.296 in²).

Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 8.2958 = 24,887 lbs (12.4 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

Need custom calculations?

Use our Interactive Hydraulic Cylinder Calculator for any bore, rod, and pressure combination.

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