Cylinder Bore: 5″ | Piston Area: 19.635 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 58,905 lbs (29.5 tons)
5″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 9,817 lbs | 4.9 tons | 43.7 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 19,635 lbs | 9.8 tons | 87.3 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 29,452 lbs | 14.7 tons | 131.0 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 39,270 lbs | 19.6 tons | 174.7 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 49,087 lbs | 24.5 tons | 218.4 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 58,905 lbs | 29.5 tons | 262.0 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 68,722 lbs | 34.4 tons | 305.7 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 78,540 lbs | 39.3 tons | 349.4 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 98,175 lbs | 49.1 tons | 436.7 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 117,810 lbs | 58.9 tons | 524.0 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 157,080 lbs | 78.5 tons | 698.7 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 196,350 lbs | 98.2 tons | 873.4 kN |
How to Calculate 5″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (2.5)² = 19.6350 in²
To find the push force of a 5″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (19.635 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 19.6350 = 58,905 lbs (29.5 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″ 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
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.