Cylinder Bore: 20″ | Piston Area: 314.159 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 942,478 lbs (471.2 tons)
20″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 157,080 lbs | 78.5 tons | 698.7 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 314,159 lbs | 157.1 tons | 1,397.4 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 471,239 lbs | 235.6 tons | 2,096.2 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 628,319 lbs | 314.2 tons | 2,794.9 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 785,398 lbs | 392.7 tons | 3,493.6 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 942,478 lbs | 471.2 tons | 4,192.3 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 1,099,557 lbs | 549.8 tons | 4,891.1 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 1,256,637 lbs | 628.3 tons | 5,589.8 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 1,570,796 lbs | 785.4 tons | 6,987.2 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 1,884,956 lbs | 942.5 tons | 8,384.7 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 2,513,274 lbs | 1,256.6 tons | 11,179.6 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 3,141,593 lbs | 1,570.8 tons | 13,974.5 kN |
How to Calculate 20″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (10)² = 314.1593 in²
To find the push force of a 20″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (314.159 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 314.1593 = 942,478 lbs (471.2 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.
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