Cylinder Bore: 12″ | Piston Area: 113.097 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 339,292 lbs (169.6 tons)
12″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 56,549 lbs | 28.3 tons | 251.5 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 113,097 lbs | 56.5 tons | 503.1 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 169,646 lbs | 84.8 tons | 754.6 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 226,195 lbs | 113.1 tons | 1,006.2 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 282,743 lbs | 141.4 tons | 1,257.7 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 339,292 lbs | 169.6 tons | 1,509.2 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 395,841 lbs | 197.9 tons | 1,760.8 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 452,389 lbs | 226.2 tons | 2,012.3 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 565,487 lbs | 282.7 tons | 2,515.4 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 678,584 lbs | 339.3 tons | 3,018.5 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 904,779 lbs | 452.4 tons | 4,024.7 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 1,130,973 lbs | 565.5 tons | 5,030.8 kN |
How to Calculate 12″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (6)² = 113.0973 in²
To find the push force of a 12″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (113.097 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 113.0973 = 339,292 lbs (169.6 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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