Cylinder Bore: 18″ | Piston Area: 254.469 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 763,407 lbs (381.7 tons)
18″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 127,235 lbs | 63.6 tons | 566.0 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 254,469 lbs | 127.2 tons | 1,131.9 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 381,704 lbs | 190.9 tons | 1,697.9 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 508,938 lbs | 254.5 tons | 2,263.9 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 636,173 lbs | 318.1 tons | 2,829.8 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 763,407 lbs | 381.7 tons | 3,395.8 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 890,642 lbs | 445.3 tons | 3,961.8 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 1,017,876 lbs | 508.9 tons | 4,527.7 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 1,272,345 lbs | 636.2 tons | 5,659.7 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 1,526,814 lbs | 763.4 tons | 6,791.6 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 2,035,752 lbs | 1,017.9 tons | 9,055.5 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 2,544,690 lbs | 1,272.3 tons | 11,319.3 kN |
How to Calculate 18″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (9)² = 254.4690 in²
To find the push force of a 18″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (254.469 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 254.4690 = 763,407 lbs (381.7 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″ 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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