Cylinder Bore: 4.5″ | Piston Area: 15.904 in²
At 3,000 PSI → 47,713 lbs (23.9 tons)
4.5″ Bore Hydraulic Cylinder Force Table
| Pressure | Force (lbs) | Force (tons) | Force (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 PSI | 7,952 lbs | 4.0 tons | 35.4 kN |
| 1,000 PSI | 15,904 lbs | 8.0 tons | 70.7 kN |
| 1,500 PSI | 23,856 lbs | 11.9 tons | 106.1 kN |
| 2,000 PSI | 31,809 lbs | 15.9 tons | 141.5 kN |
| 2,500 PSI | 39,761 lbs | 19.9 tons | 176.9 kN |
| 3,000 PSI | 47,713 lbs | 23.9 tons | 212.2 kN |
| 3,500 PSI | 55,665 lbs | 27.8 tons | 247.6 kN |
| 4,000 PSI | 63,617 lbs | 31.8 tons | 283.0 kN |
| 5,000 PSI | 79,522 lbs | 39.8 tons | 353.7 kN |
| 6,000 PSI | 95,426 lbs | 47.7 tons | 424.5 kN |
| 8,000 PSI | 127,235 lbs | 63.6 tons | 566.0 kN |
| 10,000 PSI | 159,043 lbs | 79.5 tons | 707.5 kN |
How to Calculate 4.5″ Bore Cylinder Force
Force = Pressure × Piston Area
Area = π × (Bore ÷ 2)² = π × (2.25)² = 15.9043 in²
To find the push force of a 4.5″ bore hydraulic cylinder, multiply the operating pressure (in PSI) by the piston area (15.904 in²).
Example at 3,000 PSI:
Force = 3,000 × 15.9043 = 47,713 lbs (23.9 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.