Wind Load Calculator

What Is a Wind Load Calculator?

The Wind Load Calculator estimates the force that moving air exerts on a surface. Engineers use wind load to size structural members, signs, solar panels, and building cladding. Enter the wind speed, air density, drag coefficient, and exposed area to get the dynamic pressure and the total force.

How the Calculation Works

Moving air first produces a dynamic pressure, and that pressure then acts over the exposed area:

$$q = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^{2}$$

$$F = q C_d A = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^{2} C_d A$$

Where:

• q is dynamic pressure in pascals (Pa)
• ρ is air density in kg/m³, about 1.225 at sea level
• v is wind speed in m/s, converted from km/h, mph, or ft/s
• Cd is the drag coefficient, 1.2 by default for a flat plate
• A is the exposed area in m², converted from ft²

Worked Example

A 30 m/s (about 108 km/h) wind hits 10 m² of surface with Cd = 1.2 and ρ = 1.225 kg/m³:

$$q = \frac{1}{2} \times 1.225 \times 30^{2} = 551.25 \text{ Pa}$$

$$F = 551.25 \times 1.2 \times 10 = 6,615 \text{ N}$$

That is roughly 1,487 pound-force, which shows why exposed panels need substantial anchoring.

Related free tools

The Wing Loading Calculator compares weight to wing area, and the True Airspeed Calculator handles the airspeed side of aerodynamics.