About the Column Load Calculator
Axial capacity of a column and its Euler buckling load, with the slenderness ratio.
Also known as: euler buckling, column capacity, buckling load calculator, slenderness ratio.
How to use this calculator
- Enter cross-sectional area, material strength, unbraced length, least second moment of area and the other fields.
- The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
- Review the breakdown shown under the main result.
- Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.
Formula
P_cr = π²EI / (KL)² · slenderness = KL / r
Worked example
Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:
- Cross-sectional area = 3,000 mm²
- Material strength = 250 MPa
- Unbraced length = 3 m
- Least second moment of area = 400 cm⁴
- Modulus of elasticity = 200 GPa
- End conditions: Pinned both ends (K = 1.0)
- Safety factor = 2.5
the calculator returns:
- Safe working load: 300 kN
- Squash (yield) load: 750 kN
- Euler buckling load: 877.3 kN
- Governing mode: Yielding