Wind Load Calculator

Estimate wind pressure, projected area, total wind force, line load, post load, and support reactions. Use this wind load calculator for walls, roofs, signs, fences, posts, frames, canopies, beams, and preliminary structural planning.

Calculate Wind Load

Simplified wind pressure: q = 0.00256 × Kz × Kzt × Kd × I × V². Design pressure = q × G × Cp.
Your result will appear here.

How the wind load calculator works

Wind pressure:
The calculator estimates velocity pressure from wind speed and adjustment factors, then applies gust and pressure coefficients.

Total wind force:
The calculator multiplies design pressure by projected area to estimate total force on the surface.

Line load:
The calculator multiplies design pressure by tributary width to estimate wind load on a member.

Support reaction:
The calculator estimates simple support reactions and overturning moment for preliminary planning.

Why use a wind load calculator?

A wind load calculator helps estimate the force wind may apply to a wall, roof, fence, sign, post, frame, or structural member.

It can help compare wind speed, pressure, projected area, total force, line load, reactions, and overturning moment.

What your result means

Your result shows estimated velocity pressure, design wind pressure, projected area, total wind force, line load, support reaction, and overturning moment. These are simplified planning estimates only and do not replace code-based wind design.

Wind load formulas

Frequently asked questions

What is wind load?

Wind load is the force caused by wind pressure on a building, roof, wall, sign, fence, post, or structural surface.

How do you calculate wind pressure?

A common simplified estimate uses wind speed squared multiplied by wind adjustment factors. This calculator uses a simplified velocity pressure approach for planning.

How do you convert wind pressure PSF to line load PLF?

Multiply wind pressure in pounds per square foot by tributary width in feet. For example, 25 PSF over 8 feet equals 200 PLF.

Can this calculator replace engineered wind design?

No. Final wind design may require code wind maps, exposure category, enclosure classification, internal pressure, roof zones, component and cladding checks, main wind-force resisting system checks, and professional review.