Spring Rate Calculator

Our spring rate calculator can easily derive the spring rate (spring constant) for any spring, given some of its properties.

In this short text, we will cover the following:

• What is the spring rate or spring stiffness?;
• How to calculate spring rate;
• Different ways to find the spring rate; and
• More about this property of springs.

Keep reading to learn more!

Spring rate, spring stiffness, or spring constant, refers to the force per unit length needed to stretch or compress a spring. Its units are N/m (newton per meter), or lbf/in (pounds-force per inch).

We can summarize the definition above with the following spring rate formula:

where:

• $k$ — Spring rate;
• $F$ — Axial longitudinal force applied on the spring; and
• $\delta$ — Displacement produced by the force.

Therefore, we can find the spring rate if we measure both the force and the displacement it produces on the spring.

Keep in mind that the spring rate is a property of the spring rather than a property of its material. For further reading, refer to our Young's modulus calculator.

In our spring rate calculator, however, we will focus on another way of finding the spring rate using only its extensive and intensive properties.

To calculate the spring rate, we can use the spring rate formula:

1. Write down the material's shear modulus (G).

2. Measure the outer diameter (OD) and the diameter (d) of the wire.

3. Count the number of active coils (n).

4. Replace these parameters in the spring rate formula:

   s = G × d⁴ / (8 × (OD - d)³ × n).

In this formula, we didn't submit the spring to external forces. By measuring its physical dimensions and knowing the shear modulus of the material, we obtained the resulting spring rate.

In the spring rate formula, the n value refers only to active coils. These are the coils that contribute to the compression/extension of the spring. Depending on how the ends of the spring look, there could be none or up to four coils that don't do any work.

Here's the summary:

• Closed and squared / closed and ground ends: these springs have two unused coils;
• Double closed ends: four unused coils; and
• Open ends: all coils are active.

Feel free to check our spring calculator to learn more about springs and their properties!