Wall Load Calculator

Enter wall size, thickness, and material weight to estimate loads fast here. Add floor reactions and openings, then download professional results in seconds today.

Inputs

All values use SI units. Set openings to reduce wall weight for large voids.

Along the wall line.
Storey height for the wall segment.
Used for volume and bearing area.
Typical: masonry 18–22, concrete ~24.
Number of floors framing into this wall.
Half-span to adjacent supports.
Finishes + slab + permanent items.
Occupancy variable load.
Reduces wall self-weight only.
Example: 1.5 for conservative checks.
Reset

Example Data Table

Sample inputs and typical outputs for quick validation.

Length (m) Height (m) Thickness (m) Unit weight (kN/m³) Floors Trib. width (m) Dead (kN/m²) Live (kN/m²) Openings (%) Service load (kN) Line load (kN/m)
4.0 3.0 0.20 20.0 1 3.0 2.5 2.0 0 64.0 16.0
6.0 3.2 0.23 24.0 2 3.5 3.0 2.5 10 ≈214.3 ≈35.7
Values shown are illustrative; your results depend on inputs.

Formula Used

Wall self-weight
V = L × H × t
Wwall = V × γ
Weff = Wwall × (1 − openings/100)
L, H, t are geometry; γ is unit weight in kN/m³.
Superimposed floor loads
Atrib = L × wtrib
WD = D × Atrib × floors
WL = Llive × Atrib × floors
D and Llive are area loads (kN/m²).
Totals, line load, and bearing stress
Wservice = Weff + WD + WL
qservice = Wservice / L
Ab = L × t
σservice = Wservice / Ab
Wfactored = Wservice × load factor
Because 1 kN/m² equals 1 kPa, stress is reported in kPa.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter wall length, height, and thickness in meters.
  2. Set the unit weight for your wall material.
  3. Provide supported floors and tributary width for floor reactions.
  4. Enter dead and live area loads from your design assumptions.
  5. Add an openings percentage to reduce wall self-weight.
  6. Choose a load factor for a quick factored check.
  7. Press Submit to view results above the form.
  8. Use Download CSV or Download PDF for reporting.

Professional Article

1) Purpose of a Wall Load Check

Wall load checks estimate how much vertical force a wall delivers to its support. This calculator combines wall self-weight with floor loads framing into it, then reports total load, line load, and bearing stress for planning studies.

2) What the Calculator Outputs

Service total load (kN) summarizes unfactored gravity effects. Service line load (kN/m) helps distribute load to footings and grade beams. Bearing stress is shown in kPa, equal to kN/m², so it compares directly to bearing limits. Review both service and factored results for context.

3) Computing Wall Self-Weight

Self-weight uses wall volume (length × height × thickness) multiplied by unit weight. Typical unit weights are often near 18–22 kN/m³ for masonry and 23–25 kN/m³ for normal-weight concrete. Use project specifications whenever possible, and adjust if walls are saturated or include heavy finishes.

4) Tributary Width and Supported Floors

Floor load transferred to a wall depends on tributary width, often approximated as half the span to adjacent supports. Supported area per floor is wall length × tributary width. Dead and live area loads (kN/m²) are multiplied by this area and by the number of supported floors. Ensure the tributary width reflects the framing direction and support layout.

5) Openings and Reduction Percentage

Doors and windows reduce wall mass and therefore reduce self-weight. The openings reduction applies only to wall weight, not to floor reactions. For many openings, use a realistic percentage from drawings or compute net wall volume.

6) Bearing Stress as a Screening Metric

Bearing area is taken as length × thickness. Stress equals total load divided by bearing area and is reported in kPa. Because 1 kN/m² equals 1 kPa, the output reads directly without conversion. Use it to screen footing width needs, slab-edge thickening, or bearing plate sizing. Confirm with full design checks.

7) Factored Loads for Conservative Review

The load factor multiplies the service total to create a simple factored check. Since standards vary, the factor is user-controlled. Try values like 1.3 to 1.6 to test sensitivity, then export CSV or PDF for documentation.

8) Practical Tips and Limitations

Keep units consistent and document assumptions for dead and live loads. Residential live loads are often near 1.5–2.0 kN/m², while offices and storage can be higher. This tool does not model eccentricity, lateral loads, slenderness, lintels, or pier load sharing. Treat results as preliminary and verify final designs professionally.

FAQs

1) What does line load mean?

Line load is total vertical load divided by wall length. It helps distribute gravity load to continuous supports like strip footings or beams.

2) Why is stress shown in kPa?

Stress is load divided by area. Because 1 kN/m² equals 1 kPa, the bearing stress reads directly as kPa for quick comparisons.

3) Should openings reduce floor loads too?

No. Openings reduce wall weight, but floor reactions still transfer through framing unless the structural system changes.

4) How do I choose tributary width?

A common estimate is half the span to the adjacent support on each side. Use your framing plan to confirm the wall’s share of floor area.

5) What unit weight should I use?

Use material specifications when available. Many masonry walls are around 18–22 kN/m³, and normal-weight concrete is often near 23–25 kN/m³.

6) What load factor should I enter?

Use a factor aligned with your screening goal or standard. For conservative preliminary checks, values like 1.3 to 1.6 are commonly explored.

7) Can this replace a full design?

No. It is for preliminary sizing and documentation. Final design should include code load combinations, detailing, stability checks, and professional review.

Use results wisely; consult engineers for final decisions always.

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