Structural Load Calculator

Calculate the total design load (dead + live) on a floor area, and the total force it represents.

  • Free to use
  • Accurate results
  • No registration required
  • Works on all devices
Enter your floor area, dead load, and live load to find the total design load and force — for preliminary planning only, not a substitute for professional structural design.
The permanent self-weight of the structure — get this from your structural design, not a guess.
Occupancy/usage load — e.g. IS 875 specifies 2 kPa for typical residential floors in India.

Your result

3.5

Total load

Total force175

AI explanation

Formula

Total load = dead load + live load; total force = total load × floor area

Worked example

50 m² floor, 1.5 kPa dead load, 2 kPa live load

Worked example: 50 m² floor, 1.5 kPa dead load, 2 kPa live load
FieldValue
Floor area (m²)50
Dead load (kPa / kN per m²)1.5
Live load (kPa / kN per m²)2
Total load3.5
Total force175

Assumptions

  • This is a simple addition and unit-conversion tool only — it does not apply load factors, safety margins, or load combinations required by a building code.

Frequently asked questions

What is dead load vs live load?

Dead load is the permanent weight of the structure itself (walls, slabs, finishes); live load is the variable weight from occupancy and use (people, furniture, movable equipment) — both are specified per the applicable building code.

Where do I find dead and live load values for my building?

From the applicable building code for your region and occupancy type — in India, IS 875 (Part 1 for dead loads, Part 2 for live loads) specifies standard values. A structural engineer will apply the correct figures for your specific project.

Does this calculator apply safety factors?

No — it's a simple addition tool only. Design codes require specific load factors and combinations (e.g. 1.5×dead + 1.5×live for ultimate limit state) that must be applied by a qualified structural engineer.

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Related articles

Construction & Engineering2 min read

How Total Floor Design Load Is Calculated From Dead and Live Load

A floor's total design load is simply its dead load plus its live load, per square metre — and multiplying that total by the floor area converts it into the total force the floor structure must actually carry.

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Construction & Engineering2 min read

How a Floor's Total Load Sets the UDL a Supporting Beam Must Carry

A floor's total design load, computed per square metre, converts directly into the uniformly distributed load a supporting beam must be checked against — by multiplying it by the strip width of floor the beam actually carries.

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This calculator performs a simple addition of dead and live loads for planning purposes only. Actual dead and live load values must be determined from the applicable building code (such as IS 875 in India) for your specific structure and occupancy type. All structural designs must be reviewed and verified by a licensed structural engineer — this tool is not a substitute for professional structural design.

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