Crane lift calculator

Calculate load capacity and verify lift safety

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The Crane Lift Calculator helps contractors and crane operators verify lift safety by calculating crane capacity at different radii. Determine if a crane can safely lift a load at a given radius and identify required crane size.

Crane capacity decreases significantly as lift radius increases. Proper lift planning ensures loads don't exceed crane capacity at the working radius, preventing accidents and equipment damage. Safety factors account for dynamic loads, wind, and other variables.

Enter load weight, lift radius, and crane capacity to calculate allowable load and utilization percentage. The calculator helps plan safe lifts and select appropriately sized cranes for construction operations.

Features

Everything you need

  • Load capacity at radius calculations
  • Safety factor applications
  • Utilization percentage determination
  • Lift safety verification
  • Capacity reduction with radius
  • Multiple crane size support
  • Imperial and metric units

How it works

Simple workflow

  1. 1
    Enter load weight to be lifted
  2. 2
    Specify lift radius from crane center
  3. 3
    Input crane rated capacity
  4. 4
    Review calculated capacity at radius
  5. 5
    Verify load is within safe limits

Use cases

Built for real-world scenarios

Lift planning

Verify crane capacity before planning construction lifts and equipment placement.

Crane selection

Determine required crane size based on load weight and lift radius requirements.

Safety verification

Ensure lifts comply with safety requirements and don't exceed crane capacity.

Site planning

Optimize crane placement to minimize lift radius and maximize capacity.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Crane capacity decreases as radius increases due to moment arm. Capacity at radius ≈ Capacity at minimum radius × (1 - radius/max radius). Always consult crane load charts for exact values.

Typical safety factors: 75-80% of rated capacity for static loads, 50-60% for dynamic loads or lifts with wind. Higher factors provide more safety margin.

Radius (distance from center), boom angle, counterweight configuration, outrigger setup, wind conditions, and load dynamics (swinging, acceleration).

Load charts show capacity at different radii and boom angles. Find intersection of radius and boom angle to determine maximum load. Always use chart for actual lifts—calculators provide estimates only.

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We're always looking to improve our calculators. If you have ideas for new features, improvements, or found something that could work better, we'd love to hear from you.

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