Pile Bearing Capacity Calculator
Compute ultimate and allowable pile capacity (skin friction + end bearing) using Meyerhof or API method for driven or bored piles in metric or imperial units.
Use the Pile Bearing Capacity Calculator
Pile Parameters
Soil Parameters
Typical range: 28–40° for sand/gravel
Limits per API RP 2GEO / API RP 2A
Enter pile parameters and click Calculate
End Bearing Qp
—
kN
Skin Friction Qs
—
kN
Ultimate Qu
—
kN
Allowable Qa
—
kN
Calculation Breakdown
Capacity Components
Summary
This calculator determines the ultimate and allowable axial bearing capacity of a single pile by summing the end bearing resistance at the pile tip and the skin friction (shaft resistance) along the pile shaft. Two standard methods are supported: Meyerhof's method (using bearing capacity factors Nq and friction angle) and the API method (using limiting unit values from soil type). Enter pile geometry, soil properties, and a factor of safety to get full capacity breakdown.
How it works
- Select the calculation method: Meyerhof or API.
- Choose pile type (driven or bored) and cross-section (circular or square).
- Enter pile dimensions (diameter or side length) and embedded length.
- Enter soil parameters: unit weight, friction angle (Meyerhof) or soil type (API).
- Set a factor of safety (default 2.5) for allowable capacity.
- Results show end bearing (Qp), skin friction (Qs), ultimate capacity (Qu), and allowable capacity (Qa).
Use cases
- Preliminary design of driven steel or precast concrete piles.
- Estimating capacity of bored (cast-in-place) piles in granular soils.
- Comparing Meyerhof versus API method outputs for the same pile.
- Checking whether a proposed pile section meets the required allowable load.
- Educational exercises on deep foundation design methods.
- Quick sanity checks before running detailed geotechnical software.