Wind Load Estimator
Estimate design wind pressure and total wind force on a wall, sign, pole or building surface from wind speed, height above ground, terrain exposure, shape coefficient and projected area.
Input
Heights below 4.57 m (15 ft) use the 4.57 m exposure value.
Area facing the wind, in the length unit above squared.
Output
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| No data yet | |
More ways to use this tool
REST API
curl -X POST https://api.iotools.cloud/v1/tool/wind-load-estimator \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"windSpeed": "120",
"speedUnit": "kmh",
"height": "10",
"heightUnit": "m",
"exposure": "C",
"shape": "flat",
"area": "20"
}'Swap in your own key from your account. The tool's fields are the body — no wrapper.
Ask an AI agent
Use the IOTools `wind-load-estimator` tool (Wind Load Estimator) on this input:
YOUR_INPUT_HEREPaste this at any agent connected to the IOTools MCP server, then add your input.
Embed widget
<iframe
src="https://iotools.cloud/embed/wind-load-estimator/"
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<script src="https://iotools.cloud/embed.js" async></script>Drop this into your own page — free, no key required, just a link back.
| Cost per API/MCP call | From 5 credits |
|---|---|
| Need more credits? | View pricing |
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Guides
Wind load is the force wind pushes on a wall, sign, pole or panel. This estimator converts a design wind speed into velocity pressure, applies the terrain, shape and gust factors, and multiplies by the area facing the wind to give a total force.
The formulas
Following the ASCE 7 velocity-pressure approach:
Kz = 2.01 × (z / zg)^(2/α) (z not less than 4.57 m / 15 ft)
qz = 0.613 × Kz × Kzt × Kd × V² (Pa, V in m/s)
p = qz × G × Cf
F = p × AKz rises with height and depends on the exposure category (B: urban, C: open terrain, D: coast or flat water). Kzt is the topographic factor (1.0 on flat ground), Kd the directionality factor (0.85 for buildings), G the gust-effect factor (0.85 for rigid structures) and Cf the shape coefficient.
Worked example: 120 km/h wind on a 20 m² sign 10 m up in open terrain gives a velocity pressure of about 580 Pa, a design pressure of about 640 Pa, and a total force of about 12.8 kN.
How to use it
- Enter the design wind speed and unit.
- Enter the height above ground and pick the exposure category.
- Pick a shape (or enter a custom force coefficient) and the projected area.
- Optionally override the gust, directionality and topographic factors.
FAQ
Is this code-compliant? No. It is a quick preliminary estimate. Final design must follow the governing code (ASCE 7, Eurocode 1, etc.), which includes internal pressure, zone-specific coefficients and importance factors.
Which speed should I use? Use the design wind speed from your local code or wind map; ASCE 7 uses 3-second gusts. Do not use a sustained average.
Why does height matter?
Wind speeds increase with height above ground, more so over rougher terrain; Kz captures this.