Beam Load Calculator

Determine support reactions and internal forces for simply supported beams under point loads.

Beam & Load Data

Distance Units

Force Units

Total Beam Length (L) (ft)

Point Load (P) (lb)

Position from Left (a) (ft)

Support Reactions

Calculating beam reactions?

Enter the beam length, the weight of the load, and its position to find the force applied to each support.

Overview

Beam load analysis is the first step in structural design. For a simply supported beam (a beam supported at its ends), a single point load is distributed between the two supports based on its proximity to them. This calculator solves the static equilibrium equations to find exactly how many pounds (or Newtons) each support must hold.

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Pro Tips

Point loads often represent columns from a floor above or heavy machinery sitting on a beam.
If you have multiple point loads, you can calculate each one separately and add the reactions together (Principle of Superposition).
Don't forget to add the 'Self-Weight' of the beam itself to your calculations for large projects.

Fun Facts

"In a perfectly balanced beam where the load is in the center, both supports share exactly 50% of the weight."
"The 'Moment' is a measure of the force's tendency to rotate the beam about a point—it's what causes the beam to bend."
"Structural engineers always add a 'Safety Factor' (often 1.5 to 2.0) beyond these calculated values."

Formula: R₁ = P × (L - a) / L; R₂ = P × a / L; Max Moment = P × a × (L - a) / L

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