Springs in Parallel

Do you have an application where several springs are working together? Perhaps you are using one spring and it isn't able to carry out your working loads. Whichever the case, here we show you how to calculate the spring rate of several springs working in parallel and the load each spring will carry.

Dividing the Load…

When springs work in parallel, the load being applied is equally distributed amongst them. Should you need to know how much load each spring undergoes, you simply divide the total load by the number of springs being used. Doing so will tell you each spring's individual load. This value will assist you in calculating the working loads and required spring rate per spring. Such information is quite useful when working out a design because you only have to worry about one spring, one load, one rate.

To calculate individual load →

calculate load of springs in parallel

Calculating the Spring Rate

To calculate the rate being exerted when using more than one spring, you simply add them together. If the springs have different spring rates, you must add each rate individually. However, if the springs are identical (thus having the same spring rate), you multiply this value by the number of springs working together.

If you haven't worked out a spring design, divide the full load by the distance your springs are supposed to travel. This calculation will give you the total spring rate. To know the required spring rate per spring, simply divide the full rate by the number of springs you are planning to use. Once you have done that, you can begin working out a design that meets the required spring rate.

To calculate individual spring rate →

calculate rate of springs in parallel

The diagrams to the right of this article explain the concepts described above. If you are having trouble working out the spring rate or meeting the working loads of parallel springs, you can contact us for additional assistance. We offer a wide variety of stock springs which may work in your application. If you don't find the springs you are looking for in our catalog, try generating an Instant Spring Quote or requesting a quick quote for a custom spring design.

Compression Spring Finder

Find and buy stock compression springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you’ve entered your spring’s specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Extension Spring Finder

Find and buy stock extension springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock tension spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through over 4,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you feel needed and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your extension springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Torsion Spring Finder

Find and buy stock torsion springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock torsion spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through about 1,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you want and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your torsion springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Conical Spring Finder

Find and buy stock conical springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you've entered your spring's specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Springs in Parallel

Dividing the Load…

To calculate individual load →

Calculating the Spring Rate

To calculate individual spring rate →