Belts & Pulleys
Belt Effective Tension Calculator
Use transmitted power and belt speed to estimate the effective tension difference responsible for power transfer.
Inputs
Formula
Effective belt pull
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator, the same formula gives the following result. This is a quick sanity check for the calculation, not a design recommendation.
Inputs
- Transmitted power
- 5 kW
- Belt speed
- 10 m/s
Result
- Effective belt tension
- 500 N
Related calculators
Continue your workflow with a related calculation.
Belts & Pulleys
Belt Power Calculator
Calculate mechanical power transferred by a belt from effective tension and belt speed.
Belts & Pulleys
Belt Speed Calculator
Calculate belt linear speed from pulley diameter and rotational speed.
Belts & Pulleys
Pulley Torque Ratio Calculator
Estimate ideal driven-shaft torque from input torque and driver/driven pulley diameters.
Frequently asked questions
Is effective tension the same as tight-side tension?
No. Effective tension is the difference between tight-side and slack-side tensions that transmits power.
Why does tension fall when belt speed increases?
At fixed transmitted power, force equals power divided by linear speed, so higher speed needs less effective pull.