Which cutting edges should I include?

Add the full perimeter of every edge that cuts at the same time. Include pierced holes as well as the outside blank when they engage together.

Can I use tensile strength instead?

Obtain shear strength from the material supplier or approved tooling data. A tensile-strength substitution depends on the material and process and is not applied here.

Does this size a forming press?

It estimates only flat-edge cutting force. Drawing, bending, stripping and other loads need their own engineering checks before you select the press.

Why does the capacity depend on stroke position?

A crank press develops different available force at different slide positions. Use the manufacturer capacity curve at the actual cutting position and separately check energy and allowable reverse load.

Sheet Metal Stamping & Press Lines calculator

Cutting Press Tonnage Calculator

Estimate the peak force for flat-edge blanking or piercing and compare it with available press capacity. You need simultaneous cutting perimeter, stock thickness, shear strength and the approved force reserve.

What this calculator does

Estimate cutting press tonnage from perimeter, thickness and shear strength against available press force.

Formula used

Cutting force (N) = simultaneous perimeter (mm) × thickness (mm) × shear strength (MPa)
Required cutting force = cutting force × (1 + reserve ÷ 100)
Required US tons = required cutting force (N) ÷ 8,896.443
Capacity used (%) = 100 × required cutting force (kN) ÷ available capacity (kN)
Force headroom = available capacity − required cutting force

Inputs explained

Simultaneous Cutting Perimeter: Sum of cutting edges engaged together from the die drawing.
Stock Thickness: Measured or specified sheet thickness for this material lot.
Material Shear Strength: Certified shear strength or material supplier value for this temper.
Force Reserve: Additional cutting-force allowance approved by your tooling engineer.
Available Press Capacity: Manufacturer capacity at the cutting load position in the stroke.

How to use the result

Best suited to blanking press force comparison, piercing die load estimate.
Bending, drawing, stripping, reverse loads and off-center loads require separate calculations. Does not check press energy, stroke curves, shut height or tooling fit.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for steel mill products stands at 381.162 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 23.4% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
U.S. iron and steel import customs value ran $2.2B in Aug 2026 (Census International Trade). The U.S. ran a trade deficit of $0.6B in the category that month. This dollar total mixes price, quantity, product mix, origin, and timing; it does not measure physical import volume or prove a tariff or reshoring effect.
The U.S. has 53,790 fabricated metal products establishments employing about 1,441,471 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

Which cutting edges should I include? Add the full perimeter of every edge that cuts at the same time. Include pierced holes as well as the outside blank when they engage together.
Can I use tensile strength instead? Obtain shear strength from the material supplier or approved tooling data. A tensile-strength substitution depends on the material and process and is not applied here.
Does this size a forming press? It estimates only flat-edge cutting force. Drawing, bending, stripping and other loads need their own engineering checks before you select the press.
Why does the capacity depend on stroke position? A crank press develops different available force at different slide positions. Use the manufacturer capacity curve at the actual cutting position and separately check energy and allowable reverse load.

Related guides

Planning Press Line Capacity from Demonstrated Hit Rates

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.