Wind Pressure Calculator
When moving air is brought to rest against a wall, sign, or sail, it exerts a dynamic pressure equal to half the air density times the square of the wind speed. Because the relationship is quadratic, a wind twice as fast presses four times as hard, which is why storm winds are so destructive. Enter the wind speed in meters per second, the air density for your site, and the exposed area, and this calculator returns the dynamic pressure in pascals, the same pressure in pounds per square foot, and the total force on the area.
Wind pressure formula
q = 0.5 x rho x v^2 (pascals)
Pressure in lb/ft2 = q x 0.020885
Force = q x area (newtons)
Force in kgf = force / 9.80665
rho is air density in kilograms per cubic meter and v is wind speed in meters per second. The pressure is the velocity (dynamic) pressure; structural codes add shape and exposure coefficients on top of this base value.
Wind pressure notes
- Pressure scales with the square of speed: double the wind, quadruple the pressure.
- Standard sea-level air density is about 1.225 kg/m3 at 15 C.
- Air density drops with altitude and heat, lowering the pressure.
- Building codes apply gust, exposure, and shape factors beyond this base pressure.
- Convert mph to m/s by multiplying by 0.44704 before entering.
Wind pressure: frequently asked questions
What is dynamic wind pressure?
Dynamic wind pressure, or velocity pressure, is the pressure exerted by moving air when it is brought to rest against a surface. It equals one half the air density times the square of the wind speed. It is the basis for wind load calculations on buildings, signs, and structures.
What is the formula for wind pressure?
Wind pressure q = 0.5 x rho x v squared, where rho is air density in kilograms per cubic meter and v is wind speed in meters per second. The result is in pascals. Because pressure scales with the square of speed, doubling the wind speed quadruples the pressure.
What air density should I use?
Standard sea-level air density is about 1.225 kilograms per cubic meter at 15 degrees Celsius. Air density falls with altitude and rising temperature, so at high elevations or in hot conditions the pressure is lower. Density is a user input here so you can match your site.
How do I get the total force on a surface?
Multiply the dynamic pressure by the exposed area to get the force in newtons: force = pressure x area. Real structures also apply pressure and shape coefficients from building codes, but the velocity pressure is the starting point. This calculator gives pressure and the force on the area you enter.
How do I convert wind speed units?
Enter wind speed in meters per second to match the formula. To convert from miles per hour multiply by 0.44704; from knots multiply by 0.51444; from kilometers per hour divide by 3.6. Using consistent SI units keeps the pressure in pascals.
Official sources
- NOAA National Weather Service: Wind Safety.
- NIST physical constants: Fundamental Constants.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.