Try the Beam Deflection & Stress Calculator
Calculate beam deflection, reactions, maximum bending moment and bending stress for simply supported, cantilever and fixed-fixed beams with a point load.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
What is the Beam Deflection & Stress Calculator?
Choose the support condition — simply supported, cantilever or fixed at both ends — enter the span, a point load and its position, an optional uniform load, a material and a cross-section, and the calculator returns the maximum deflection (and the L/deflection ratio), where it occurs, the support reactions, the maximum bending moment, the maximum bending stress and the safety factor against yield. Shear force, bending moment and deflection are drawn as diagrams along the beam.
The results come from the standard Euler–Bernoulli beam equations, with the point and distributed loads superposed (verified against closed-form textbook cases such as 5wL⁴/384EI and PL³/48EI). Materials include steel, stainless, aluminium, titanium, copper, printed PLA/PETG/ABS and softwood with typical modulus and strength; sections include rectangle, round bar, round tube and rectangular tube, or enter I and c directly.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Simply supported, cantilever and fixed-fixed with point + uniform loads.
Deflection, reactions, moments, stress and safety factor.
Shear, moment and deflection plotted along the span.
Metals, printed plastics and wood with typical E and strength.
AZRS tools are free to open and use.
It opens in your browser, so there is nothing to download.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Makers designing shelves and frames
See whether a 3D-printed or wooden beam is stiff enough.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This engineering calculator | Desktop software | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Nothing to install | Usually an app or program to install |
| Account | No signup | Depends on the product |
| Cost | Free to use | Free or paid, depends on the product |
| Where it runs | In your browser tab | On your computer |
Questions people ask
Which beam theory is used?
Linear Euler–Bernoulli beam theory with small deflections.
Does it include shear deformation?
No — fine for slender beams (L/h > 10).
Can I combine loads?
Yes — one point load plus one uniform load are superposed.
What about multiple point loads?
Run separate cases and add the results (superposition).
How do I use the Beam Deflection & Stress Calculator?
1. Pick support type, length and loads. 2. Choose material and cross-section dimensions. 3. Read deflection, moment, stress and safety factor. 4. Check the diagrams and the L/360 guideline.
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Try the Beam Deflection & Stress Calculator now
Deflection, reactions, bending moment and stress for supported and cantilever beams. Free to use.
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