Column Buckling Calculator

Enter a section's dimensions, its steel grade, effective lengths, and axial load, to check whether it will buckle under compression, per AISC 360.

Standards used on this page:ANSI/AISC 360-22, Chapter E, Section E3 (flexural buckling) · Chapter H, Section H1.1 (combined axial + flexure) · LRFD (Strength Design) throughout.
Scope of this tool - please read before relying on this result:
  • Lateral-torsional buckling is NOT checked.
  • Torsional and torsional-flexural buckling are NOT checked (these need the warping constant and torsional constant, not yet calculated by this tool).
  • Sections that classify as Slender in compression are not covered (AISC 360 E7 not implemented).
Note on accuracy: as with the other modules, this tool assumes sharp (unfilleted) corners.
Section
Column and loading
ft
ft

KL = K (effective length factor) x L (actual unbraced length). For a pin-ended column with no intermediate bracing, K = 1.0, so KL equals the actual column height. If the column is braced differently on each axis, enter each KL separately.

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This calculator provides preliminary, indicative structural calculations only, intended to assist with initial sizing and understanding. It is not a substitute for assessment by a qualified structural engineer, and cad-steel.com accepts no responsibility for its use in any final design.