Pump Head Calculator
Calculate the pump head required to overcome elevation, pressure differences and system losses.
This pump head calculator uses the extended Bernoulli equation to estimate total dynamic head for a liquid pumping system. Enter the elevation change, pressure difference and friction losses, with optional velocity inputs when inlet and outlet velocities differ.
Calculate pump head
Enter the conditions between the suction-side reference point and discharge-side reference point.
Optional velocity-head calculation
Leave both velocities at zero when the velocity-head difference is negligible, such as between two large reservoirs.
Required pump head
- Total dynamic head
- 14.00 m
- Metres of head
- 14.00 m
- Feet of head
- 45.93 ft
- Equivalent pressure
- 136.98 kPa
Head calculation breakdown
- Elevation head
- 10.00 m
- Pressure head
- 0.00 m
- Velocity head change
- 0.00 m
- Pipe friction loss
- 3.00 m
- Minor losses
- 1.00 m
Worked equation
Hpump = Δz + ΔP/(ρg) + (V₂² − V₁²)/(2g) + hL
H = 10.00 + 0.00 + 0.00 + 3.00 + 1.00 = 14.00 m
How to calculate pump head
- Select Metric or US units.
- Enter the elevation difference between the discharge and suction reference points.
- Enter any pressure difference the pump must overcome.
- Add pipe friction loss and losses through fittings, valves and other components.
- If the inlet and outlet velocities differ significantly, enter them in the optional velocity section.
- Select Calculate pump head.
Pump head calculation formula
The required head of a pump can be calculated from the extended Bernoulli equation:
In this equation, elevation head represents the vertical difference between the two reference points, pressure head represents the required pressure increase, velocity head accounts for a change in fluid velocity and hL represents system head losses.
What is total dynamic head?
Total dynamic head, often abbreviated TDH, is the total head that a pump must provide at a particular operating condition. It combines the static requirements of the system with friction and other losses.
For a simple system pumping between two open tanks where both liquid surfaces are at atmospheric pressure and their velocities are negligible, the calculation simplifies to:
Static head and pump head
Static head is the vertical elevation difference the pump must overcome. It does not include friction loss.
Total pump head can be greater than the static head because energy is also required to overcome pipe friction, valves, bends and other restrictions. Pressure requirements and changes in velocity can also contribute to the required head.
Pressure head calculation
A pressure difference can be expressed as an equivalent column of fluid using:
Because pressure head depends on fluid density, the same pressure difference does not represent the same head for every liquid. This calculator assumes water unless a custom fluid density is entered.
Friction loss in a pump head calculation
Pipe friction and fittings reduce the mechanical energy of the flowing liquid. These losses must therefore be added to the head that the pump is required to supply.
If you do not already know the straight-pipe loss, use the CalcAtlas Pipe Pressure Drop Calculator to estimate pressure drop or head loss for the pipe section.
Pump head calculation example
Suppose water must be pumped to a point 10 m above the suction reference level. Straight-pipe friction accounts for 3 m of head and valves and fittings account for another 1 m. Both endpoints are at the same pressure and their velocity-head difference is negligible.
Pump head = 10 m + 3 m + 1 m
Required pump head = 14 mImportant pump sizing notes
This calculator estimates the head requirement of the hydraulic system. It does not select a particular pump.
Pump head varies with flow rate. Actual pump selection should use the manufacturer's pump curve and identify the operating point where the pump curve intersects the system curve.
Net positive suction head (NPSH), cavitation, pump efficiency, motor power and transient effects require separate checks.
For further guidance on pump selection, system requirements, pump performance and pumping-system efficiency, see the U.S. Department of Energy Pump Systems resources .
Frequently asked questions
What is pump head?
Pump head is the mechanical energy per unit weight supplied by a pump to a liquid, commonly expressed as metres or feet of the pumped liquid.
How do you calculate pump head?
Pump head can be calculated by adding the required elevation head, pressure-head difference, velocity-head difference and hydraulic losses between the selected suction and discharge reference points.
Is pump head the same as pressure?
No. Head is an energy-per-weight quantity expressed as a length of fluid, while pressure is force per unit area. They are related by pressure head = pressure divided by fluid density and gravitational acceleration.
What is total dynamic head?
Total dynamic head is the total head the pump must produce at an operating condition after accounting for static requirements and hydraulic losses.
Does pipe friction increase pump head?
Yes. Friction and minor losses consume hydraulic energy and therefore increase the head that the pump must supply.
Can pump head be negative?
Individual terms such as elevation or pressure difference can be negative. If the calculated required pump head is zero or negative, the specified boundary conditions do not require positive pump head in the assumed flow direction.