Wind Load Calculator

No. It is a simplified educational estimate only and is not a substitute for a full ASCE 7 wind design. Real design accounts for directionality, gust effects, topography, internal pressures, and many load cases. Always consult a licensed structural engineer.

Velocity pressure increases with the square of the wind speed, so a wind that is twice as fast produces four times the pressure. This is why high-wind regions demand much stronger structural design.

Use the basic design wind speed for your county from the ASCE 7 wind maps, or ask your local building department. Typical US values run from about 105 mph inland up to 180 mph on the Florida coast or in tornado-prone areas. Design speeds are tied to a return period set by the building's risk category.

It is a dimensionless factor describing how the building shape and wall location change the wind pressure. Windward walls are typically about +0.8, leeward walls about -0.5, and side walls about -0.7, with roofs varying widely. The calculator's default of 1.3 approximates a combined windward-plus-leeward net pressure coefficient, not an individual wall value; deriving it correctly requires ASCE 7.

No. Even though small structures may seem trivial, every building code requires a proper wind analysis, especially in hurricane- or tornado-prone areas. A poorly anchored shed becomes a projectile. Hire a structural engineer or use pre-approved plans with a stamped calculation.