Head Pressure Calculator

This head pressure calculator will determine the total dynamic head pressure placed on the pump. The more pressure the less GPH your pump will produce.

The amount of tubing used to pump water from the pump to the pond, the height of your waterfall, diameter of your tubing, bends, fittings including ball valves and gate valves, etc, will effect the GPH produced.

To find the equivalent lift, taking into account the resistance of the piping and fittings, results will be adding the original height plus the resistance of the pipe. This number will be equal to the total lifting height that your pump is expected to pump to the top of the waterfall. Use the following example for your waterfall:

Example using our calculator:

• If your waterfall is 4ft high, and you have 2 bends, 20 ft of pipe, and 8 fittings, the total equivalent of all of this resistance may be equal to lifting the water 9 ft high.
• All pumps come with a flow chart for you to look up how many gallons your pump output will be at 9ft in height. This will give you the total GPH at the top of the waterfall.

Dynamic Head Pressure:

Vertical Height

(Measured From Water Surface, To Top Of Waterfall)

Number Of 90° Bends, Reducers
Tubing Length (In Feet)
Number Of Adapters Or Fittings

Total Dynamic Head Pressure

NOTE: Due to resistance in pips, fittings, and gravity the performance of your pump will decrease. The number above equals the total hight the pump is expected to pump to.
(height + resistance)