Belt conveyor motor power calculator
Estimate the motor power needed for a belt conveyor: enter belt speed, total moving mass, incline and friction factor, and read the kW and torque. Belt length is collected only for estimating belt weight — fold the belt’s own mass into the moving-mass figure.
Belt conveyor drive power
Formula: F = μ·m·g·cos θ + m·g·sin θ, P (kW) = F·v / (η × 1000), T (N·m) = F × r (r = pulley radius). Use the total mass of the belt plus load — belt length only matters for estimating belt weight, so fold that into the mass figure if your input is just the load. Add 15–25 % for start-up inertia and belt losses. Friction is higher for slider beds (0.15–0.3) than idler rollers (0.03–0.06).
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Frequently asked questions
How is belt conveyor motor power calculated?
The calculator sums the friction force μ × m × g × cos θ and the incline force m × g × sin θ, then computes P (kW) = F × v / (η × 1000). With the defaults of 500 kg, 1 m/s and a 0.05 friction coefficient, that comes out to about 0.27 kW.
What friction coefficient should I use for a slider bed versus idler rollers?
Slider beds run 0.15–0.3 because the belt slides on a steel bed, while idler-roller conveyors run 0.03–0.06. The calculator defaults to 0.05, typical of an idler conveyor — switch to the higher value if your belt runs on a slider bed.
Should I add a safety margin to the calculated motor power?
Yes — the calculation is steady-state power. Add 15–25 % for start-up inertia and belt losses, and remember belt length is only collected to estimate belt weight, so fold the belt's own mass into the total moving-mass figure rather than leaving it out.
AO Ctrl provides this tool for reference only.