LED Lighting Supply / Resources / Calculators / Pole Foundation Area Calculator

Pole Foundation Area Calculator

Pole Weight

Fixture Weight

Wind Load

Soil Bearing Capacity

Foundation Area

This light pole foundation calculator helps ensure safe, effective, and proper installation. Using this calculator prioritizes high-quality illumination, and reduces the risk of purchasing excess foundation concrete material saving your project costs and maximizing profitability.

If the projected area is prone to high wind pressure and wind force, understanding wind load and considering the public safety factor is essential.

How to use this light or utility pole calculator:

  1. Enter the light pole's weight (Wp)
  2. Enter the light fixture's weight (Wf)
  3. Enter the light fixture's maximum wind load capacity (Ww)
  4. Enter the light pole's soil-bearing capacity
  5. Click calculate to determine the light pole's estimated foundation area.

Wood pole calculation:

  1. Determine the total weight of the light poles:
    Pole Weight (Wp) refers to the weight of the pole on its own
    Fixture Weight (Wf) refers to the weight of any additional fixtures such as mounting components and street light fixtures
    Wind Load (Ww) refers to the maximum wind load capacity
  2. Calculate the required foundation area:

    A = W total / Soil-Bearing Capacity

Light Fixture Weight:

The light fixture's weight applies to street light poles and refers to the weight of any fixtures attached to the pole, such as street lights or stadium lights.

Maximum Wind Load Capacity:

A light pole's wind load capacity refers to the maximum wind speed the pole can withstand while upholding its structural integrity. The wind load capacity is determined by a government-regulated Effective Projected Area (EPA) rating and varies based on the environmental factors of the region where the light pole is installed. All components of a light pole, including the pole, mounting hardware, and fixtures each have their own EPA rating and wind resistance.

The EPA is calculated by multiplying the Projected Area (A) by the Drag Coefficient (Cd), which measures resistance in the air (EPA = A x Cd)

Maximum Light Pole Soil-Bearing Capacity:

Light pole soil-bearing capacity refers to the maximum weight the soil can support without fail.

*The calculated pole foundation area is an estimated calculation and should be used as a benchmark.