Compression Spring Dimension Measurements

Definition

A compression spring dimension is the measurement of the elements that make up your compression spring.

To buy compression springs online, any type of compression spring, you must know your spring’s dimensions. Knowing the working loads or the spring rate will not be enough because that can make the spring any size in diameter or length. There are a million possibilities when it comes to compression spring design. This is why we’ve provided you with this compression spring dimension measurement guide.

There are three primordial dimensions which are linked to each other. One dimension depends on the other two in whichever order you put it. These are:

Outer Diameter

Wire Diameter

Inner Diameter

Diameter is a circle’s width at its widest position, right across the middle. The outer diameter is measured from the outside of the coil’s width while the inner diameter is measured from inside of the coil. The wire diameter is simply the wire thickness. These all depend on each other because changing one dimensions will also change the other dimensions. Making the wire diameter larger could decrease or increase the outer and inner diameters, and changing either diameter will affect the other diameter unless the wire diameter is also adjusted.

how to measure a compression spring's outer, inner, and wire diameters

Another physical dimension that you’ll need is:

Free Length

In this case you must consider the length of the space where your spring will be placed from the base of the spring to the second object that’ll be pressing on top of it. If your spring will be pre-loaded, make sure you make the length a little bit longer. Knowing the free length will help you determine how much travel your spring will have to compress.

Along with the free length of your compression spring design you need to know the amount of

Active Coils

Total Coils

Active coils will help you determine your spring’s force and elastic limit when you get to calculating spring rate and safe maximum travel. We refer to them as active coils because, depending on the end type, you will probably have some closed coils on the ends for stability and support thus meaning that you’ll have more total coils than active coils.

To begin a compression spring design, visit our free, online spring calculator. Once you’re satisfied with your design you may buy similar stock springs or have them manufactured in those real time dimensions by purchasing them through the instant spring quote also provided on our spring calculator.

how to measure a compression spring's free length and count its coils

Compression Spring End Types

closed and squared compression spring end type

closed and ground compression spring end type

double closed

open ends

Compression Spring Finder

Find and buy stock compression springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you’ve entered your spring’s specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Extension Spring Finder

Find and buy stock extension springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock tension spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through over 4,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you feel needed and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your extension springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Torsion Spring Finder

Find and buy stock torsion springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock torsion spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through about 1,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you want and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your torsion springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Conical Spring Finder

Find and buy stock conical springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you've entered your spring's specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Compression Spring Dimension Measurements

Definition

A compression spring dimension is the measurement of the elements that make up your compression spring.

Compression Spring End Types