Attention! Input results shown will be +/- 10% from middle value. Hint: The closer your min and max inputs are, the more accurate your results will be!

Attention! Input results shown will be +/- 10% from middle value. Hint: The closer your min and max inputs are, the more accurate your results will be!

Attention! Input results shown will be +/- 10% from middle value. Hint: The closer your min and max inputs are, the more accurate your results will be!

Attention! Input results shown will be +/- 10% from middle value. Hint: The closer your min and max inputs are, the more accurate your results will be!

How to Complete a Basic Compression Spring Finder Search

How to Complete a Basic Compression Spring Finder Search

How to Complete a Basic Compression Spring Finder Search


Over 23,000 Stock Compression Spring Designs at Your Fingertips!

At CompressionSpring.com we have over 23,000 different compression spring stock designs. This makes it highly probable that the spring you need is in stock ready for you to purchase online at an affordable price. However, having so many springs for sale on our website doesn’t mean you have to be overwhelmed by them. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about scrolling pages and pages to find what you need, the days of old-style catalog stock springs are over. We have an easy to use tool, called Spring Finder. That allows you to type in a few dimension ranges, click search and get a list of the springs that fit your needs. In this article we will walk you through how to complete a successful BASIC spring search for compression springs.

Start With a Basic Compression Spring Search

First, we want to note that there are two types of spring searches you can complete in our spring finder tool. The first type of search is the one we will discuss today, it is called a “BASIC SEARCH” this means we will only be using the following dimensions to search for a spring: outer diameter, free range and rate. Ideally you would have detailed information about the dimensions you need your spring to have such as: whether the compression spring will go over a shaft, and if so what is the inner diameter you need it to have, the type of material you need your spring to be, the total coils you need it to have, etc. If you do have that information and would like to conduct a more specific search, you can select the SEARCH MORE FIELDS option in the spring finder tool and you will be able to fill out more fields so that you can narrow your search down right from the start. This type of search where you fill out more fields is called ADVANCED SEARCH.

Compression Spring Measurements

Before conducting any type of search you want to have the measurements and specs of the spring you are looking for. Most of the times these measurements will be based on the spring you want to replace or the space the spring will go into. For example, you need to consider that if the spring is going into a hole the OD (Outer Diameter) of the spring needs to be small enough so it doesn’t scrap against the walls of the hole when it is being compressed. This is why having the measurements and specs is important and these will be used in consideration for the range of dimensions you search for.

Compression Spring Outer Diameter, Free Length and Coil Spring Rate

For a basic search you need the Outer Diameter of the spring you want to acquire, the free length and the rate. In order to get accurate, helpful measurements it is best to use a spring measuring caliper. A caliper is a handy spring measuring tool that will allow you to measure all the compression spring dimensions accurately. To learn more about what a caliper is and how to use it, read the following article: What is a caliper for coil springs?


Measuring the outer diameter and free length of a compression spring is easy and all you need to do is use the caliper to obtain the measurements. However, the Rate requires a few more measurements and calculations in order to accurately know the rate of the spring you want to replace or acquire. Here is a full article that explains how to properly measure outer diameter, free length and calculate the spring rate of your spring as well as other important dimensions and measurements you may need Basic Compression Spring Measurements.


Compression Spring Measurements



Conducting a Spring Finder Basic Search

Once you have all three measurements you can then decide on a range to search for on the Spring Finder’s Basic Search. We recommend that for Outer diameter you use your measurements to find a range that is no more than 6% smaller and 6% Bigger. For the free length you might want to input a range of no more than15% smaller to 15% bigger based on the measurement of the spring you are looking to find in stock. The same goes for the Rate, you want to enter a search input of no more than 15% smaller to 15% bigger than the range of the current compression spring. However these are all suggestions and if you want to search for a range lower to narrow down your search this can also work.

So let’s say you have a compression spring with an outer diameter of 0.240 in. and a free length of 1 in. and the rate of it is 21 lbs/in.

You would want to input the following information into the spring finder range for OD:

0.240 -6% = 0.226 for the first range input and then 0.240 + 6% = 0.247 for the second.
For the free length you would do the same thing, taking your measurement of 1 in. as a reference and searching for a large outer diameter range of 15% smaller and 15% bigger. 1 -15% = 0.85 and 1 + 15% = 1.15 So, your search range would be from 0.85 to 1.15 in.

Since your desired rate is 21lbs/in then 21-15% = 17.85 21+15% = 24.15
Therefore, your input range for rate would be 17 and 24.

This is how the spring finder basic search for this conical spring would look like:

Compressiion Spring Search Input Range

Once you fill out the basic search bar and click SEARCH you will see you get about 22 results. You can then narrow your search down based on other parameters such as the material type or wire diameter etc. Or you could also narrow your search by closing in on the % range you input. For example instead of searching for an OD of - 6% and + 6% you can search for -3% and + 3% and for free length you can search based on -7% to +7% instead of 15% same goes for the rate. If you searched based on these new % your search inputs would look like these:

OD: 0.240-7% = 0.223 and 0.240 + 3% = 0.232
FL: 1 -7% = 0.93 and 1 - 7% = 1.07
RATE: 21- 7% = 19.53 and 21+7% = 22.47


TIP: The Input Factors are approximate percentages and may need to be adjusted if you yield too many search results or too few.
*NOTE: Make sure that you verify that the search you are conducting is in English system if you are searching in inches and Metric system if you are adding in the search range dimensions in mm


Search based on percentage


Get Stock Compression Springs in Just a Few Clicks

Once you complete the search you can select the springs that best fit your needs, add them to cart and check out. In just a few clicks you can get the exact stock springs you need! Contact us at: (951) 276-2777 if you need any assistance or help with your search or purchase.