Booster Pump Sizing Calculator

Struggling with low water pressure? This calculator helps estimate the required booster pump capacity to achieve your desired water pressure. It considers factors like flow rate, existing pressure, required pressure, vertical lift, and friction losses in your piping system.

Enter your system parameters below and click “Calculate Pump Size”

System Parameters
Required Flow Rate:
Available Suction Pressure:		(Pressure at pump inlet)
Required System Pressure:		(Desired pressure at farthest fixture)
Static Lift / Head:		(Vertical lift, if any)
Estimated Friction Losses:		(Pressure loss in pipes/fittings)
Note: 1 Bar ≈ 14.5 PSI. 1 Meter ≈ 3.28 Feet. 1 PSI ≈ 2.31 Feet of Head.

Understanding Booster Pump Sizing

A booster pump increases fluid pressure in a system. Sizing it correctly ensures you meet your pressure and flow demands without excessive energy consumption or component wear. This calculator helps determine the ‘Total Dynamic Head’ (TDH) or boost pressure the pump must provide.

How to Use This Calculator:

1. Required Flow Rate: Enter the maximum flow rate your system needs (e.g., for all showers and taps running simultaneously). Select GPM (Gallons Per Minute) or LPM (Liters Per Minute).
2. Available Suction Pressure: Input the existing water pressure at the point where the booster pump will be installed. Select PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) or Bar. This selection will set the unit for all other pressure inputs and outputs.
3. Required System Pressure: Enter the desired water pressure at the furthest or highest point of use in your system. The unit will match the suction pressure unit.
4. Static Lift / Head: Enter the vertical height difference.
   • If drawing from a tank below the pump: enter the height from water level in the tank to the pump inlet.
   • If boosting to an outlet significantly higher than the pump: enter the height from pump outlet to the highest point of use.
   • If these are not significant factors (e.g. boosting mains pressure on a single level), you can leave this as 0. Select Feet or Meters.
5. Estimated Friction Losses: Input the total pressure lost due to friction in your pipes, valves, and fittings between the pump and the furthest point of use. This can be a significant factor, especially in long or complex pipe runs. If unsure, consult a plumber or use online pipe friction loss calculators. The unit will match the suction pressure unit.
6. Click “Calculate Pump Size” to see the results.

Basic Calculation Principle:

The core idea is to find the additional pressure (Boost Pressure) the pump needs to generate. The formula considers:

Boost Pressure = (Required System Pressure – Suction Pressure) + Static Lift Pressure Equivalent + Friction Loss Pressure

• P_boost = Required pressure increase from the pump.
• P_{req_sys} = Desired pressure at the point of use.
• P_suction = Existing pressure at the pump’s inlet.
• P_static = Pressure needed to overcome vertical lift (Static Head / 2.31 for feet to PSI, or Static Head / 10.2 for meters to Bar).
• P_friction = Pressure lost due to friction in the system.

The Total Pump Discharge Pressure will then be: P_suction + P_boost.

Important: This calculator provides an estimate. Always consult with a qualified pump specialist or plumber for critical applications or complex systems to ensure proper pump selection, considering pump curves, NPSHa (Net Positive Suction Head available), and other system details.

Hydraulic Resources

Pump Head vs Pressure (Engineering Toolbox) Pump Sizing (Grundfos) Pressure Boosting (KSB)