600 mm (1 person per step)
800 mm (1.5 persons per step)
1000 mm (2 persons per step)
0.5 m/s (Standard)
0.65 m/s (High Traffic)
0.75 m/s (Express)
Horizontal Span:
Escalator Length (Truss):
Theoretical Capacity:
Total Steps (Estimated):
Understanding Escalator Calculation Parameters
Calculating the dimensions and capacity of an escalator is a critical phase in architectural planning and vertical transportation design. The efficiency of person-flow in transit hubs, shopping malls, and airports depends on accurate data. Our calculator uses international standards (like EN 115) to help you estimate the spatial requirements and throughput.
Key Variables in Escalator Design
Vertical Rise: This is the net height distance between the finished floor level of the lower floor and the upper floor. It determines the base of all geometric calculations.
Angle of Inclination: Most escalators are designed at 30° for maximum comfort and safety. A 35° angle is typically used when space is limited and the rise does not exceed 6 meters.
Step Width: Standard widths are 600mm, 800mm, and 1000mm. This directly influences the capacity of the unit, with 1000mm being the standard for high-traffic public areas.
Nominal Speed: The standard speed for most applications is 0.5 meters per second (m/s). High-capacity areas like subways often use 0.65 m/s or 0.75 m/s to move crowds faster.
How Capacity is Calculated
The theoretical capacity (persons per hour) is determined by the speed and the step width. According to standard formulas:
Note: Real-world capacity is usually 40% to 60% of theoretical capacity due to passenger spacing and boarding hesitation.
Geometric Requirements
When planning for an escalator, you must account for the "Horizontal Span." This is the floor space the escalator occupies horizontally. It is calculated by dividing the rise by the tangent of the angle, plus the additional length required for the upper and lower horizontal landing platforms (usually 1.0 to 1.5 meters on each side).
function calculateEscalator() {
var rise = parseFloat(document.getElementById("verticalRise").value);
var angleDeg = parseFloat(document.getElementById("angle").value);
var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stepWidth").value);
var speed = parseFloat(document.getElementById("nominalSpeed").value);
if (isNaN(rise) || rise <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid vertical rise.");
return;
}
// Convert angle to radians
var angleRad = angleDeg * (Math.PI / 180);
// Calculate Horizontal Projection (Rise / tan(angle))
var horizontalProj = rise / Math.tan(angleRad);
// Add standard landing lengths (approx 1.2m each side for planning)
var totalHorizontal = horizontalProj + 2.4;
// Calculate Travel Length (Rise / sin(angle))
var travelLength = rise / Math.sin(angleRad);
var totalLength = travelLength + 2.0; // Adding truss head/tail ends
// Calculate Theoretical Capacity (Ct)
// Ct = 3600 * v * k / 0.4
// k is factor based on width: 600=1, 800=1.5, 1000=2
var k = 1;
if (width === 800) k = 1.5;
if (width === 1000) k = 2;
var capacity = (3600 * speed * k) / 0.4;
// Estimate number of steps visible
// Steps are roughly 0.4m deep
var estSteps = Math.ceil(travelLength / 0.4);
// Display Results
document.getElementById("resHorizontal").innerText = totalHorizontal.toFixed(2) + " meters";
document.getElementById("resLength").innerText = totalLength.toFixed(2) + " meters";
document.getElementById("resCapacity").innerText = Math.round(capacity).toLocaleString() + " persons/hour";
document.getElementById("resSteps").innerText = estSteps + " steps";
document.getElementById("results").style.display = "block";
}