Strap Load Calculator
Enter your total suspended weight and your hang angle to see the real tension on each strap — and see how much a flatter hang multiplies it. Every load is rounded up.
Load on each strap
This is a static estimate, not a safety rating. Sitting down hard, bouncing or shifting loads the suspension above this figure. The manufacturer’s rated capacity and instructions are the authority; this number never makes a hang safe.
The physics of a two-strap hang
A hammock hangs from two lines meeting the load at an angle, forming a shallow “V”. Basic statics for that shape says the tension in each line equals the total weight divided by twice the sine of the hang angle. At a steep 90° (straight up and down, which isn’t physically achievable for a real hammock but is useful as a limit), that formula would put half the weight on each strap. At the more realistic 30° recommendation, each strap actually approaches the full suspended weight, and below that, the multiplier climbs fast.
This is the flip side of the Hang & Sag calculator: a flatter hang puts more load on the same anchors, straps, and trees for the same person. The number here is a static estimate to compare against what the manufacturer of your hammock, straps, and hardware prints as its rated capacity; it is never a reason to trust a hang the manufacturer would not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the tension in each strap higher than half my weight?
Because the two suspension lines pull at an angle, not straight up. Basic statics for two lines sharing a load at an equal angle gives tension = weight ÷ (2 × sin(angle)). At a 30° hang, sin(30°) is 0.5, so each strap ends up carrying almost the full suspended weight rather than half of it.
How much does hanging flatter really change the load?
A lot. At 30°, a 250lb load puts 250lb on each strap. Flatten that same hang to 15° and the same 250lb load puts 483lb on each strap (1.94 times), nearly double the weight of the person, hammock, and gear combined. Nothing about the person changed; only the angle did.
What should I do if a strap is close to its rated capacity?
Do not hang it. Hang at a steeper angle (closer to 30°) to reduce the tension for the same total weight, take gear out of the hammock, or use a system whose manufacturer rates it for your weight. The manufacturer's rated capacity is the authority, and this calculator's static figure leaves out the extra load of sitting down hard or bouncing, so a figure close to the rating is not room to spare.
A simplified statics estimate, not a certified engineering calculation and not a safety rating. It ignores dynamic loads (sitting down hard, shifting, bouncing), which run above the static figure shown here. The manufacturer’s rated capacity and instructions are the authority. Hang low, never over water or a drop, and check the trees and branches above you before you get in.