Cable tray & trunking area calculator
Compare round cable area with a specified rectangular containment cross-section.
Every result has a reason.
Enter your values and calculate to see the result, formula and working here.
Area occupied = Σ (count × π × cable diameter² ÷ 4) ÷ (width × height) × 100Geometric area ratio for circular cables within a rectangular envelope. Enter clear internal dimensions and cable outside diameters. Does not determine packing, permitted fill, single-layer tray width, supports, weight, bend radius, heat dissipation or compliance.
What the numbers mean.
The available rectangle has width × height area. Each round cable contributes πd²/4, multiplied by its count. Comparing these areas is a geometric check; cable arrangements and installation requirements need separate assessment.
A worked example
Four 5 mm diameter cables have approximately 78.539816 mm² total area. A 50 × 25 mm rectangle has 1,250 mm² area, giving approximately 6.2831853% occupied.
Validation, precision and limitations