Calculate Snow Load per Area
Calculates the snow load on a flat surface. If the snow type is specified, the snow density can of course only be an approximate estimate. Enter length and width or area, snow type or density, and snow depth. When entering length and width, the area is calculated, when entering the type, the density is calculated. Press Calculate to get the result. The load on the given area, in kilograms or tons, and the load in kilograms per square meter is calculated.
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Surface length: m Surface width: m |
or Area: m² |
| Snow type: | or snow density: kg/m³ |
| Snow height: m | |
| Snow load: , kg/m² kN/m² | |
The snow load in Germany is officially measured in kN/m², i.e. in kilonewtons per square meter. The characteristic snow load in most parts of Germany is 0.65 kN/m², at higher altitudes 0.85 kN/m² and at high altitudes 1.1 kN/m². For other countries, other rules may apply.
Individual snowflakes have a low density, meaning they take up a relatively large amount of space for their small mass; colloquially, they are light. This is because they consist of fine ice crystals that contain a relatively large amount of air. These crystals are all hexagonal or six-pronged. When large amounts of snow pile up on top of each other, the lower crystals are crushed by the weight, the snow becomes more compact, and its density increases. This is why old snow is heavier than new snow. Even when the snow begins to melt, it collapses and its density increases because water is denser than snow and the crystals fuse together. The highest density found on roofs is ice, but ice doesn't reach the density of water. On the other hand, water does run off when it can.
Although climate change is causing average temperatures to rise, one would think that this would lead to less snowfall in the future. However, warm air can absorb more moisture. When it cools, more moisture is released of course, and the amount of precipitation increases, including snow. Therefore, the issue of snow load will become increasingly important in many regions.
Here you can convert metric units into customary and imperial units.Last updated on 03/26/2026. Author: Jürgen Kummer
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