Calculate wing planform area, chord, or span for constant-chord wings and root, tip, or span for tapered wings in sq in, sq ft, sq m, or sq yd.
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Wing Planform (Reference) Area Formula
The wing planform area is the top-view projected area of the wing. For this calculator, the constant-chord mode treats the wing as a rectangle, and the tapered mode treats the wing as a straight-sided trapezoid.
Constant chord wing
Tapered wing
- A = wing planform reference area
- c = constant chord length
- c_r = root chord length
- c_t = tip chord length
- s = span
In constant chord mode, you can leave area, chord, or span blank. The calculator rearranges A = c × s to solve the missing value.
- Area:
A = c × s - Chord:
c = A ÷ s - Span:
s = A ÷ c
In tapered mode, you can leave area, root chord, tip chord, or span blank. The calculator first uses the average of the root and tip chord, then multiplies by span.
- Area:
A = ((c_r + c_t) ÷ 2) × s - Span:
s = A ÷ ((c_r + c_t) ÷ 2) - Root chord:
c_r = (2A ÷ s) − c_t - Tip chord:
c_t = (2A ÷ s) − c_r
Supported Units and Conversion Factors
The calculator converts all lengths to inches and all areas to square inches before solving, then converts the answer back to the selected output unit.
| Length unit | Equivalent in inches | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1 in | Small models and direct inch measurements |
| 1 ft | 12 in | Full-size aircraft and larger spans |
| 1 cm | 0.3937007874 in | Metric model dimensions |
| 1 m | 39.37007874 in | Metric aircraft dimensions |
| Area unit | Equivalent in square inches | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 sq in | 1 sq in | Common for small wings and RC aircraft |
| 1 sq ft | 144 sq in | Useful for wing loading calculations |
| 1 sq m | 1550.0031 sq in | Common in metric aircraft data |
| 1 sq yd | 1296 sq in | Less common, but supported |
Example Calculations
Example 1: Constant chord wing area
You have a rectangular wing with a chord of 8 in and a span of 48 in.
The planform area is 384 sq in, which is also 2.6667 sq ft.
Example 2: Tapered wing area
You have a tapered wing with a root chord of 12 in, a tip chord of 6 in, and a span of 50 in.
The planform area is 450 sq in, which is 3.125 sq ft.
FAQ
Is wing planform area the same as wing surface area?
No. Planform area is the projected area you see when looking down at the wing from above. It is normally used as the reference wing area in aerodynamic calculations. It is not the same as wetted surface area, which includes the actual upper and lower skin surfaces.
Should span mean full wingspan or half span?
Use the span that matches the area you want. If you want total wing reference area, use the full wingspan. If you are calculating one half of a wing panel, use the half span and the chords for that panel, then double the result if the other side is the same.
Can this calculator handle swept wings?
Yes, if the wing has straight taper and you know the root chord, tip chord, and span. Sweep angle does not change the simple trapezoid planform area formula. For curved, cranked, elliptical, or multi-panel wings, split the wing into simpler sections and add the areas together.