Calculate grammage, bursting factor, or burst strength from any two values, with units for g/m², kg/m², oz/yd², gf/cm², Pa, and psi.

Bursting Factor Calculator

Enter any 2 values to calculate the missing variable


Related Calculators

Bursting Factor Formula

The bursting factor calculator uses the relationship between burst strength, grammage, and bursting factor. Enter any two values to solve for the third.

BF = BS / G
BS = BF * G
G = BS / BF
  • BF = bursting factor, treated as a unitless value
  • BS = burst strength, usually entered in gf/cm², Pa, or psi
  • G = grammage, usually entered in g/m², kg/m², or oz/yd²

The calculator first converts the entered values to base units: grammage to g/m² and burst strength to gf/cm². It then applies the formula and converts the result back to the unit selected for the missing value.

  • To calculate bursting factor: burst strength is divided by grammage.
  • To calculate burst strength: bursting factor is multiplied by grammage.
  • To calculate grammage: burst strength is divided by bursting factor.

Common Units Used for Bursting Factor Calculations

These are the unit conversions used when comparing grammage and burst strength values.

Measurement Unit Conversion to Base Unit
Grammage g/m² 1 g/m² = 1 g/m²
Grammage kg/m² 1 kg/m² = 1000 g/m²
Grammage oz/yd² 1 oz/yd² = 33.9057 g/m²
Burst strength gf/cm² 1 gf/cm² = 1 gf/cm²
Burst strength Pa 1 Pa = 0.0101972 gf/cm²
Burst strength psi 1 psi = 70.3069 gf/cm²

Typical Result Checks

Given Values Calculation Result
BS = 3500 gf/cm², G = 140 g/m² 3500 / 140 BF = 25
BF = 28, G = 180 g/m² 28 × 180 BS = 5040 gf/cm²
BS = 4200 gf/cm², BF = 30 4200 / 30 G = 140 g/m²

Examples

Example 1: Calculate bursting factor

You have a paper sample with a burst strength of 3600 gf/cm² and a grammage of 120 g/m².

BF = 3600 / 120 = 30

The bursting factor is 30.

Example 2: Calculate burst strength

You have a bursting factor of 24 and a grammage of 150 g/m².

BS = 24 * 150 = 3600

The burst strength is 3600 gf/cm².

FAQ

What does bursting factor mean?

Bursting factor is a measure of bursting strength relative to grammage. It helps compare materials of different weights by dividing the burst strength by the grammage. A higher bursting factor generally means the material has greater bursting resistance for its weight.

What is the difference between burst strength and bursting factor?

Burst strength is the pressure a material can withstand before it ruptures. Bursting factor adjusts that strength by the material’s grammage. Burst strength is a direct pressure measurement, while bursting factor is a comparison value based on both strength and material weight.

Why do I need to enter exactly two values?

The formula has three variables: burst strength, grammage, and bursting factor. If you enter any two, the third can be calculated. If you enter only one value, there is not enough information. If you enter all three, there is no missing value to solve for.