How do I calculate conveyor belt speed from packages per minute?

Belt speed in ft/min = packages per minute × pitch in inches / 12, where pitch is the product length plus the gap between products. At 20 packages per minute with a 12 in product and a 6 in gap the belt runs 30 ft/min.

What gap does a given belt speed leave between products?

Gap = belt speed × 12 / rate − product length. Solve for gap when the belt speed is fixed by the drive and you need the space a downstream device gets between products.

How do I get belt speed from motor RPM?

ft/min = π × pulley or sprocket pitch diameter in inches × RPM / 12. A 6 in pitch diameter at 60 RPM gives about 94 ft/min.

Conveyor Speed & Throughput Calculator

How fast does the belt need to run? Enter the rate in packages per minute, the product length, and the gap you want between products, and the calculator gives the belt speed in feet per minute as you type. Pick a different solve-for and it answers the other questions instead: the rate a belt at a known speed delivers, or the gap that speed leaves between products.

Alongside the main result you get pitch, products per foot of belt, packages per hour, and the gap time a downstream device has between products. Add a conveyor length for transit time, or start from the drive: RPM and pulley diameter give the belt speed directly. Send to Belt Pull carries the speed and package weight into the belt pull calculator. For a whole line with splits, merges, dwell stations, rejects, and accumulation, open the Line Flow Simulator — it starts from this same infeed.

How it works

Belt speed (ft/min) = packages per minute × pitch (in) / 12, where pitch = product length + gap.
Rate (packages/min) = belt speed × 12 / pitch; gap = belt speed × 12 / rate − product length.
Products per foot = 12 / pitch; gap time (s) = gap ÷ belt speed; transit time = conveyor length ÷ belt speed.
Belt speed from a drive: ft/min = π × pulley pitch diameter (in) × RPM / 12.

Free, no login. Your inputs are saved in this browser. Values are engineering references — verify against manufacturer data and applicable codes before a final design.

Questions engineers ask

How do I calculate conveyor belt speed from packages per minute?: Belt speed in ft/min = packages per minute × pitch in inches / 12, where pitch is the product length plus the gap between products. At 20 packages per minute with a 12 in product and a 6 in gap the belt runs 30 ft/min.
What gap does a given belt speed leave between products?: Gap = belt speed × 12 / rate − product length. Solve for gap when the belt speed is fixed by the drive and you need the space a downstream device gets between products.
How do I get belt speed from motor RPM?: ft/min = π × pulley or sprocket pitch diameter in inches × RPM / 12. A 6 in pitch diameter at 60 RPM gives about 94 ft/min.

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Conveyor Speed & Throughput Calculator

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