Hammock Hang Calculator
The Hammock Universe Hang Calculator
There’s no better feeling than kicking back and relaxing in your hammock on a hot summer day.
But before you can enjoy your hammock, you’ll need to figure out how to properly hang it.
That’s where our handy hang calculator comes in.
From determining how high you'll need to install anchor points to estimating the ridgeline, suspension length, hang tension and angle, this amazing tool will tell you everything you need to know about hanging your hammock, bringing you one step closer to total relaxation.
Here’s how to use it:
- Measure or estimate the distance between your two anchors. These anchors are typically trees but can be anything from poles and walls to cars.
- Enter in the length of your hammock, or the ridgeline length.
- Enter your preferred sit height. This means you will need to decide how high you want your hammock to hang off the ground.
- Type in the weight of the person that will be using the hammock.
- Decide on the hang angle. This is the angle between the suspension cord and the ground. A 30-degree angle is considered optimal, however, our calculator will allow you to choose between 5, 15, 20, 30, and 45 degrees, depending on your preference.
Get hanging!
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Distance Between Anchors
The anchors are the two points from which you will be hanging each end of your hammock.
Depending on the size of your hammock and how much tension you want, the anchors should be at least 10 to 20 feet apart. Also make sure that your anchors are strong enough to hold your body weight. Keep in mind that the further apart your anchors are, the higher the anchor height and longer the suspension length will be.
Ridgeline/Hammock Length
The ridgeline is the distance between each end of your hammock once it's set up, while the hammock length (also known as sag) is the length of the curve of your hammock. The ridgeline is usually around 83% of the length of your hammock.
Suspension Length
The suspension length is the distance between the end of the hammock and the hang point on the anchor. The suspension length contributes to the height and sag of your hammock.
Preferred Sit Height
This is the height at which your hammock hangs above the ground.
The standard preferred sit height is usually around chair height – 16 to 19 inches (40 to 50 cm).
Weight in Hammock
It’s very important that you know the weight of the person who will be using the hammock, as the weight along with the hang angle both influence the amount of force that will be applied to your anchor points and suspension when in use.
Hang Angle
The hang angle is the angle of your suspension cord. It’s measured up to the angle the cord makes with the anchor. This should be about 30 degrees.
Cord Tension
Cord tension is the force wielded by the cords of your suspension system on your anchor points. This tension pulls down the angle of the cord.
Hang Point
The hang point refers to how high up the suspension will be attached to the anchor.
Shear Force
Shear force refers to the force that acts parallel to the surface of an object, in this case, the hammock. In a hammock, the shear force is primarily caused by the weight of the person(s) lying in it and any other loads applied to it.
The shear force acting on a hammock depends on various factors such as the weight of the person(s) lying in it, the angle at which the hammock is suspended, the tension in the ropes or straps holding it, and any external forces acting on it such as wind or movement.