Footing & Embedded Post Calculator
Footings and posts are fundamental components in structural systems, transferring loads from above-ground framing into the ground safely and efficiently. Whether you’re supporting a deck, embedded post, or full foundation system, accurate sizing of footings and post connections is critical to overall structural performance. With support for various loading conditions and soil types, StruCalc provides quick, compliant calculations that streamline the design process and improve project safety.
Applications
StruCalc’s footing calculator modules support the analysis of multiple types of footings and posts and features analysis options for varying soil capacities, post sizes, and loading conditions.
Isolated (Pad) Footings
Analyze square, rectangular, or circular footings supporting columns or posts.
Continuous (Wall) Footings
Calculations for continuous footings, which can be used under bearing walls.
Embedded Posts
Analyze depth, embedment, and post-bending strength using the embedded post calculator.
Advanced Calculations & Reliable Insights
Analysis Capabilities
Multi-Span Beams
Cantilever Beams
Triaxial Loading
Dynamic Load Linking
English & Metric Units
Auto Sizing
ASD & LRFD
Checks & Outputs
Normal Stress
Shear Stress
Moment of Inertia
Buckling
Moment Capacity
Deflection
Reactions
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Footing and Post Calculator FAQs
What Types of Footings Can StruCalc Analyze?
StruCalc’s footing calculator modules support the analysis of:
- Isolated (Spread/Pad) Footings – Square, rectangular, or circular footings supporting columns or posts.
- Continuous (Wall) Footings – Used under bearing walls or strip foundations.
- Deck Footings – Configurable using the deck footing calculator for load path and bearing area checks.
- Embedded Post Footings – Analyze depth, embedment, and post-bending strength using the embedded post calculator.
Custom options allow for varying soil capacities, post sizes, and loading conditions.
What Loads and Soil Properties Must Be Considered?
Proper footing and post analysis accounts for:
- Axial Loads – Dead and live loads transmitted from above.
- Lateral Loads – Wind or seismic forces requiring sliding and overturning checks.
- Moment Loads – Especially at embedded posts and eccentrically loaded footings.
- Soil Bearing Capacity – Input allowable bearing pressure based on geotechnical reports.
- Frost Depth and Embedment – Account for local climate and uplift resistance.
StruCalc’s calculators incorporate these values to ensure safe and efficient foundation design.
How Does StruCalc Assist with Concrete and Deck Footings?
Using the concrete footing calculator or deck footing calculator, engineers can:
- Evaluate soil pressure under different footing shapes and sizes.
- Automatically apply load combinations per IBC and ASCE 7.
- Determine required footing dimensions for axial and moment loads.
- Check uplift and overturning resistance for freestanding and attached decks.
Calculations follow standard design methods for both residential and light commercial applications.
What is Included in the Embedded Post Calculator?
Embedded posts are common in fences, decks, and post-frame buildings. StruCalc’s embedded post calculator includes:
- Analysis of bending strength, embedment depth, and soil resistance.
- Checks for rotation, pull-out, and bearing failure.
- Options for wood, steel, or composite posts.
- Support for load combinations and unbraced length.
This makes it easy to verify post safety under multiple real-world conditions.
What Codes and Standards Does StruCalc Support?
StruCalc’s footing and post modules follow:
- IBC (International Building Code) – Governs load combinations, frost depth, and minimum bearing.
- ACI 318 – Concrete design specifications for isolated and wall footings.
- NDS – Wood post design including axial and bending interaction.
- ASCE 7 – Prescribes dead, live, wind, and seismic loads.
All calculations can be reviewed, printed, and submitted with permit drawings.
Why Use StruCalc Instead of a Manual or Spreadsheet-Based Footing Calculator?
Spreadsheets are limited when it comes to handling real-time loading conditions, post-bending interactions, and linked reactions from framing systems. StruCalc offers:
- Integrated Load Path Tracking – From roof to soil.
- Automatic Footing Sizing – Based on loads and allowable soil pressure.
- Custom Post Embedment Analysis – With rotation and uplift checks.
Permit-Ready Outputs – Clear documentation for building officials.
Structural Design Calculations Made Simple
Increase Your Productivity
Let StruCalc save you time on structural calculations and help you do more of what you do best.
Maximize Accuracy & Compliance
StruCalc delivers accurate calculations according to industry best practices that meet IBC and NDS code.
Streamline Permit Approval
Designed according to industry best practices, our detailed reports are purposefully structured to accelerate permit approvals.
Features that Our Customers Love
Linked Load Paths
Get dynamically updated results with linked load paths.
Comprehensive Material Database
From wood and laminates to concrete and steel, we’ve got you covered!
Relevant Codes & Standards
Compliant with the IBC and NDS, StruCalc keeps you up to date with latest code.
Automated Member Sizing
Simply input your loads and let StruCalc determine the most efficient size of your beam, footing, and more!
Quick Calcs
Use our pre-configured calculators to get quick calcs for hundreds of common applications
Design View
Streamlines the addition of loads through an intuitive data input screen, allowing for easy editing.
Powerful Solutions For Every Project
ENSURE YOUR ENGINEERING CALCULATIONS ARE FUTURE-PROOF
StruCalc Supports the 2024 IBC
StruCalc Plus and Pro have been updated to support the 2024 International Building Code standard to ensure that you stay up to code now and in the future.
Saving you time with
Quick Calculations & Permit Ready Reports
With a library of built-in use cases and a robust report generation engine, StruCalc gets you the answers you need quickly and gives permit reviewers the detail they’re looking for.
Powerful tools for complex analysis
Dynamically Track Linked Load Paths
When loads are changed, calculations are automatically updated, saving you time and accurately identifying issues. Let StruCalc do the heavy lifting for you!
Now Offering PDH Courses
Join our community to get great deals on quality PDH courses or get our StruCalc Pro with PDH annual subscription to get 15 PDH hours included with StruCalc Pro.
Why Choose StruCalc?
Fast, Intuitive User Interface
Our straight-forward UI is designed for efficiency, making complex structural calculations easy to navigate with minimal learning curve—so you can focus on design, not deciphering software.
Personalized Onboarding & One-On-One Support
When you need help getting started or expert advice on a complex application, our veteran team of support engineers are just a click or call away.
Extensive Application & Material Database
With hundreds of real-world use cases and a library of common construction materials, StruCalc provides everything you need in one powerful platform.
Building Materials Supported
Wood
Steel
LVL & Glulam
Masonry
Concrete
Pricing & feature comparison:
| Top-tier differences: |
StruCalc Pro: $89.97/mo |
ClearCalcs Pro: $119/mo |
Enercalc: $169/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalized Onboarding | |||
| 1:1 Engineering Support | |||
| 2024 IBC | |||
| User Themes | |||
| Concrete Beams | |||
| Masonry Beams | |||
| Wood Shearwalls | |||
| 2024 NDS | |||
| 2021 IBC | |||
| 2018 IBC | |||
| 2018 NDS | |||
| Imperial Units | |||
| Concrete Columns | |||
| Metric Units | |||
| Steel | |||
| Solid Sawn | |||
| I-Joists | |||
| Glulams | |||
| Structural Composite | |||
| 24+ Load Combinations | |||
| LRFD | |||
| ASD | |||
| Beam & Joist Spans | |||
| Live & Dead Loads | |||
| Isolated Footings | |||
| Continuous Footings | |||
| Collar Ties | |||
| Embedded Posts | |||
| Hip & Valley Beams | |||
| Flitch Beam | |||
| Stud Walls | |||
| Wind, Snow, & Seismic Loads | |||
| Advanced Footing Loads | |||
| Out of Plane Loading | |||
| Multi-span Columns | |||
| Bearing Walls | |||
| Retaining Walls | |||
| Linked Load Tracking | |||
| Beam Analysis | |||
| Wall Analysis | |||
| Masonry Columns | |||
| Concrete Walls | |||
| Masonry Walls | |||
| Wood Hangers | |||
| Curved Glulams |
Packed with Features
Best pricing in the industry
No one else offers as many features as StruCalc. Get more for your money and join thousands of architects and engineers that have chosen StruCalc as their partner for structural calculation software.
The Importance of Accurate Calculations
Inadequately sized footings can lead to uneven settlement, structural instability, or permit rejection. StruCalc’s tools—including a concrete footing calculator, deck footing calculator, and embedded post calculator—ensure engineers can size isolated, continuous, and embedded elements with precision. With support for various loading conditions and soil types, StruCalc provides quick, compliant calculations that streamline the design process and improve project safety.
Get Started with StruCalc’s Footing and Post Calculators
Whether you’re analyzing an embedded post, sizing a footing for a steel column, or checking frost depth for a deck, StruCalc’s footing calculator suite offers the precision, speed, and confidence engineers need. With built-in tools like the concrete footing calculator, deck footing calculator, and footing design software modules, StruCalc simplifies code compliance and supports structural safety from the ground up.
Visit StruCalc.com to explore how our footing design software supports reliable foundation planning for residential and commercial projects.