Air Receiver Tank Sizing Calculator
- Standard receiver formula, shown in full
- No form fill, nothing gated
What size air receiver tank do I need?
Size a receiver with the standard formula V = (T x C x Pa) / (P1 - P2), where T is the time in minutes the tank must cover the demand, C is the air demand in cfm, Pa is atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia), and P1 - P2 is the pressure drop you can tolerate. Multiply the cubic feet result by 7.48 to get gallons. As a quick check, most fixed speed rotary screw systems land near 3 to 4 gallons per cfm of compressor capacity.
Calculate your receiver size
The formula and every assumption
| Item | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Receiver formula | V (cubic feet) = (T x C x Pa) / (P1 - P2) | The standard receiver sizing equation used across the compressed air industry, including CAGI and compressor manufacturer engineering guides. |
| Atmospheric pressure Pa | 14.7 psia | Sea level standard. At altitude, actual Pa is lower, which slightly reduces required volume. |
| Gallons conversion | 1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons | Exact unit conversion. |
| Rounding | Result rounds up to the next standard tank size (30, 60, 80, 120, 240, 400, 660, 1060, 1550 gallons) | Receivers are sold in standard sizes; rounding down would undershoot the calculated volume. |
Worked example: a 50 cfm demand event that must ride through 1 minute with a 10 psi drop needs V = (1 x 50 x 14.7) / 10 = 73.5 cubic feet, which is 550 gallons, so the next standard size up is a 660 gallon tank.
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Receiver tank questions, answered first
How big should my air receiver tank be?
A common starting rule is 3 to 4 gallons of receiver volume per cfm of compressor capacity for a fixed speed rotary screw, so a 100 cfm machine pairs well with a 300 to 400 gallon tank. The calculator above refines that with the standard formula from your actual demand event, allowable pressure drop, and hold time. Bigger rarely hurts; too small causes short cycling and pressure dips.
What does an air receiver tank actually do for my system?
It stores compressed air to cover short demand spikes, smooths pressure so tools see a steady supply, gives the compressor controls time to respond instead of short cycling, and drops out moisture before the dryer. Most plants benefit from wet storage after the compressor and dry storage after the dryer.
Does a bigger receiver tank mean I can buy a smaller compressor?
Only for intermittent spikes. A receiver bridges short events, like a 30 second blow-off that exceeds compressor capacity, but it cannot make up for a compressor that is undersized for continuous demand, because average supply must still meet average demand. Size the compressor for the average with our CFM calculator, then size the receiver for the spikes.
Get the tank and the installation from one source
We stock vertical and horizontal ASME receivers and install them with the piping, drains, and controls done right. See the product catalog, rotary screw compressors, and installation and service.