Compression Ratio Calculator
Calculate an engine's static compression ratio from the bore, stroke, combustion chamber volume, head gasket, deck clearance and piston dish or dome. See how a thicker gasket or different heads change the ratio before you buy parts.
Only used for total displacement
Cylinder head chamber, from the spec sheet or measured
Dish and valve reliefs positive, dome negative, flat top 0
Piston below the deck at TDC positive, above (pop-up) negative
How to use the Compression Ratio Calculator
- Choose inches or millimeters for the length measurements.
- Enter bore and stroke (and the number of cylinders for displacement).
- Enter the chamber volume and piston dish or dome in cc.
- Enter the gasket bore, compressed thickness and deck clearance.
- Read the compression ratio and use the tables to compare gasket and head options.
Compression ratio formula
- Swept volume = π/4 × bore² × stroke
- Gasket volume = π/4 × gasket bore² × compressed thickness
- Deck volume = π/4 × bore² × deck clearance (negative if the piston rises above the deck)
- Clearance volume = chamber + gasket + deck + piston dish (− dome)
- Compression ratio = (swept volume + clearance volume) ÷ clearance volume
Convert cubic inches to cc by multiplying by 16.387; cubic millimeters to cc by dividing by 1,000.
Gasket volume per 0.010 in of thickness
| Gasket bore | cc per 0.010 in | cc per 0.1 mm |
|---|---|---|
| 3.50 in (88.9 mm) | 1.58 cc | 0.62 cc |
| 3.80 in (96.5 mm) | 1.86 cc | 0.73 cc |
| 4.00 in (101.6 mm) | 2.06 cc | 0.81 cc |
| 4.10 in (104.1 mm) | 2.16 cc | 0.85 cc |
| 4.25 in (107.95 mm) | 2.32 cc | 0.92 cc |
| 4.50 in (114.3 mm) | 2.61 cc | 1.03 cc |
Measure the combustion chamber with a burette and a flat plate for best accuracy; published chamber volumes can be a few cc off after valve jobs or milling.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate compression ratio?
Static compression ratio = (swept volume + clearance volume) ÷ clearance volume. Swept volume is π/4 × bore² × stroke. Clearance volume is everything above the piston at top dead center: chamber + gasket + deck + piston dish (minus a dome).
What is the compression ratio of a 350 with 64 cc heads?
With a 4.000 in bore, 3.480 in stroke, 64 cc chambers, a 4.100 in × 0.039 in gasket, 0.025 in deck clearance and 5 cc piston reliefs, the static compression ratio is about 9.68:1.
How much does a thicker head gasket lower compression?
It adds π/4 × gasket bore² × extra thickness. On a 4 in bore, each extra 0.010 in adds about 2.2 cc, which typically lowers compression by roughly 0.2–0.3 points on a V8 with around 9–10:1.
Do I enter a piston dome as positive or negative?
Enter dish and valve-relief volume as a positive number because it adds space above the piston. Enter a dome as a negative number because it takes space away and raises compression. A true flat-top piston is 0.
What is the difference between static and dynamic compression?
Static compression uses the full stroke. Dynamic compression accounts for the intake valve closing after bottom dead center, so the effective stroke is shorter. Cam timing therefore affects how much compression an engine really builds.
What compression ratio can I run on pump gas?
As a rough guide, many iron-head street engines run about 9:1 to 10:1 on premium pump gasoline, and aluminum heads, good quench and modern cams allow more. Knock limits depend on cam timing, chamber design, fuel and tuning.