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Timber Shear Connector Count Calculator

Calculate how many split-ring or shear-plate connectors are needed for a given joint load and per-connector rated capacity.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax

Connectors needed

7 connectors

Check your inputs

This is a simple division of total load by your entered per-connector capacity — make sure that capacity comes from the actual NDS Chapter 12 table value (adjusted for species, thickness, and edge distance) or the manufacturer's rated data, not an assumed number.

Running these inputs gives 7 as the connectors needed. Expect some drift against the real job; the calculation is solid but conditions on site are not. Currently reading for United States under IRC 2024 — pick a different market above and the figures re-cast accordingly.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • NDS timber connector design values (split rings, shear plates) are species- and size-specific tables (NDS Chapter 12) rather than a single formula — this calculator divides your total required joint load by your own connector's rated capacity from that table or the manufacturer's data

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

Why isn't there a single formula for split-ring or shear-plate capacity?
NDS Chapter 12 design values for split rings and shear plates are tabulated by connector size, wood species group, member thickness, and edge/end distance rather than derived from one general formula — capacity has to be looked up, not calculated from scratch.
Does this account for group action or spacing adjustment factors?
No — this calculator only divides total load by the per-connector capacity you provide. Any NDS adjustment factors (group action, geometry, load duration, etc.) should already be baked into the per-connector capacity value you enter.
Where do I get the per-connector rated capacity?
Look it up in the NDS Chapter 12 connector tables for your specific connector size and wood species group, or use the manufacturer's published rated capacity for that product and member configuration.