Are you still running hand calculations or juggling complicated design codes? The CivilWeb Wood Column Design Spreadsheet makes column sizing quick, accurate, and code-compliant — so you can focus on engineering, not number crunching. Built for architects, engineers, and construction professionals, this tool eliminates repetitive calculations and reduces costly design errors.
The CivilWeb Wood Column Design Spreadsheet can be purchased lower down this page for only £19.99. Or why not buy our best value bundle? Our Full Timber Design Spreadsheet Suite can be purchased at the bottom of this page for only £49.99. This suite includes all 11 of our timber design spreadsheets and represents an incredible saving of more than 75%.
What is a Wood Column?
Wood has been used as a structural material for centuries. In modern construction, wood columns are becoming more and more popular as a sustainable and aesthetic alternative to traditional concrete and steel frame structures. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, or builder, understanding the principles of wood column design is essential for creating safe, efficient, and cost-effective buildings.
A wood column is a vertical structural member designed to transfer axial loads (and sometimes bending forces) from beams, floors, or roofs down to the foundation. Traditionally, engineers performed lengthy hand calculations to check column capacity, buckling, and interaction equations. Today, most professionals use spreadsheets or design software to speed up the process and reduce human error. Wood columns are commonly used for;
- Residential houses (porch supports, interior load-bearing walls)
- Timber-framed commercial buildings
- Agricultural structures (barns, sheds, stables)
- Decorative architecture where strength and aesthetics combine
What are the Key Features of Our Wood Column Design Spreadsheet?
- Automatic Load Capacity Checks
Instantly verify axial and bending capacities for wood columns. - Flexible Inputs
Enter loads, dimensions, material properties, and unbraced lengths — the spreadsheet does the rest. No need to make any adjustments to the spreadsheet, all inputs required and all calculations are pre-loaded. - Code-Compliant
Calculations are undertaken in full compliance with the requirements of either BS EN 1995-1-1 or BS268-2, ensuring professional-grade reliability. - Clear Pass/Fail Results
Instantly see if your column meets requirements, with highlighted outputs. See exactly where the failure occurs at a glance with clear green/red results. - Professional Layout
Easy-to-use format, designed by engineers for engineers. All inputs and outputs include full notation as per the standard, no risk of confusion or endless queries on inputs used.
Who Is It For?
- Structural Engineers designing timber structures. Any wood column designed in minutes with professional results.
- Architects wanting quick preliminary checks. Preliminary sizing of wood columns without having to manually complete any calculations or leaf through confusing wood column sizing tables.
- Builders & Contractors ensuring compliance on site. Sense check incoming designs, preliminary wood column sizing for pricing works and quick checks on existing wood columns.
- Students learning structural design principles. Check hand calculations in minutes and see exactly where any errors are occurring.
How Does the Spreadsheet Work?
The CivilWeb Wood Column Design Spreadsheet aims to make wood column design as easy as possible while maintaining full compliance with BS EN 1995-1-1 or BS268-2. With this in mind the spreadsheet is designed to accommodate any wood column sizes and even multiple members of any standard timber strength class.
The spreadsheet user simply inputs the desired column size and grade into the spreadsheet, then specifies the column length and the design loads. These design loads can be moment, shear, axial compression or tension and can act on the major axis, minor axis or even both simultaneously and of any load duration required.
The CivilWeb Wood Column Design Spreadsheet completes all the necessary calculations demanded by BS EN 1995-1-1 or BS268-2 instantly. These include checks on slenderness, tensile or compressive resistance, shear resistance, bending resistance and combined bending and compressive resistances.
Each calculation is shown with simple green/red result summaries showing exactly where the wood column is performing. Each calculation is also given a simple utilisation score, showing at a glance exactly where any optimisations of the columns dimensions or timber grade can be achieved. In addition, the spreadsheet simultaneously completes dozens of additional calculation runs and produces a unique wood column sizing graph with the spreadsheet, showing exactly how the wood column depth can be optimised, without time consuming iterative calculations or frustrating guesswork.
Get Started Today
Take the stress out of timber design. Whether you’re working on a major project or a small renovation, this tool will give you clarity, accuracy, and confidence.
Buy the CivilWeb Wood Column Design Spreadsheet now for only £19.99.
