The Vickers test presses a square diamond pyramid into the material and measures the diagonals of the dent. It works on every metal from soft aluminium to hardened steel and on thin coatings, using the same scale throughout.
How to use the Vickers Hardness Calculator
- Test force F
- Diagonal d₁
- Diagonal d₂
Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
Enter the test force and the two measured diagonals.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Test force F | Units: kgf, N, gf |
| Diagonal d₁ | Units: mm, cm, m, in, µm |
| Diagonal d₂ | Units: mm, cm, m, in, µm |
What each result means
- Mean diagonal = ([Diagonal d₁] + [Diagonal d₂])÷2×1000
- Vickers hardness = 1.8544×[Test force F]÷[Mean diagonal]^2
- Hardness in MPa = [Vickers hardness]×9.80665
- Approximate tensile strength (steels) = 3.3×[Vickers hardness]
Example values
How the main result changes when Test force F changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Test force F (kgf) | Vickers hardness (HV) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 99.6721 |
| 7.5 | 149.5082 |
| 10 | 199.3443 |
| 12.5 | 249.1803 |
| 15 | 299.0164 |
| 20 | 398.6885 |
Formula
HV = 1.8544·F / d² (F in kgf, d in mm), d = (d₁ + d₂)/2
Worked example
Inputs — Test force F: 10 kgf; Diagonal d₁: 0.3 mm; Diagonal d₂: 0.31 mm.
Results — Mean diagonal = 0.305 mm; Vickers hardness = 199.3443 HV; Hardness in MPa = 1,954.8994 MPa; Approximate tensile strength (steels) = 658 MPa.
Key terms
- Microhardness
- Vickers tests at forces below 1 kgf.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1.8544 come from?
2·sin(136°/2), from the pyramid's 136° face angle.
What test forces are used?
From 10 gf (micro-hardness) to 100 kgf.
How do I report it?
e.g. 200 HV10 – 200 hardness at 10 kgf.
Is the tensile strength estimate exact?
No – it is a rough rule for steels.