---
title: "Feeds & Speeds Calculator"
description: "Spindle RPM and feed rate for milling — metric and imperial, free."
image: "https://nestingcalc.com/og-default.png"
url: "https://nestingcalc.com/feeds-speeds-calculator/"
locale: "en"
---

# Feeds & Speeds Calculator

Spindle RPM and feed rate for milling — metric and imperial, free.

Enter tool diameter, number of flutes, chip load and cutting speed. The calculator returns the spindle RPM (n = Vc × 1000 / π × D) and the feed rate (f = RPM × flutes × chip load) — the two numbers every CNC and router job starts from.

Interactive calculator (open in browser): [https://nestingcalc.com/feeds-speeds-calculator/](https://nestingcalc.com/feeds-speeds-calculator/)

## FAQ

What is chip load?

Chip load is the thickness of material each flute removes per revolution. Too low and the tool rubs and heats up; too high and the cutter or spindle overloads. Tool manufacturers publish recommended chip load ranges per material.

Where do I get the cutting speed?

Cutting speed (Vc in m/min, or SFM in inches) depends on the tool coating and material: as starting points, ~100 m/min carbide in aluminium, ~50 in mild steel, ~200+ in wood and plastics with router bits. Adjust from the tool datasheet.

Should I run exactly the calculated RPM?

Round to the nearest speed your machine offers and listen to the cut. The formula gives a mathematically correct starting point; rigidity, coolant and fixturing shift the practical optimum.

What is the difference between cutting speed and feed rate?

Cutting speed (Vc) is how fast the tool edge moves across the material surface, in metres per minute - it is set by spindle RPM and tool diameter. Feed rate is how fast the whole tool advances through the workpiece, in mm/min - in Spanish, velocidad de avance. They are linked but independent: for a 10 mm tool at 100 m/min you need about 3,180 RPM, and the feed is then that RPM times chip load times the number of flutes. Both belong in the same calculation, which is what this tool does.

## Related calculators

-   [Sheet Metal Gauge Calculator](https://nestingcalc.com/sheet-metal-gauge/)

    Convert gauge to mm/inch and get sheet weight — steel, stainless, aluminum, galvanized. Free.

-   [Metal Weight Calculator — Rod, Tube & Bar](https://nestingcalc.com/metal-weight-calculator/)

    Weight of steel, stainless, aluminum, copper & brass rods, tubes, bars and beams in kg/m. Density table included. Free.

-   [RPM Calculator](https://nestingcalc.com/rpm-calculator/)

    Free RPM calculator: convert cutting speed (Vc) and diameter into spindle speed, metric or SFM.

-   [toolcs.title](https://nestingcalc.com/cutting-speed-calculator/)

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## Related guides

-   [RPM Formula: How to Calculate Spindle Speed](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/rpm-formula/)

    The RPM formula for milling and turning: n = (Vc × 1000) / (π × d). Worked examples, a quick table and a free calculator.

-   [Cutting Speed Vc: Formula and Reference Table](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/cutting-speed-formula/)

    Cutting speed Vc = π × d × n / 1000 — how fast the edge passes the material, with a worked example and typical values per material.

-   [Saw Feed Rate: How to Calculate Feed Speed](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/saw-feed-rate/)

    Saw feed rate = bite per tooth × teeth × RPM. How to calculate feed speed for circular and band saws without burning or stalling.

-   [Feeds and Speeds Basics: RPM and Feed Rate Formulas](https://nestingcalc.com/guides/feeds-and-speeds-basics/)

    Two numbers decide whether a cutter lasts or dies: spindle RPM and feed rate. Both come from one formula pair you can run by hand.

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