Burner Pilot Sizing Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 26, 2026Burner Pilot Sizing Calculator
A pilot flame has one job: reliably light the main burner and satisfy flame supervision equipment, using as little standby fuel as possible while doing it. Pilots are conventionally sized as a percentage of main burner capacity.
Formula: Pilot input = Main capacity × (pilot % / 100)
Example: a 500,000 BTU/hr main burner with a 2% pilot sizing needs a 10,000 BTU/hr pilot.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the main burner's rated capacity.
- Enter the pilot sizing percentage (typically 1-5% of main capacity).
Related: Burner Capacity Calculator for sizing the main burner itself.