Buyer’s Guide — Gas Spring Selection
Types of
Gas Springs
Compression, extension, locking, adjustable, dampers and stainless — what each type is, how it works, and a plain selector for choosing the right one. Written for OEM engineers and procurement teams.
The quick map: direction of force splits compression (push) from extension (pull); the ability to hold splits standard from lockable and safety-shroud; the job of force-vs-speed splits springs from dampers; and the environment splits standard steel from stainless. Most catalogues are combinations of those four choices.
8+
Distinct Spring & Damper Types
20–7500 N
Force Range (4–1686 lbf)
±5%
Newtone Force Tolerance
−40 / +100°C
Operating Temperature Range
- 1 Pick by the Job: Which Type of Gas Spring Do You Need?
- 2 The Main Types of Gas Springs, Family by Family
- 3 Types of Gas Springs vs Dampers vs Tool & Die Cylinders
- 4 Why Types “Feel” Different: the Progression Ratio
- 5 Why Source Every Type from Newtone
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Not Sure Which Type You Need?
Pick by the Job: Which Type of Gas Spring Do You Need?
Start from what the application has to do, not from a product name. This selector maps the job to the type that does it — the fastest way to avoid ordering the wrong thing.| What you need it to do | Type to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lift and hold a lid or hatch open | Compression (push) | The default — pushes the rod out to hold against gravity. |
| Pull a panel closed, or no room for a push strut | Extension / tension (pull) | Force acts inward, drawing two parts together. |
| Hold at any position (seat, table, arm) | Lockable (elastic or rigid) | A release pin locks the rod anywhere in the stroke. |
| Hands-free safety hold, people work underneath | Safety-shroud / locking | Auto-locks at full extension so the load can’t drop. |
| Prototype, or force not yet known | Adjustable-force (valve) | Charged to max, then bled down in situ to the right force. |
| Slow a movement, no holding force needed | Gas damper | Meters oil to control speed; it doesn’t push or hold. |
| Marine, washdown, food or medical | Stainless steel (316L) | Any of the above, built to resist corrosion. |
| Very high force, short stroke (press tools) | Tool & die nitrogen cylinder | A different, higher-energy class — no damping. |
The Main Types of Gas Springs, Family by Family
Each family is a real engineering difference, not a marketing label. Here’s how they actually differ.Compression (push)
The standard gas spring: nitrogen pushes the rod out to lift and hold a panel. The most common type by a wide margin, available in the widest range of forces and sizes.Extension / tension (pull)
Works the opposite way — the rod is pulled in, so the spring draws two parts together or holds a panel closed. Useful where geometry leaves no room for a push strut.Lockable (3 characters)
Holds anywhere in the stroke via a release pin. Elastic locking gives a slight cushioned give; rigid in extension holds solid against pull; rigid in compression holds solid against push. Pick by the direction that must not move.Safety-shroud / locking
A locking gas spring with a shroud that engages at full extension, preventing the panel from dropping if the spring is overloaded or fails — used where people work beneath the load.Adjustable-force
A valve lets you bleed pressure off to lower the force in place. It only reduces force, never increases it — ideal for prototyping when the exact value isn’t known yet.Gas damper
A hydraulic damper controls speed, not force — it slows a movement by metering oil and provides little or no static hold. Often paired with a spring for soft-close behaviour.Types of Gas Springs vs Dampers vs Tool & Die Cylinders
Three words get used interchangeably and shouldn’t be. A gas spring supplies a push or pull force and holds a load. A gas damper supplies almost no static force — its only job is to control the speed of a movement, so it can’t hold a lid open on its own. A tool & die nitrogen cylinder is a different class again: very high force, short stroke, no damping, built for press tools. Remember this much: need it held, choose a spring; need it slowed, choose a damper; and don’t size a lid strut against press-tool numbers. You can review our gas springs models.Why Types “Feel” Different: the Progression Ratio
Two gas springs of the same rating can feel quite different, and the number behind that is the progression ratio, K — the ratio of the force when compressed to the force when extended. It’s small for gas springs, which is exactly why they feel smooth rather than snappy.Progression ratio
K = P2 ÷ P1 and ΔF = F1 × (K − 1)
P1 / F1 = force fully extended • P2 = force fully compressed • K typically 1.1–1.4
A spring with 300 N (67 lbf) extended and 390 N (88 lbf) compressed:
K = 390 ÷ 300 = 1.3 (a standard “feel”)
Extra force across the stroke: ΔF = 300 × (1.3 − 1) = 90 N (20 lbf)
So it pushes ~30% harder near closed than near open.
⚠ The orientation trap by type: most gas springs mount rod-down when closed so the seals stay oiled — but dampers break that rule. An extension damper is mounted rod-down, while a compression damper is mounted rod-up; get it backwards and you lose almost all the damping. Some rigid-locking springs (rigid in compression) also insist on rod-down unless an oil-chamber version is specified. Always confirm the orientation for the exact type, not the family.
The most common type mistake isn’t force — it’s direction or holding. We had a customer who kept replacing a “weak” spring on an access panel that never seemed to stay put; each new unit behaved the same. The spring was fine. The panel needed to be pulled closed and held, and they’d been fitting standard compression struts the whole time. Switching to an extension type for the pull, with a lockable option where the panel had to stop mid-travel, solved in one change what three replacements hadn’t. When a spring “isn’t working,” it’s worth asking whether it’s the right type before assuming it’s the wrong force.
Why Source Every Type from Newtone
We’re a manufacturer, not a distributor — compression, extension, lockable, safety, adjustable, dampers and stainless all come from one platform, so the type you need is built to the same tolerance as the rest.Help Choosing the Type
Tell us the job; we’ll tell you which type fits before you commit to tooling.
±5% Force Tolerance
Consistent, repeatable force across every type and batch.
HNBR Seals & Nitrided Rod
Long, leak-free life from −40°C to +100°C (−40°F to +212°F); 316L stainless on request.
Full Custom Configuration
Force, stroke, end fittings, locking character and release method, specified per order.
100,000+ Cycle Rating
Every type cycle-tested for predictable, long service.
OEM & Aftermarket — 60+ Countries
One supplier for every type, with a reply within 5 business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there different types of gas springs?
Yes. Gas springs come in several families: compression (push) and extension (pull) by force direction; standard versus lockable, where a lockable spring holds at any point in its stroke; safety-shroud springs that auto-lock when fully open; adjustable-force springs that can be dialled down; gas dampers that only control speed; and stainless versions for harsh environments. Most lift-and-hold jobs use a standard compression spring, and the other types solve more specific problems.
What is the difference between compression and extension gas springs?
Force direction. A compression gas spring pushes the rod out and is used to lift and hold a lid or hatch open — it’s by far the most common type. An extension or tension gas spring pulls the rod in, holding two parts together or pulling a panel closed, and is useful where there isn’t room to mount a compression strut. They are not interchangeable; pick by which way the force needs to act.
What is a locking gas spring?
A locking (lockable) gas spring holds the rod at any chosen point in its stroke, released by a pin or valve in the rod end. Press the release and it moves like a normal spring; let go and it locks. There are three locking characters — elastic (slight give), rigid in extension, and rigid in compression — chosen by which direction must hold solid. They’re used for seats, tables, monitor arms and adjustable equipment.
Is a gas damper the same as a gas spring?
No. A gas spring provides a push or pull force and holds a load; a gas damper provides almost no static force — it only controls the speed of a movement by metering oil. They look similar and are often confused, but if you need something held open, you need a spring; if you need a motion slowed down, you need a damper. Some applications use both.
Can you adjust the force of a gas spring?
Only downward. An adjustable-force gas spring is charged to its maximum at the factory and fitted with a small valve that lets you bleed pressure off to lower the force in place. There is no practical way to increase a gas spring’s force after manufacture. Adjustable types are mainly used for prototyping and low-volume work where the exact force isn’t yet known.
Conclusion
There are genuinely different types of gas springs, and the right one follows directly from the job: compression to push and hold, extension to pull, lockable to stop anywhere, safety-shroud where people work underneath, adjustable for prototyping, a damper to slow a movement, and stainless when the environment is harsh. The most expensive mistake is choosing by habit rather than by what the application has to do. Get the type right first, then size it with force and stroke. If you tell us what the panel or mechanism needs to do — push or pull, hold or release, the environment, and where people stand — we’ll recommend the type and the spec, and supply it, typically within 5 business hours.Not Sure Which Type You Need?
Describe the job and we’ll match it to the right type of gas spring — compression, extension, locking, adjustable, damper or stainless — with force and stroke worked out for you.Email: [email protected]
Response: Within 5 business hours
Supply: OEM & Aftermarket — Global Export
