Will stacking magnets together make them stronger?
The answer is yes! By adding one disc magnet or block magnet on to the other, e.g. stacking, the stacked magnets will work as one bigger magnet and will exert greater magnetic performance. This does not apply to cylinder magnets and sphere magnets.
Two identical disc or block magnets stacked together are almost twice as strong as one magnet as long as the thickness of the stack does not exceed the width/diameter of the stack.
The taller the N-S N-S N-S stack is, the more intense the magnetic field at the end of the stack will be. However, the magnetic field, and the total pull strength, as a proportion of the amount of magnet area increases slower and slower as the stack grows (logarithmically).
When you stack magnets, they behave as a single unit, with the length being the sum of the individual magnets. This increases the overall magnetic flux, resulting in a stronger pull.
Plus, the power of a magnet isn't only about its pull force, but also the reach of its magnetic field. While a stacked magnet has a stronger pull force, its magnetic field doesn't extend twice as far. So, even though the pull force increases, the overall magnetic field distance isn't doubled.
The following chart helps illustrate this concept by showing how the pull force of a 1/4 inch diameter disc magnet increases as you double the thickness.
The Final Word on Stacking Magnets
So, the next time you're browsing through our vast selection of magnets, remember that stacking two or three disc or block magnets together dramatically increases the magnet's power, but doesn't completely double or triple it in terms of pull force.
Beyond that, three or four more magnets stacked together does not continue to dramatically affect the stack’s pull force or magnetic field - and offers diminishing returns for the best strength/weight versus cost equation.
If you have any further questions about how two or more magnets stacked together may perform as one magnet, please don’t hesitate to contact us.