How to Choose the Right Levitating Module
A practical selection guide for brands, retailers, and product designers. Answer three quick questions below to find your architecture — then read on for the engineering details behind every recommendation.
Find Your System in 3 Steps
Click what matches your product — the guide reacts to every answer.
1What does your product look like?
Regular shapes with the center of gravity at the geometric center — or irregular / asymmetric parts.
Regular / Symmetric Shape
Sphere, cylinder, cube, cone, bottle, can — weight centered at the geometric center
Irregular / Asymmetric Shape
Sculptures, leaves, sneakers, organic forms — off-center weight, odd geometry
2What is it made of?
Ferromagnetic materials disrupt the closed-loop magnetic field. Only iron, nickel, cobalt, and their alloys (incl. steel) are ferromagnetic.
High Ferromagnetic Content
Iron, steel, nickel, cobalt, or their alloys — magnets stick to it
Low or None
Plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, aluminum, zinc, copper, resin…
3Which best describes its proportions?
This decides the levitation architecture — push from below, or suspend from above.
Compact & Chubby
Small footprint, not tall — globes, cubes, decor objects
Tall & Slender
Wine bottles, shoes, trophies, elongated products
Push-Up (PU) System Recommended
Drop-in design, no frame or bracket needed. Simple, fast, clean — best value for compact products up to 3kg.
View Push-Up Modules →How to tell if your product contains magnetic material?
Most products can be levitated without issue. However, if your product contains magnets or ferromagnetic elements — iron, nickel, cobalt, or their alloys (including ordinary steel) — these materials will disrupt the closed-loop magnetic field and destabilize the system.
Quick self-test: run an ordinary refrigerator magnet over every surface of your product, including the base, internal speaker magnets, screws, and metal trim. If it sticks anywhere, tell us before ordering — it does not mean the project is impossible, but it changes the engineering route.
Common misconception: not all metals are ferromagnetic. Aluminum, zinc, copper, brass, and 304 stainless steel are non-ferromagnetic and levitate without issue. Only iron, nickel, cobalt, and their alloys cause interference.
Understanding Levitation Systems
Two core architectures — Push-Up and Pull-Down.
Push-Up (PU) System
Push-Up (PU) — repulsion from below. The product levitates above the base. Drop-in design, no frame or bracket needed. Adaptive multi-load intelligence auto-tunes across the weight range. Simple, fast, clean — best value.
| Model | Rated Max | Recommended Load (≤50%) | Float Gap (no load) | Extended Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU300G | 300g | ≤150g | 18mm | 25mm |
| PU500G | 500g | ≤250g | 23mm | 32mm |
| PU1000G | 1000g | ≤500g | 33mm | 38mm |
| PU2000G | 2000g | ≤1kg | 48mm | 55mm |
| PU3000G | 3000g | ≤1.5kg | 55mm | 65mm |
| PU10000G | 10kg | — | 100mm (target) | Coming soon |
Full specs & pricing: Levitation Modules · 3kg flagship: BLD3000
Pull-Down (PD) System
Pull-Down (PD) — attraction from above. The product hangs below a top unit. For tall, slender, or irregular products. Custom-built and factory-preset to your product's weight.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Top-suspension (attraction from above) |
| Payload | Up to 15kg, custom-built |
| Calibration | Factory-preset to ±10% of target weight |
| Best for | Tall / slender / irregular products |
| MOQ | From 1 unit (custom configuration) |
How to Choose the Right Payload?
Load, float gap, magnets — and PU vs. PD at a glance.
PU Systems
1. Heavier Load, Smaller Float Gap
The float gap of a PU system shrinks as payload increases — the heavier the product, the narrower the gap. Example: PU2000G.
| Payload | Float gap (approx.) |
|---|---|
| No load | 48mm |
| 400g | 40mm |
| 1kg | 25mm |
| 2kg (full load) | 20mm |
2. Why Not Run at Full Load?
The rated maximum payload is a best-case limit — regular shape, center of gravity at the geometric center, compact volume.
Irregular items (sculptures, sneakers, branch-like forms) often carry an off-center load. An off-center load tilts the tray; a tilted tray spins too fast and the system keeps heating; at the thermal protection threshold, the system cuts power — and the product drops.
For irregular items, always size up: a larger system absorbs the gravity offset.
3. Our Recommendation: The 50% Headroom Rule
Size the system with 50% headroom — keep the actual load within half of the rated maximum.
You get long-term stable operation and keep more than 50% of the float gap. Stability and visual impact in one — the most cost-effective sweet spot.
4. Choosing the Magnet Size
Standard magnets first. Mass-production proven, stable, reliable. Stocked in our factory — fast delivery, low customization cost.
Need the magnet hidden inside your product? That maximizes visual impact, and we can customize a smaller magnet. Keep in mind:
- Smaller magnet, larger float gap — but lower payload capacity.
- Never go below 60% of the standard size. Too small, and the system jitters and cannot run stably for long.
- Custom magnets require testing — contact our team for an evaluation.
5. Changing Product Weight? Choose an Adjustable System
By design, a PU system matches a narrow payload range, and every unit is precisely calibrated by us before shipping — so please provide the exact weight of your product.
If your display items change (rotating different styles, for example), choose an adjustable system with an LCD or other interaction. Our highest-volume application is the Levitating Shoe Display Ultra — adjustable from 200 to 1,500g, the widest adjustable payload range of any PU system on the market.
PD Systems
PD systems are custom-built per project, with a wide payload range — up to 15kg for heavier, larger exhibits.
The overhead suspension design lets you place or remove the product with one hand. Simple and intuitive.
The magnet is small and the top unit stays compact. And the price advantage grows with size: the bigger the system, the more cost-effective PD becomes over PU.
PU vs. PD at a Glance
| PU System | PD System | |
|---|---|---|
| Working principle | Pushes up (base below) | Pulls up (suspended from top) |
| Internal structure | Interlinked 4-axis deep negative feedback | Single-axis bidirectional H-bridge |
| Magnet size | Large | Small |
| Ease of use | Learning curve on first use | Easy — one-hand operation |
| Product line | PU300G – PU3000G standard series | Custom-built per project |
| Max payload | 3kg (multiple ratings) | 15kg (multiple ratings) |
| Price | Higher; large systems cost significantly more | Lower — the advantage grows with system size |
Hidden Magnet — Maximum Visual Impact
The magnet disappears inside the product — only the levitation remains.
If your product's structure allows it — enough internal space to house the levitation magnet — the whole product floats in mid-air with nothing visibly holding it. From the viewer's perspective, this is the ultimate levitation effect.
A hidden magnet is an option, provided the product has enough internal space to house it. Magnet sizes at a glance:
| PU Series | Standard Magnet | Minimum Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| PU300G | D50 or D40 | D30 |
| PU500G | D60 × 12 | D40 |
| PU1000G | D80 × 18 | D50 |
| PU2000G | D100 × 18 | D60 |
| PU3000G | D150 × 18 | D80 |
PD Series — fully customized. Minimum magnet D10; the heavier the load, the larger the magnet required, and every configuration is verified by testing. Example: on a 2kg system, magnets from D35 to D60 all work — and stepping up the magnet size gives a visibly larger float gap.
Selection Questions Buyers Ask
Can one module handle different products at different weights?
Push-Up modules use adaptive multi-load intelligence and auto-tune across a wide weight range — the PU3000G handles 0–3000g without recalibration. Pull-Down systems are factory-preset to ±10% of a target weight and need re-calibration if the product changes significantly.
What happens to the float gap when I add weight?
The gap narrows roughly in proportion to load. As a rule of thumb, expect the rated no-load gap at light loads, about half of it near rated maximum. This is why we recommend the 50% load rule for display applications where visual height matters.
Is a bigger module always better?
For PU systems, a larger system means a larger float gap — but the price roughly doubles with each step up, and the levitation magnet gets bigger too. The trade-off is yours: budget or visual experience.
What is Extended Float mode?
A mode that prioritizes maximum height over load capacity, achievable only when the load is under 50% of rated maximum. For example, the PU3000G extends from 55mm to 65mm in Extended mode with a proportionally reduced payload.
Can you customize a module for my specific product?
Yes — deep technical customization is our specialty. Share the product's weight, dimensions, material, and photos. Our engineers evaluate feasibility, recommend an architecture, and deliver a proposal. Custom lead time is typically 30–45 business days.
What is the MOQ for standard modules?
One unit is enough to start. We serve customers worldwide — and every customer gets our very best.
Let Our Engineers Help
Three details get you a proposal faster.
For a faster, more efficient solution to your application, contact us and include these key details:
- Product weight and dimensions.
- Product material — tell us whether it contains ferromagnetic materials (see NOTE 1 above).
- Photos or video of the product (if available) — your project is kept strictly confidential.
Ready to Spec Your Module?
Tell us your product's weight, dimensions, and material — response within 24 hours.
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