Force converter
Type a force, choose the units, and see the result and the same force in every common unit. Pound-force and kilogram-force are defined with standard gravity, so they are exact conversions.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type a number. A dot or a comma works as the decimal separator.
- Choose the unit you have and the unit you need. The ⇄ button swaps them.
- The table below shows the same force in all common units at once.
Conversion factors
Every unit is converted through the newton.
| Unit |
In newtons |
| 1 kilonewton (kN) |
1,000 N |
| 1 dyne |
0.00001 N |
| 1 pound-force (lbf) |
4.4482216152605 N |
| 1 kilogram-force (kgf) |
9.80665 N |
| 1 poundal (pdl) |
0.138254954376 N |
Worked example
A rope rated for 500 kgf holds 500 × 9.80665 = 4,903.3 N, or 4,903.3 / 4.4482216 = 1,102.3 lbf.
Quick reference
- 1 N ≈ 0.10197 kgf ≈ 0.2248 lbf
- 1 kN ≈ 224.8 lbf ≈ 101.97 kgf
- 1 lbf ≈ 0.4536 kgf
- 1 kgf ≈ 2.2046 lbf
Frequently asked questions
How many newtons are in a kilogram-force?
Exactly 9.80665 N, because a kilogram-force is the weight of one kilogram under standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²).
How many newtons are in a pound-force?
4.4482216152605 N, which is 0.45359237 kg × 9.80665 m/s². One newton is about 0.2248 lbf.
What is a poundal?
The force that accelerates one pound by one foot per second squared. It equals 0.138254954376 N. It belongs to the foot-pound-second system and is rarely used today.
What is a dyne?
The CGS unit of force: one gram accelerated by one centimetre per second squared. 1 dyn = 10⁻⁵ N, so 1 N = 100,000 dyn.
Is force the same as weight?
Weight is the force of gravity on a mass, so it is measured in newtons. Kilograms and pounds measure mass; kgf and lbf are the weight of that mass at standard gravity.