# Force Converter

Free force converter. Convert between newtons, kilonewtons, pound-force, kilogram-force, dyne, kip, and poundal with exact conversion factors.

## What this calculates

Convert between all common force units including newtons, kilonewtons, pound-force, kilogram-force, dyne, kip, and poundal. Uses exact international conversion factors.

## Inputs

- **Value** — min 0
- **From** — options: Newton (N), Kilonewton (kN), Meganewton (MN), Pound-force (lbf), Kilogram-force (kgf), Dyne (dyn), Kip (kip), Poundal (pdl)
- **To** — options: Newton (N), Kilonewton (kN), Meganewton (MN), Pound-force (lbf), Kilogram-force (kgf), Dyne (dyn), Kip (kip), Poundal (pdl)

## Outputs

- **Result** — The converted force value.
- **Conversion** — formatted as text — Step-by-step conversion explanation.

## Details

Force is a fundamental physical quantity measured differently across various systems. The SI unit is the newton (N), defined as 1 kg·m/s².

Key Conversion Factors

- 1 kgf = 9.80665 N (exact, uses standard gravity)

- 1 lbf = 4.44822 N (exact)

- 1 dyne = 10⁻⁵ N (exact, CGS unit)

- 1 kip = 1,000 lbf = 4,448.22 N

- 1 poundal = 0.13825 N

Force Units by System

- SI: newton (N), kilonewton (kN), meganewton (MN)

- CGS: dyne (dyn)

- Imperial/US: pound-force (lbf), kip

- Gravitational metric: kilogram-force (kgf)

- FPS absolute: poundal (pdl)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How do I convert newtons to pound-force?**

A: Divide the newton value by 4.44822. For example, 100 N = 100 / 4.44822 = 22.481 lbf. Alternatively, multiply newtons by 0.22481 to get pound-force.

**Q: What is the difference between kgf and kg?**

A: Kilograms (kg) measure mass, while kilogram-force (kgf) measures force. 1 kgf is the force exerted by 1 kg of mass under standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²). On the moon, 1 kg still has the same mass but exerts only about 1/6 kgf due to weaker gravity.

**Q: What is a kip?**

A: A kip (kilopound) equals 1,000 pounds-force (4,448.22 N). It is commonly used in structural engineering in the United States to describe large forces in building and bridge design, where using thousands of pounds is cumbersome.

**Q: What is a newton in everyday terms?**

A: One newton is roughly the weight of a small apple (about 102 grams under standard gravity). A newton is the force needed to accelerate 1 kilogram by 1 meter per second squared. Your body weight in newtons is approximately your mass in kg multiplied by 9.81.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/conversion/force-conversion
Category: Conversion
Last updated: 2026-04-21