UnitSnapForce converter
Force is an interaction that changes an object's motion. The SI unit is the newton (N), the force needed to accelerate one kilogram at one meter per second squared. Kilonewtons are common in structural engineering, and the decanewton (10 N) appears in some European technical specifications.
Convert between 7 force units. Pick any two units below; results update as you type.
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About force units
Gravitational units remain common. The kilogram-force (kgf) is the weight of one kilogram under standard gravity, exactly 9.80665 N. The pound-force (lbf), widely used in US engineering, is about 4.448 N, and the kip equals 1,000 lbf. The dyne, a CGS unit, is exactly 0.00001 N.
Standard gravity, 9.80665 m/s², is a conventional value adopted in 1901. Actual gravitational acceleration varies slightly with latitude and altitude, which is why the newton, independent of gravity, is preferred in science.
Tips
- A decanewton is roughly equal to a kilogram-force (within about 2%), which is why some gauges label both.
- Mass and force are different quantities: kilograms and pounds measure mass, while kgf and lbf measure force.
- The kip is common in US structural design; check whether loads are given in kips or pounds-force.
All force units
| Unit | Symbol | Value in kips |
|---|---|---|
| Kips | kip | 1 kip = 1 kip |
| Dynes | dyn | 1 dyn = 2.24809E-9 kip |
| Newtons | N | 1 N = 0.0002248089 kip |
| Decanewtons | daN | 1 daN = 0.002248089 kip |
| Kilonewtons | kN | 1 kN = 0.2248089 kip |
| Kilograms-Force | kgf | 1 kgf = 0.002204623 kip |
| Pounds-Force | lbf | 1 lbf = 0.001 kip |
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Factors: NIST SP 811 · SI Brochure · NIST Handbook 44 — Updated