Force Converter
Convert between newton, kilonewton, pound-force, dyne, kgf, and other force units instantly.
Result
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All conversions
What is Force Converter?
A force converter lets you switch between units that measure a push or pull acting on an object. The SI unit is the newton (N), defined as the force needed to accelerate 1 kg by 1 m/s squared. Engineering fields use pound-force (lbf) and kilogram-force (kgf), while CGS physics uses dynes. Force conversions are common in mechanical engineering, structural analysis, and physics.
How to use
- 1 Enter the force value in the Value field.
- 2 Select the source unit from the From dropdown.
- 3 Select the target unit from the To dropdown.
- 4 The result and a full conversion table appear immediately.
- 5 Use the swap button to reverse the conversion direction.
Formula
Example calculation
To convert 100 newtons to pound-force: 100 N / 4.44822 N/lbf = 22.48 lbf. To convert 10 kgf to newtons: 10 × 9.80665 = 98.07 N.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between force and weight?
Weight is the gravitational force acting on a mass. On Earth, a 1 kg mass has a weight of approximately 9.807 newtons (or 1 kgf). Force is the broader concept; weight is one specific type of force.
What is a kilogram-force (kgf)?
One kilogram-force is the force exerted by a 1 kg mass under standard Earth gravity (9.80665 m/s squared). It equals 9.80665 newtons. It is still used in some engineering contexts, especially in older technical literature.
How many newtons are in a pound-force?
One pound-force (lbf) equals approximately 4.44822 newtons. This is derived from one pound of mass (0.453592 kg) times standard gravity (9.80665 m/s squared).
What is a dyne?
A dyne is the CGS unit of force. One dyne equals 10^-5 newtons, or the force needed to accelerate 1 gram by 1 cm/s squared. It is used in older scientific literature and some specialised fields like surface tension measurement.
What is a poundal?
A poundal (pdl) is a unit of force in the foot-pound-second system. It is the force required to accelerate 1 pound-mass by 1 foot per second squared. One poundal equals approximately 0.138255 newtons.