Force converter
Convert force between newtons, kilogram-force and pound-force.
Fill in the fields and the result will appear here automatically.
Converts force between newtons, kilonewtons, millinewtons, kilogram-force, tonne-force, pound-force and dynes. Kilogram-force appears in engineering data sheets, pound-force in US documentation.
How it works
Formula and logic
Every unit converts through the newton using exact defined factors.
Example
One kilogram-force is 9.80665 newtons — the weight of one kilogram under standard gravity.
Fields and units
- Force — in the selected source unit
- From unit — list option
- To unit — list option
How to use
- — Enter the value.
- — Pick the source unit.
- — Pick the target unit.
Method and limitations
- Calculation method
- Formula and logic
- Data or methodology source
- NIST: conversion-factor tables, Appendix B.9
- Limitation
- The result is a rounded unit conversion. Check the entered value and selected units.
FAQ
How is kilogram-force different from a kilogram?
A kilogram measures mass; kilogram-force measures force — the weight of one kilogram under standard gravity of 9.80665 m/s².
Is the pound-force conversion exact?
Yes. The pound is defined as 0.45359237 kg and standard gravity as 9.80665 m/s², so one pound-force is exactly 4.4482216152605 N.
Where is the dyne used?
In the CGS system and older physics references: one dyne is a hundred-thousandth of a newton.
Can force be converted to mass?
No — they are different quantities. Kilogram-force is merely named after the mass that produces it under standard gravity.