What is Force Converter?

Force Converter is a tool that converts between different force measurement units instantly. Whether you're working with Newtons, pounds-force, kilogram-force, or dynes, this converter handles all the calculations for you.

Force is measured in various units depending on the country and field of work. Scientists typically use Newtons (SI standard), while US engineers often work with pounds-force. Older specifications might use kilogram-force or dynes. Converting between these units manually requires knowing precise conversion factors—this tool eliminates that work.

Who Uses Force Conversion?

Engineers

Converting structural loads, machinery specifications, and material strength data between unit systems

Physicists

Working with force calculations in research and experiments

Students

Solving mechanics problems that involve different unit systems

Technicians

Reading equipment specifications from international manufacturers

Manufacturers

Converting product force ratings for different markets

Supported Units

This converter supports 15 force units across four categories:

SI Units

International System of Units (metric standard)

Newton (N)
Kilonewton (kN)
Meganewton (MN)
Millinewton (mN)
Micronewton (μN)

Gravitational Units

Force based on gravitational acceleration

Kilogram-force (kgf)
Gram-force (gf)
Tonne-force (tf)

Imperial Units

US and UK measurement systems

Pound-force (lbf)
Ounce-force (ozf)
Poundal (pdl)
Kip
Short Ton-force
Long Ton-force

CGS Units

Centimeter-gram-second system

Dyne (dyn)

Privacy

100% Client-Side Processing: All calculations happen in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and nothing is stored or tracked.

Table of Contents

1. What is Force Converter?
2. How to Use
3. Features
4. Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use

Converting force units takes just a few seconds. Here's how to get started:

Basic Conversion

Enter a Value

Type your force value in the first input field (e.g., "100")

Select Source Unit

Choose your starting unit using the first dropdown (e.g., "Newton")

Select Target Unit

Choose your desired unit using the second dropdown (e.g., "Pound-force")

View Instant Results

The result appears automatically in the second field—no calculate button needed

Real-Time Updates: The converter updates as you type—no need to click a calculate button.

Convert to Multiple Units at Once

Below the main converter, you'll see results for all supported units simultaneously. This is useful when comparing force values across different measurement systems.

Customize Visible Units

Click "Customize Units" to show or hide specific units. If you only work with SI and imperial units, you can hide CGS units to keep the results clean.

Adjust Decimal Precision

Use the "Decimals" dropdown to control how many decimal places appear in results:

2-8: Fixed number of decimal places
Auto: Shows appropriate precision based on the value

Copy Results

Click the copy button next to any value to copy it to your clipboard. Use "Copy All Results" to copy every visible conversion at once.

Reverse Conversion

Click the swap button (↔) between the input fields to reverse the conversion direction. You can also type directly in the second field to convert in the opposite direction.

Features

Instant Real-Time Conversion

Results update as you type with no delay. Uses internationally recognized conversion factors—for example, 1 Newton equals exactly 0.2248089431 pounds-force.

Multi-Unit Results Display

See your force value converted to all supported units at once. The source unit is highlighted so you can easily identify your input value.

Bidirectional Input

Type in either field and the other updates automatically. Work in whichever direction you need without switching units manually.

Customizable Unit List

Toggle individual units on or off based on your needs. Your preferences are saved for future visits.

Precision Control

Choose from 2, 4, 6, or 8 decimal places, or use "Auto" mode. Very large or very small numbers automatically switch to scientific notation.

Unit Reference Table

Click "Unit Reference" to see a table explaining each unit, its symbol, equivalent value in Newtons, and typical use cases.

Searchable Unit Dropdowns

Each unit dropdown includes a search box. Start typing a unit name or symbol to filter the list quickly.

Keyboard Friendly

Navigate the entire converter using your keyboard. Tab through fields, use arrow keys in dropdowns, and press Enter to select options.

Works on All Devices

Fully responsive and works on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Touch targets are sized appropriately for finger navigation on smaller screens.

Dark Mode Support

Respects your system's dark mode preference and includes a manually toggleable dark theme for comfortable use in low-light environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert Newtons to pounds-force?

Multiply the Newton value by 0.2248089431. For example, 10 N × 0.2248 = 2.248 lbf. This converter handles the calculation automatically with high precision.

Quick tip: Simply enter your Newton value and select "Pound-force" as the target unit—the result appears instantly.

How do I convert pounds-force to Newtons?

Multiply the pound-force value by 4.4482216153. For example, 1 lbf × 4.448 = 4.448 N. Simply enter the lbf value and read the Newton result.

What is the difference between Newton and kilogram-force?

Newton (N) is the SI unit of force, defined as the force needed to accelerate 1 kg at 1 m/s².

Kilogram-force (kgf) is the gravitational force on 1 kg mass at standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²).

Newton (N)

SI Standard Unit

Based on mass × acceleration
Independent of gravity
Used in scientific calculations

Kilogram-force (kgf)

Gravitational Unit

Based on gravitational force
1 kgf = 9.80665 N
Used in engineering specs

What is the difference between pound-force and pound?

Pound (lb) is a unit of mass, while pound-force (lbf) is a unit of force. Pound-force is the gravitational force on one pound of mass at standard gravity.

Common confusion: In everyday use, "pounds" often refers to weight (force), but scientifically they're different measurements.

What is a dyne?

A dyne is the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of force. One dyne is the force needed to accelerate 1 gram at 1 cm/s².

It equals 10⁻⁵ Newtons (0.00001 N). It's rarely used today but appears in older scientific literature.

What is a kip?

A kip equals 1000 pounds-force (4448.22 N). It's commonly used in US structural engineering to express large forces without writing many zeros.

Building and bridge specifications often use kips. The name comes from "kilo-pound".

Example: A structural beam rated for 50 kips can support 50,000 pounds-force.

Are the conversion results accurate?

Yes. The converter uses internationally recognized conversion factors with high precision. For gravitational units, we use standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s² as defined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Verified accuracy: All conversion factors are sourced from NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and ISO standards.

Why are there two different ton-force units?

Different countries historically used different "ton" definitions:

Short ton-force (US): Based on 2000 pounds
Long ton-force (UK): Based on 2240 pounds
Metric tonne-force: Based on 1000 kilograms

Always verify which ton unit is specified in technical documents to avoid calculation errors.

Does this work offline?

Once the page loads completely, all calculations happen in your browser with no internet connection required. However, you need to be online for the initial page load.

Can I bookmark a specific conversion?

The main converter always starts with default units (Newton to pound-force). For specific conversions like "kilonewtons to pounds-force," use the dedicated sub-tool pages which can be bookmarked.