Force Converter

Convert newtons, kilonewtons, dynes, kilogram-force and pound-force.

Force Converter

Worked example result
Converted force9.806650
Summary1 kgf = 9.80665 N

Holding a 1 kg mass takes a force of exactly 9.80665 N under standard gravity.

Convert force through the newton, the SI unit (1 N accelerates 1 kg at 1 m/s²). Engineering units piggyback on standard gravity, g = 9.80665 m/s² exactly: one kilogram-force is exactly 9.80665 N, and one pound-force is exactly 4.4482216152605 N. The CGS dyne is exactly 10⁻⁵ N.

A kilogram-force is the weight of a 1 kg mass on Earth — handy because the number matches the mass, but it changes on the Moon while newtons do not.

The formula

Result = Value × (factor of from-unit in newtons) ÷ (factor of to-unit in newtons)

Worked example

Holding a 1 kg mass takes a force of exactly 9.80665 N under standard gravity.

The example is pre-loaded in the result panel — press Calculate with your own numbers to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 70 kg person weigh in newtons?

About 686 N (70 × 9.80665). Weight is a force; the mass is 70 kg and stays the same anywhere.

What is a dyne used for?

The dyne is the CGS unit of force — the force that accelerates 1 gram at 1 cm/s². It survives in some physics and surface-tension work (dyn/cm).

Are lbf and lb the same?

Pound-force (lbf) is a force; pound (lb) is a mass. On Earth they have the same number under standard gravity, which is why the terms are often confused.

Category: Unit Conversions calculators