Force Converter
Convert any force — SI, metric, US customary or CGS. Newtons, kilonewtons, pound-force, ounce-force, kilogram-force, dynes, poundals, tonne-force.
1 Newtons (N) =
0.22
Converted via 1 N per n and 4.4482216152605 N per lbf. 1 lbf = 4.448 221 615 260 5 N exactly (1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement); 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N exactly (standard gravity); 1 dyne = 10⁻⁵ N exactly (CGS).
How to use this calculator
Enter a value, choose your starting unit from "From", then pick the target unit in "To". Results update instantly. Use newtons (N) for SI physics, kilonewtons (kN) for engineering loads, pound-force (lbf) for US customary, kilogram-force (kgf) for legacy metric tools and torque specs, and dynes for CGS.
How the calculation works
Every unit converts via a single intermediate value in newtons (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²). Factors are exact under the SI definitions and the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement: 1 lbf = 4.448 221 615 260 5 N (NIST SP 811), 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N exactly (standard gravity g₀, 3rd CGPM), 1 dyne = 10⁻⁵ N exactly (CGS), 1 poundal = 0.138 254 954 376 N exactly (1 lb·ft/s²).
Worked example
100 kgf (typical adult body weight) → newtons: 100 × 9.80665 = 980.665 N. → pound-force: 980.665 ÷ 4.4482216152605 ≈ 220.46 lbf — exactly the conversion you would expect, since 100 kg ≈ 220.46 lb on Earth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mass and force?
Mass measures how much matter is in an object (kilograms, pounds). Force measures a push or pull and depends on gravity (newtons, pound-force, kilogram-force). On Earth, a 1 kg mass experiences a downward force of about 9.81 N — that 9.81 N is its weight. On the Moon the same 1 kg mass weighs only about 1.62 N because gravity is weaker. Kilogram-force (kgf) is a "force unit named after a mass" — 1 kgf is defined as the weight of a 1 kg mass at standard gravity (9.806 65 m/s² exactly), even when measured off Earth.
How many newtons is 1 pound-force (lbf)?
1 lbf = 4.448 221 615 260 5 N exactly. The value comes from the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, which fixed 1 pound mass = 0.453 592 37 kg exactly, multiplied by standard gravity 9.806 65 m/s² exactly. So a 10 lbf load is 44.482 N, and a 1000 lbf engineering load is 4.448 kN.
Is kilogram-force still used today?
In SI-aligned engineering and physics, no — newtons are the standard. But kilogram-force (kgf), also called kilopond (kp), still appears on older European torque wrenches, tyre pressure gauges (kgf/cm² ≈ bar), elevator capacity plates, and Russian and Italian engineering documentation. 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N exactly, so a 100 kgf load is 980.665 N or about 0.981 kN.
What is a dyne and where is it used?
1 dyne = 1 g·cm/s² = 10⁻⁵ N exactly. It is the CGS (centimetre-gram-second) unit of force, mostly retired but still seen in surface tension (dyn/cm), older astrophysics papers, and some biology and chemistry contexts. 1 N = 100 000 dynes — a small unit, useful for tiny forces.
What is a poundal and how is it different from pound-force?
Both are imperial force units but use different conventions. Pound-force (lbf) is the weight of 1 pound mass at standard gravity — about 4.448 N. The poundal (pdl) is the force that accelerates 1 pound mass at 1 ft/s² — much smaller, exactly 0.138 254 954 376 N. So 1 lbf ≈ 32.174 poundals (the ratio is standard gravity in ft/s²). Poundals appear in older British engineering textbooks; lbf is what you see on modern US specs.
How do I convert kN to tons?
It depends which "ton" you mean. Metric tonne-force (tf) is 1000 kgf = 9806.65 N = 9.806 65 kN exactly. US short ton-force (tonf) is 2000 lbf = 8896.443 N = 8.896 kN exactly. So a 100 kN crane load is about 10.2 tf (metric) or 11.24 short tons. Civil engineering specs in the US default to short tons; European and ISO standards use kN or metric tonnes.