Convert both directions between kgf/m² and kN/m². Use the calculator for kg/m² to kN/m² or kN/m² to kg/m²: 1 kN/m² = 101.9716 kgf/m² and 1 kgf/m² = 0.00980665 kN/m². kN/m² is exactly kPa, so the same value also appears as kPa.
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Enter a load and pick a unit. Equivalent in every common pressure / distributed-load unit shows below.
1 kgf/m² = 9.80665 Pa = 0.00980665 kN/m² · 1 kN/m² = 1 kPa = 101.972 kgf/m². Widely used for structural floor and roof loads.
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Reference table
| Value | kN/m² | kgf/m² | tonf/m² | psi | kgf/cm² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kN/m² (kPa) | 1 | 101.972 | 0.10197 | 0.14504 | 0.01020 |
| 1 kgf/m² | 0.00981 | 1 | 0.001 | 0.001422 | 0.0001 |
| 1 tonf/m² | 9.80665 | 1000 | 1 | 1.4223 | 0.1 |
| 1 kgf/cm² | 98.0665 | 10,000 | 10 | 14.2233 | 1 |
| 1 bar | 100 | 10,197.2 | 10.197 | 14.504 | 1.0197 |
| 1 psi | 6.8948 | 703.07 | 0.7031 | 1 | 0.07031 |
| 1 atm | 101.325 | 10,332.3 | 10.332 | 14.696 | 1.0332 |
| 2 kN/m² roof snow | 2 | 203.94 | 0.2039 | 0.2901 | 0.0204 |
FAQ
How to convert kN/m² to kg/m²?
Multiply kN/m² by 101.9716 to get kgf/m². Example: 2 kN/m² × 101.9716 = 203.94 kgf/m². Since 1 kN/m² is exactly 1 kPa, this is also the same as converting kPa to kgf/m².
How to convert kg/m² to kN/m²?
Divide by 101.9716, or multiply by 0.00980665. For example: 500 kg/m² × 0.00980665 = 4.903 kN/m². Rounded: 500 kg/m² ≈ 5 kN/m² (using g ≈ 10 m/s² for a quick check).
Is kN/m² the same as kPa?
Yes. 1 kN/m² = 1 kPa exactly. Both express force per area where 1 kilonewton acts on 1 square meter. Structural engineers usually write loads as kN/m²; fluid/gas pressure tables use kPa, but the number is identical.
What is kgf/cm² (technical atmosphere)?
kgf/cm² is the pressure of 1 kilogram-force on 1 square centimeter: 1 kgf/cm² = 98,066.5 Pa ≈ 0.9807 bar ≈ 14.22 psi. Also called a technical atmosphere (at). Common on European and post-Soviet pressure gauges for tires, compressors, and hydraulics.
Typical floor and roof design loads?
Residential floor live load: 1.5–2.0 kN/m² (≈ 150–200 kgf/m²). Office: 2.5–3.0 kN/m². Retail: 4–5 kN/m². Snow on roof: 0.5–3.0 kN/m² depending on climate zone. Always check your local building code for exact values.
How do I convert kN/m² to psi or lbf/ft²?
1 kN/m² = 0.14504 psi = 20.885 lbf/ft². To go from psi to kN/m² multiply by 6.8948. Example: a soil bearing of 2000 psf = 2000 / 20.885 ≈ 95.76 kN/m².
When to use g = 9.80665 vs g = 10 m/s²?
This converter uses the standard value g = 9.80665 m/s² for precise results. For mental checks, g ≈ 10 gives 1 kgf/m² ≈ 10 Pa and 100 kgf/m² ≈ 1 kN/m² — the error is under 2%, enough for first-pass sanity checks but not for design documents.
Uses standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s². Values are rounded for display; full precision is preserved internally.
Use kgf/m² for mass-equivalent floor or roof loads and kN/m²/kPa for force-per-area notation. The converter also shows Pa, MPa, tonf/m², psi, lbf/ft², kgf/cm², bar, atm and mmHg. Examples: 500 kgf/m² = 4.903 kN/m²; 2 kN/m² = 203.94 kgf/m². Values use standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s², so do not use it as a building-code substitute.