Input
Enter a load per unit length, pick a unit. All equivalents appear below. Click any result to copy.
1 kgf/m = 9.80665 N/m = 0.00980665 kN/m · 1 kN/m = 101.972 kgf/m. Used for beam line loads, wall weights, and cable tension.
Presets
Results
Reference table
| Value | N/m | kN/m | kgf/m | lbf/ft | tonf/m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kN/m | 1000 | 1 | 101.972 | 68.522 | 0.10197 |
| 1 kgf/m | 9.80665 | 0.00981 | 1 | 0.67197 | 0.001 |
| 1 tonf/m (metric) | 9806.65 | 9.80665 | 1000 | 671.97 | 1 |
| 1 lbf/ft | 14.5939 | 0.01459 | 1.4882 | 1 | 0.001488 |
| 1 lbf/in | 175.127 | 0.17513 | 17.858 | 12 | 0.01786 |
| 1 N/m | 1 | 0.001 | 0.10197 | 0.06852 | 0.000102 |
| 500 kgf/m wall load | 4903.3 | 4.9033 | 500 | 335.99 | 0.5 |
| 5 kN/m beam load | 5000 | 5 | 509.86 | 342.61 | 0.5099 |
FAQ
How to convert kg/m to kN/m?
Divide by 101.972 or multiply by 0.00980665. For example: 500 kg/m × 0.00980665 = 4.903 kN/m. In structural engineering "kg/m" is always read as kgf/m (kilogram-force per meter).
What is linear (line) load?
A line load is a force distributed along a length — typical for a wall sitting on a beam, a cable, or a pipe on a pipe rack. Units are force / length: N/m, kN/m, kgf/m, lbf/ft. To get the total force on a span, multiply the line load by the span length.
How many lbf/ft are in 1 kN/m?
1 kN/m = 68.5218 lbf/ft. Going the other way, 1 lbf/ft = 0.01459 kN/m = 14.5939 N/m. So a 100 plf (pounds per linear foot) wall ≈ 1.459 kN/m.
Typical wall and beam line loads?
Interior partition (metal stud + gypsum): 0.5–1.5 kN/m. Brick veneer wall: 4–6 kN/m per meter of height. Heavy concrete block wall: 6–12 kN/m. Steel beam self-weight: 0.1–2 kN/m depending on profile. Always check the actual cross-section and materials.
Is kg/m the same as kgf/m?
In practice, yes. Technically kg/m is mass per length and kgf/m is force per length, but under standard gravity on Earth a mass of 1 kg produces a weight of 1 kgf. Engineers use the two interchangeably for line loads; when in doubt, assume "kg/m" means "kgf/m".
How do I convert to tonf/m?
1 tonf/m (metric) = 9.80665 kN/m = 1000 kgf/m. So 5 tonf/m = 49.03 kN/m. Metric tonf/m is common on older European plans; tonne-force per meter and metric-ton per meter are the same unit.
Uses standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s². Values are rounded for display; full precision is preserved internally.
Convert linear (distributed) loads between kgf/m, N/m, kN/m, MN/m, N/mm, tonf/m (metric), kip/ft, lbf/ft (plf) and lbf/in (pli). Enter any value and see every equivalent at once. Example: 500 kgf/m = 4.903 kN/m = 335.99 lbf/ft. Use for beam line loads, wall weights on foundations, cable tension and pipe-rack loads. Typical partition wall 0.5 to 1.5 kN/m, brick veneer 4 to 6 kN/m per meter of height. The converter uses g = 9.80665 m/s2 so 1 kgf/m = 9.80665 N/m and 1 kN/m = 101.97 kgf/m. Click any result to copy.