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Enter a value, pick a unit. Equivalent in every force unit appears below. Click any result to copy.
1 kgf = 9.80665 N = 0.00980665 kN · On Earth, 1 kg of mass produces a weight of 1 kgf ≈ 9.807 N.
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Results
Reference table
| Value | N | kN | kgf | lbf | tonf (metric) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kgf | 9.80665 | 0.00981 | 1 | 2.2046 | 0.001 |
| 1 N | 1 | 0.001 | 0.10197 | 0.22481 | 0.000102 |
| 1 kN | 1000 | 1 | 101.972 | 224.809 | 0.10197 |
| 1 lbf | 4.4482 | 0.004448 | 0.45359 | 1 | 0.000454 |
| 1 tonf (metric) | 9806.65 | 9.80665 | 1000 | 2204.62 | 1 |
| 1 tonf (US short) | 8896.44 | 8.89644 | 907.185 | 2000 | 0.90718 |
| 1 tonf (UK long) | 9964.02 | 9.96402 | 1016.05 | 2240 | 1.01605 |
| 1 MN | 1,000,000 | 1000 | 101972 | 224809 | 101.972 |
FAQ
What is the difference between kg and kN?
A kilogram (kg) is a unit of mass; a kilonewton (kN) is a unit of force. To convert mass to weight (force on Earth) multiply mass by the gravitational acceleration g = 9.80665 m/s²: 1 kg of mass produces a weight of 9.80665 N = 0.00980665 kN. In casual engineering use, "kg" on a load label often means kilogram-force (kgf), which is already a force unit equal to 9.80665 N.
What is kilogram-force (kgf)?
kgf is a non-SI unit of force defined as the weight of 1 kg of mass under standard gravity: 1 kgf = 9.80665 N exactly. It is also called kilopond (kp). Common in older engineering tables, tire pressure, and structural load calculations where loads are written as kg instead of newtons.
How many kN are in 1 ton?
1 metric ton-force (tf, tonf) = 1000 kgf = 9.80665 kN. 1 US short ton-force = 8.89644 kN (2000 lbf). 1 UK long ton-force = 9.96402 kN (2240 lbf). If a load is stated as "5 tons" on European plans it usually means 5 tonf (metric) = 49.03 kN.
How many pounds-force are in 1 kN?
1 kN = 224.809 lbf. To convert quickly, multiply kN by 225 for a rough answer. Going the other way, 1 lbf = 0.004448 kN = 4.448 N.
When should I use g = 9.81 vs g = 10 m/s²?
For engineering work and this converter, g = 9.80665 m/s² is the standard value (rounded to 9.81). For quick mental estimates, g = 10 m/s² gives a clean factor: 1 kgf ≈ 10 N, 100 kgf ≈ 1 kN. The rounded value is fine for back-of-envelope checks but not for design documents.
What is a dyne (dyn)?
A dyne is a CGS unit of force: 1 dyn = 1 g·cm/s² = 10⁻⁵ N (0.00001 N). 1 N = 100,000 dyn. It appears in older physics and surface-tension literature.
Uses standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s². Values are rounded for display; full precision is preserved internally.
Convert between kilogram-force (kgf), newton (N), kilonewton (kN), meganewton (MN), pound-force (lbf), ton-force (metric, US short, UK long), ounce-force (ozf) and dyne (dyn). Enter any value, pick the source unit, and see every equivalent at once. Click any result to copy. Example: 1000 kgf = 9.807 kN = 2204.62 lbf = 1 metric ton-force. The converter uses standard gravity g = 9.80665 m/s2, so 1 kgf equals exactly 9.80665 N. Presets cover typical engineering cases: 1 tf, 10 kN slab load, 500 lbf, 2000 lb wheel load.