Force Converter | OnlineMiniTools

What is a force converter?

Force is the push or pull that changes an object’s motion. The SI unit is the newton (N), defined as the force needed to accelerate one kilogram of mass at one metre per second squared (1 N = 1 kg·m/s²). Engineering and everyday calculations also use dyne, kilogram-force, pound-force, poundal, kip, ton-force, sthene, joule per meter and more. This converter normalises every input to newtons and re-projects it to the unit you choose, so you can move between SI, CGS and US customary units without juggling reference tables.

Common formulas

1 newton = 100 000 dyne (1 dyn = 10⁻⁵ N).
1 kilogram-force = 9.80665 N (uses standard gravity g₀).
1 pound-force ≈ 4.4482216 N.
1 poundal ≈ 0.13825495 N (force to accelerate 1 lb at 1 ft/s²).
1 kip-force = 1 000 pound-force ≈ 4 448.2216 N.
1 sthene = 1 000 N (legacy MTS system).

How to use

Enter the force value in the input field.
Pick the source unit and the target unit from the drop-downs.
Read the converted value and the conversion summary in real time.
Use the Swap button to reverse the direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between mass and weight (force)?

Mass is the amount of matter (kilogram, gram, pound-mass). Weight is the force gravity applies to that mass, so it is expressed in newtons, kilogram-force, or pound-force. On Earth, one kilogram of mass weighs 9.80665 N or one kilogram-force.

Why are there metric, short, and long ton-force units?

A metric ton-force uses 1 000 kg, a short ton (used in the US) uses 2 000 lb, and a long ton (used in the UK) uses 2 240 lb. The converter applies the correct mass for each ton, then multiplies by standard gravity to get the equivalent force in newtons.

Are pound-force and poundal the same thing?

No. A pound-force is the weight of one pound-mass under standard gravity (≈ 4.4482 N). A poundal is the force needed to accelerate one pound-mass at one foot per second squared (≈ 0.1383 N). They differ by roughly the factor g.

When would I use dyne instead of newton?

The dyne belongs to the CGS unit system and is convenient for very small forces, such as those at the microscopic or material-science scale. One newton equals 100 000 dynes, so use whichever scale gives you readable numbers.

Why is joule per meter (J/m) the same as a newton?

Work equals force × distance, so a force of one newton acting through one metre performs one joule of work. Rearranging, 1 J/m = 1 N, which is why physics formulas sometimes express force in joules per metre.