This page converts grams-force into kilonewtons using the factor 9.80665e-06, and shows the reverse figure alongside it. Both units measure force, which is why one number does the whole job.
The weight of one gram at standard gravity, used for keyboard switches, sutures and fibre testing. Used in structural engineering and climbing-gear ratings.
Mass is not force. A kilogram is a mass; a kilogram-force is the weight of that mass at standard gravity, 9.80665 N. Bathroom scales blur the distinction because they are calibrated for Earth; engineering calculations cannot. The tables underneath give both a plain step-by-step lookup and a list of real quantities expressed in kilonewtons, so you can sanity-check whether your answer is a plausible size.
The formula
grams-force- The amount you are converting, in grams-force
9.80665e-06- The exact number of kilonewtons in one gram-force
kilonewtons- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in grams-force.
- It is multiplied by 9.80665e-06, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in kilonewtons, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A firm handshake: 3.06e+04 gf in kilonewtons
At 3.06e+04 gf (a firm handshake), the same quantity in kilonewtons is 3.06e+04 × 9.80665e-06 = 0.300083 kN. One gram-force is 9.80665e-06 kilonewtons, so the numbers shrink as expected.
A sheet of paper’s weight: 5 gf in kilonewtons
A sheet of paper’s weight comes to about 5 gf. Multiplying by the factor: 5 × 9.80665e-06 = 4.90333e-05 kN. Dividing the answer back by 9.80665e-06 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many kilonewtons are in one gram-force?
Exactly 9.80665e-06. Every figure on this page is that one number multiplied by your input, so the only rounding is at the display step.
What is the formula to convert grams-force to kilonewtons?
kilonewtons = grams-force × 9.80665e-06. Reversed, grams-force = kilonewtons ÷ 9.80665e-06, which is the same as multiplying by 101,971.621298.
Which is the bigger unit, the gram-force or the kilonewton?
The kilonewton. One gram-force is only 9.80665e-06 of a kilonewton, so it takes 101,972 grams-force to make one kilonewton.
What does this quantity actually measure?
Both units measure force. That is why a single factor is enough: there is no temperature offset and no material property involved, unlike conversions that cross between different quantities.
What is a gram-force?
The weight of one gram at standard gravity, used for keyboard switches, sutures and fibre testing.
What is a kilonewton?
Used in structural engineering and climbing-gear ratings.
Why does my answer differ from another converter?
Almost always because the other tool rounded the factor before multiplying. This page keeps full double precision through the calculation and rounds only for display, and it prints the factor it used so you can see where any difference came from.
Is there a quick way to do gf to kN in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 100,000 instead of using the exact factor 0.000010. At 100 that shortcut gives 0.001 kilonewtons, off by 0.000019 kilonewtons or about 1.97%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Grams-Force to kilonewtons reference tables
| Grams-Force | Kilonewtons |
|---|---|
| 0.5 gf | 4.90333e-06 kN |
| 1 gf | 9.80665e-06 kN |
| 2 gf | 1.96133e-05 kN |
| 3 gf | 2.942e-05 kN |
| 5 gf | 4.90333e-05 kN |
| 10 gf | 9.80665e-05 kN |
| 20 gf | 0.000196133 kN |
| 25 gf | 0.000245166 kN |
| 50 gf | 0.000490333 kN |
| 75 gf | 0.000735499 kN |
| 100 gf | 0.000980665 kN |
| 250 gf | 0.00245166 kN |
| 500 gf | 0.00490333 kN |
| 1000 gf | 0.00980665 kN |
| 5000 gf | 0.0490333 kN |
Exact factor: 1 gram-force = 9.80665e-06 kilonewtons.
| Quantity | gf | kN |
|---|---|---|
| A sheet of paper’s weight | 4.997 gf | 4.9e-05 kN |
| Lifting a bag of sugar | 1000 gf | 0.00981 kN |
| A firm handshake | 3.059e+04 gf | 0.3 kN |
| An adult’s body weight | 7.954e+04 gf | 0.78 kN |
| A climbing rope’s rated load | 2.243e+06 gf | 22 kN |
| A car’s braking force | 8.158e+05 gf | 8 kN |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.