This page converts grams-force into newtons using the factor 0.00980665, 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. The SI unit: the force that accelerates one kilogram at one metre per second squared.
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 newtons, so you can sanity-check whether your answer is a plausible size.
The formula
grams-force- The amount you are converting, in grams-force
0.00980665- The exact number of newtons in one gram-force
newtons- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in grams-force.
- It is multiplied by 0.00980665, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in newtons, 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 newtons
A firm handshake comes to about 3.06e+04 gf. Multiplying by the factor: 3.06e+04 × 0.00980665 = 300.083 N. Dividing the answer back by 0.00980665 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
An adult’s body weight: 7.95e+04 gf in newtons
At 7.95e+04 gf (an adult’s body weight), the same quantity in newtons is 7.95e+04 × 0.00980665 = 779.629 N. One gram-force is 0.00980665 newtons, so the numbers shrink as expected.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many newtons are in one gram-force?
Exactly 0.00980665. 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 newtons?
newtons = grams-force × 0.00980665. Reversed, grams-force = newtons ÷ 0.00980665, which is the same as multiplying by 101.971621298.
Which is the bigger unit, the gram-force or the newton?
The newton. One gram-force is only 0.00980665 of a newton, so it takes 101.972 grams-force to make one newton.
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 newton?
The SI unit: the force that accelerates one kilogram at one metre per second squared.
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 N in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 100 instead of using the exact factor 0.00980665. At 100 that shortcut gives 1 newtons, off by 0.01933 newtons or about 1.97%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Grams-Force to newtons reference tables
| Grams-Force | Newtons |
|---|---|
| 0.5 gf | 0.00490333 N |
| 1 gf | 0.00980665 N |
| 2 gf | 0.0196133 N |
| 3 gf | 0.02942 N |
| 5 gf | 0.0490333 N |
| 10 gf | 0.0980665 N |
| 20 gf | 0.196133 N |
| 25 gf | 0.245166 N |
| 50 gf | 0.490333 N |
| 75 gf | 0.735499 N |
| 100 gf | 0.980665 N |
| 250 gf | 2.45166 N |
| 500 gf | 4.90332 N |
| 1000 gf | 9.80665 N |
| 5000 gf | 49.0333 N |
Exact factor: 1 gram-force = 0.00980665 newtons.
| Quantity | gf | N |
|---|---|---|
| A sheet of paper’s weight | 4.997 gf | 0.049 N |
| Lifting a bag of sugar | 1000 gf | 9.81 N |
| A firm handshake | 3.059e+04 gf | 300 N |
| An adult’s body weight | 7.954e+04 gf | 780 N |
| A climbing rope’s rated load | 2.243e+06 gf | 2.2e+04 N |
| A car’s braking force | 8.158e+05 gf | 8000 N |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.