This page converts kilograms-force into poundals using the factor 70.93163528, and shows the reverse figure alongside it. Both units measure force, which is why one number does the whole job.
The force gravity exerts on one kilogram — a legacy metric unit. The force accelerating one pound at one foot per second squared; the absolute-imperial counterpart of the slug.
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 poundals, so you can sanity-check whether your answer is a plausible size.
The formula
kilograms-force- The amount you are converting, in kilograms-force
70.931635284- The exact number of poundals in one kilogram-force
poundals- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in kilograms-force.
- It is multiplied by 70.931635284, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in poundals, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A climbing rope’s rated load: 2240 kgf in poundals
Take a climbing rope’s rated load, roughly 2240 kgf. The conversion is a single multiplication — 2240 × 70.9316 — giving 158,887 pdl. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 317,774 pdl.
An adult’s body weight: 79.5 kgf in poundals
An adult’s body weight comes to about 79.5 kgf. Multiplying by the factor: 79.5 × 70.9316 = 5639.07 pdl. Dividing the answer back by 70.9316 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 poundals are in one kilogram-force?
Exactly 70.931635284. 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 kilograms-force to poundals?
poundals = kilograms-force × 70.931635284. Reversed, kilograms-force = poundals ÷ 70.931635284, which is the same as multiplying by 0.0140980818502.
Which is the bigger unit, the kilogram-force or the poundal?
The kilogram-force. One kilogram-force equals 70.9316 poundals.
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 kilogram-force?
The force gravity exerts on one kilogram — a legacy metric unit.
What is a poundal?
The force accelerating one pound at one foot per second squared; the absolute-imperial counterpart of the slug.
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 kgf to pdl in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: multiply by 70 instead of using the exact factor 70.93163528. At 100 that shortcut gives 7000 poundals, off by 93.16 poundals or about 1.31%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Kilograms-Force to poundals reference tables
| Kilograms-Force | Poundals |
|---|---|
| 0.5 kgf | 35.4658 pdl |
| 1 kgf | 70.9316 pdl |
| 2 kgf | 141.863 pdl |
| 3 kgf | 212.795 pdl |
| 5 kgf | 354.658 pdl |
| 10 kgf | 709.316 pdl |
| 20 kgf | 1418.63 pdl |
| 25 kgf | 1773.29 pdl |
| 50 kgf | 3546.58 pdl |
| 75 kgf | 5319.87 pdl |
| 100 kgf | 7093.16 pdl |
| 250 kgf | 17,732.9 pdl |
| 500 kgf | 35,465.8 pdl |
| 1000 kgf | 70,931.6 pdl |
| 5000 kgf | 354,658 pdl |
Exact factor: 1 kilogram-force = 70.931635284 poundals.
| Quantity | kgf | pdl |
|---|---|---|
| A sheet of paper’s weight | 0.004997 kgf | 0.3544 pdl |
| Lifting a bag of sugar | 1 kgf | 70.96 pdl |
| A firm handshake | 30.59 kgf | 2170 pdl |
| An adult’s body weight | 79.54 kgf | 5642 pdl |
| A climbing rope’s rated load | 2243 kgf | 1.591e+05 pdl |
| A car’s braking force | 815.8 kgf | 5.786e+04 pdl |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.