This page converts millinewtons into dynes using the factor 100, and shows the reverse figure alongside it. Both units measure force, which is why one number does the whole job.
One thousandth of a newton — the range of surface tension and small actuators. The CGS unit of force, equal to 10 micronewtons.
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 dynes, so you can sanity-check whether your answer is a plausible size.
The formula
millinewtons- The amount you are converting, in millinewtons
100- The exact number of dynes in one millinewton
dynes- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in millinewtons.
- It is multiplied by 100, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in dynes, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A firm handshake: 3e+05 mN in dynes
A firm handshake comes to about 3e+05 mN. Multiplying by the factor: 3e+05 × 100 = 3e+07 dyn. Dividing the answer back by 100 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
A car’s braking force: 8e+06 mN in dynes
A car’s braking force comes to about 8e+06 mN. Multiplying by the factor: 8e+06 × 100 = 8e+08 dyn. Dividing the answer back by 100 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 dynes are in one millinewton?
Exactly 100. 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 millinewtons to dynes?
dynes = millinewtons × 100. Reversed, millinewtons = dynes ÷ 100, which is the same as multiplying by 0.01.
Which is the bigger unit, the millinewton or the dyne?
The millinewton. One millinewton equals 100 dynes.
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 millinewton?
One thousandth of a newton — the range of surface tension and small actuators.
What is a dyne?
The CGS unit of force, equal to 10 micronewtons.
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.
Millinewtons to dynes reference tables
| Millinewtons | Dynes |
|---|---|
| 0.5 mN | 50 dyn |
| 1 mN | 100 dyn |
| 2 mN | 200 dyn |
| 3 mN | 300 dyn |
| 5 mN | 500 dyn |
| 10 mN | 1000 dyn |
| 20 mN | 2000 dyn |
| 25 mN | 2500 dyn |
| 50 mN | 5000 dyn |
| 75 mN | 7500 dyn |
| 100 mN | 10,000 dyn |
| 250 mN | 25,000 dyn |
| 500 mN | 50,000 dyn |
| 1000 mN | 100,000 dyn |
| 5000 mN | 500,000 dyn |
Exact factor: 1 millinewton = 100 dynes.
| Quantity | mN | dyn |
|---|---|---|
| A sheet of paper’s weight | 49 mN | 4900 dyn |
| Lifting a bag of sugar | 9810 mN | 9.81e+05 dyn |
| A firm handshake | 3e+05 mN | 3e+07 dyn |
| An adult’s body weight | 7.8e+05 mN | 7.8e+07 dyn |
| A climbing rope’s rated load | 2.2e+07 mN | 2.2e+09 dyn |
| A car’s braking force | 8e+06 mN | 8e+08 dyn |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.