This page converts millinewtons into grams-force using the factor 0.1019716213, 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. One thousandth of a newton — the range of surface tension and small actuators.
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 grams-force, so you can sanity-check whether your answer is a plausible size.
The formula
millinewtons- The amount you are converting, in millinewtons
0.101971621298- The exact number of grams-force in one millinewton
grams-force- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in millinewtons.
- It is multiplied by 0.101971621298, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in grams-force, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A sheet of paper’s weight: 49 mN in grams-force
A sheet of paper’s weight comes to about 49 mN. Multiplying by the factor: 49 × 0.101972 = 4.99661 gf. Dividing the answer back by 0.101972 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
A firm handshake: 3e+05 mN in grams-force
A firm handshake comes to about 3e+05 mN. Multiplying by the factor: 3e+05 × 0.101972 = 30,591.5 gf. Dividing the answer back by 0.101972 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 grams-force are in one millinewton?
Exactly 0.101971621298. 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 grams-force?
grams-force = millinewtons × 0.101971621298. Reversed, millinewtons = grams-force ÷ 0.101971621298, which is the same as multiplying by 9.80665.
Which is the bigger unit, the millinewton or the gram-force?
The gram-force. One millinewton is only 0.101972 of a gram-force, so it takes 9.80665 millinewtons to make one gram-force.
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 gram-force?
The weight of one gram at standard gravity, used for keyboard switches, sutures and fibre testing.
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 mN to gf in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 10 instead of using the exact factor 0.1019716213. At 100 that shortcut gives 10 grams-force, off by 0.1972 grams-force or about 1.93%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Millinewtons to grams-force reference tables
| Millinewtons | Grams-Force |
|---|---|
| 0.5 mN | 0.0509858 gf |
| 1 mN | 0.101972 gf |
| 2 mN | 0.203943 gf |
| 3 mN | 0.305915 gf |
| 5 mN | 0.509858 gf |
| 10 mN | 1.01972 gf |
| 20 mN | 2.03943 gf |
| 25 mN | 2.54929 gf |
| 50 mN | 5.09858 gf |
| 75 mN | 7.64787 gf |
| 100 mN | 10.1972 gf |
| 250 mN | 25.4929 gf |
| 500 mN | 50.9858 gf |
| 1000 mN | 101.972 gf |
| 5000 mN | 509.858 gf |
Exact factor: 1 millinewton = 0.101971621298 grams-force.
| Quantity | mN | gf |
|---|---|---|
| A sheet of paper’s weight | 49 mN | 4.997 gf |
| Lifting a bag of sugar | 9810 mN | 1000 gf |
| A firm handshake | 3e+05 mN | 3.059e+04 gf |
| An adult’s body weight | 7.8e+05 mN | 7.954e+04 gf |
| A climbing rope’s rated load | 2.2e+07 mN | 2.243e+06 gf |
| A car’s braking force | 8e+06 mN | 8.158e+05 gf |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.