Kip to Poundal Converter
Convert kips to poundals with our free online force converter.
Quick Answer
1 Kip = 32174.048556 poundals
Formula: Kip Ć conversion factor = Poundal
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
Our Accuracy Guarantee
All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Kip to Poundal Calculator
How to Use the Kip to Poundal Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kip).
- The converted value in Poundal will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Force category.
- Click the swap button (ā) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Kip to Poundal: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Kip to Poundal involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
pdl = kip Ć 32174Example Calculation:
1 kip = 32174.048556 pdl
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other force units?
View all Force conversions āWhat is a Kip and a Poundal?
A kip equals 1,000 pounds-force. It is a standard unit in US structural engineering.
Formula: 1 kip = 1,000 lbf
Conversions:
- 1 kip = 1,000 lbf (pounds-force)
- 1 kip = 4,448.222 N (newtons)
- 1 kip = 4.448222 kN (kilonewtons)
- 1 kip = 453.592 kgf (kilogram-force)
- 1 kip = 0.5 ton-force (US short ton)
- 1 kip = 4.448 Ć 10ā¶ dynes
The poundal (pdl) is the force to accelerate 1 pound mass at 1 ft/sĀ². It is an absolute unit in the FPS system.
Formula: F = ma where F is in poundals, m in pounds, a in ft/sĀ²
Conversions:
- 1 pdl = 0.138255 N (newtons)
- 1 pdl = 0.031081 lbf (pound-force)
- 1 pdl = 14.098 gf (gram-force)
- 1 pdl = 0.014098 kgf (kilogram-force)
- 1 pdl = 138,255 dynes
- 32.174 pdl = 1 lbf
Note: The Kip is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Poundal belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Kip and Poundal
The kip was introduced in American structural engineering during the early 20th century as building sizes increased and forces became too large for convenient expression in pounds. The term combines "kilo-" (meaning thousand) with "pound" to create "kip." It became standardized in US building codes, structural steel design manuals, and engineering textbooks. Organizations like the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and American Concrete Institute (ACI) use kips as the primary force unit in their design specifications. While the rest of the world uses kilonewtons, American engineers continue to work primarily in kips for structural calculations.
The poundal was introduced in 1879 by the British Association for the Advancement of Science as part of the foot-pound-second (FPS) absolute system of units. It was designed to provide a consistent force unit for physics calculations using imperial measurements, analogous to the dyne in the CGS system. The name "poundal" was created from "pound" plus the suffix "-al" to indicate it was an absolute unit rather than a gravitational unit. Despite official endorsement, the poundal never achieved widespread practical use because engineers preferred the more intuitive pound-force. By the mid-20th century, it had become largely obsolete, appearing primarily in older physics textbooks and historical engineering documents.
Common Uses and Applications: kips vs poundals
Explore the typical applications for both Kip (imperial/US) and Poundal (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for kips
Structural Steel Design: Beam capacities, column loads, connection forces.
Concrete Engineering: Rebar tension, slab loads, foundation bearing capacity.
Building Codes: Load specifications, safety factors, structural requirements.
Construction: Equipment ratings, material strength, lifting capacity.
Civil Engineering: Bridge design, highway loads, retaining wall pressures.
When to Use poundals
Historical Physics Textbooks: Pre-1960s physics education using FPS units.
Engineering History: Older technical papers and engineering calculations.
Academic Study: Understanding historical unit systems and conversions.
Specialized Applications: Rare modern use in contexts maintaining FPS absolute units.
Additional Unit Information
About Kip (kip)
How do I convert kips to pounds-force?
Formula: lbf = kip Ć 1,000
Examples:
- 0.5 kip = 500 lbf
- 1 kip = 1,000 lbf
- 5 kip = 5,000 lbf
- 10 kip = 10,000 lbf
Simple rule: Multiply by 1,000 or add three zeros.
Kips to Pounds-force converter ā
How many kips equal one kilonewton?
1 kilonewton = 0.2248 kips (approximately 0.225 kips)
Quick conversions:
- 1 kN = 0.225 kip
- 10 kN = 2.25 kip
- 100 kN = 22.5 kip
- 1,000 kN = 225 kip
Reverse: 1 kip = 4.448 kN
Kilonewtons to Kips converter ā
Why do American engineers use kips instead of kilonewtons?
Historical practice: Kips have been standard in US engineering since the early 1900s.
Building codes: US codes (IBC, ASCE 7) specify loads in pounds and kips.
Engineering education: American universities teach structural design in kips.
Industry standards: AISC Steel Manual, ACI Concrete Code use kips.
Existing infrastructure: Decades of drawings, specifications, and software use kips.
Convenience: For US engineers working in imperial units, kips integrate naturally with feet, inches, and pounds per square foot.
While metric units (kN) are standard internationally, the kip remains deeply embedded in American structural engineering practice.
What is a kip per square inch (ksi)?
ksi = kips per square inch - a unit of stress or pressure.
Common use: Material strength specifications
- Structural steel: 36-100 ksi yield strength
- Concrete: 3-10 ksi compressive strength
- Aluminum: 30-70 ksi tensile strength
Conversion: 1 ksi = 6.895 MPa (megapascals)
Note: ksi is to stress what kip is to force - a convenient large unit avoiding excessive digits.
About Poundal (pdl)
How do I convert poundals to newtons?
Formula: N = pdl Ć 0.138255
Examples:
- 1 pdl = 0.138 N
- 10 pdl = 1.38 N
- 32.2 pdl = 4.45 N (1 lbf)
- 100 pdl = 13.8 N
Quick approximation: Multiply by 0.14 for rough conversion.
Poundals to Newtons converter ā
How many poundals equal one pound-force?
1 pound-force = 32.174 poundals
Quick conversions:
- 1 lbf = 32.2 pdl
- 5 lbf = 161 pdl
- 10 lbf = 322 pdl
- 100 lbf = 3,217 pdl
Reverse: 1 pdl = 0.031081 lbf
The factor 32.174 is Earth's gravitational acceleration (32.174 ft/sĀ²), explaining why 1 pound of mass weighs 32.2 poundals.
Pounds-force to Poundals converter ā
What is the difference between poundals and pounds-force?
Poundal (pdl): ABSOLUTE unit - force to accelerate 1 lb at 1 ft/sĀ²
- Independent of gravity
- Used in F = ma calculations
- 1 lb mass weighs 32.2 pdl on Earth
Pound-force (lbf): GRAVITATIONAL unit - weight of 1 lb mass in Earth gravity
- Depends on Earth's gravity
- Practical for engineering
- 1 lb mass weighs 1 lbf on Earth
Example: To accelerate a 10 lb object at 5 ft/sĀ²:
- Force needed: 50 poundals (using F = ma)
- Or equivalently: 1.55 pounds-force
This confusion is why poundal failed and pound-force prevailed.
Why is the poundal obsolete?
Non-intuitive: 1 lb mass doesn't weigh 1 poundal (weighs 32.2 pdl).
Pound-force won: Engineers preferred lbf where 1 lb mass = 1 lbf on Earth.
Metric adoption: Newton became international standard (SI unit).
Educational shift: Physics courses moved to SI units or used lbf.
No practical advantage: Created more confusion than benefit.
Historical only: Appears only in old textbooks and historical documents.
Today, use newtons (SI) or pounds-force (US engineering), not poundals.
Conversion Table: Kip to Poundal
| Kip (kip) | Poundal (pdl) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 16,087.024 |
| 1 | 32,174.049 |
| 1.5 | 48,261.073 |
| 2 | 64,348.097 |
| 5 | 160,870.243 |
| 10 | 321,740.486 |
| 25 | 804,351.214 |
| 50 | 1,608,702.428 |
| 100 | 3,217,404.856 |
| 250 | 8,043,512.139 |
| 500 | 16,087,024.278 |
| 1,000 | 32,174,048.556 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Kip to Poundal?
To convert Kip to Poundal, enter the value in Kip in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our force converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more āWhat is the conversion factor from Kip to Poundal?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Kip and Poundal. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Poundal back to Kip?
Yes! You can easily convert Poundal back to Kip by using the swap button (ā) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Poundal to Kip converter page. You can also explore other force conversions on our category page.
Learn more āWhat are common uses for Kip and Poundal?
Kip and Poundal are both standard units used in force measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our force converter for more conversion options.
For more force conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
š How to Convert Units
Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.
š¢ Conversion Formulas
Essential formulas for force and other conversions.
āļø Metric vs Imperial
Understand the differences between measurement systems.
ā ļø Common Mistakes
Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.
All Force Conversions
Other Force Units and Conversions
Explore other force units and their conversion options:
- Newton (N) ā¢ Kip to Newton
- Millinewton (mN) ā¢ Kip to Millinewton
- Kilonewton (kN) ā¢ Kip to Kilonewton
- Meganewton (MN) ā¢ Kip to Meganewton
- Dyne (dyn) ā¢ Kip to Dyne
- Pound-force (lbf) ā¢ Kip to Pound-force
- Kilogram-force (kgf) ā¢ Kip to Kilogram-force
- Gram-force (gf) ā¢ Kip to Gram-force
- Metric Ton-force (tf) ā¢ Kip to Metric Ton-force
- US Ton-force (tonf) ā¢ Kip to US Ton-force
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology ā Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures ā International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization ā Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: December 3, 2025