UnitsConverter

Pound-force to Poundal Converter

Convert pounds-force to poundals with our free online force converter.

Quick Answer

1 Pound-force = 32.174049 poundals

Formula: Pound-force Ɨ 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.

Last verified: February 2026Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Pound-force to Poundal Calculator

How to Use the Pound-force to Poundal Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Pound-force).
  2. The converted value in Poundal will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Force category.
  4. Click the swap button (ā‡Œ) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Pound-force to Poundal: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Pound-force to Poundal involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

pdl = lbf Ɨ 32.174

Example Calculation:

1 lbf = 32.174049 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?

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šŸ“Š Force Table

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šŸ“‹ Unit Symbols

Copy lbf & pdl symbols

What is a Pound-force and a Poundal?

Pound-force (lbf) is the force exerted by one pound of mass under standard gravity (32.174 ft/sĀ² or 9.80665 m/sĀ²).

Conversions:

  • 1 lbf = 4.448222 N
  • 1 lbf = 0.453592 kgf
  • 1000 lbf = 1 kip
  • 1 lbf = 4.448 Ɨ 10āµ 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 Pound-force 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 Pound-force and Poundal

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: pounds-force vs poundals

Explore the typical applications for both Pound-force (imperial/US) and Poundal (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for pounds-force

Automotive: Weight specifications, brake force, suspension loads, torque specs. Aerospace: Thrust ratings (jet engines rated in lbf), structural loads. Structural Engineering: Building loads, beam capacity (often in kips = 1000 lbf), foundation design. Mechanical: Bolt torque specs, spring rates, tool forces, clamp pressure. Hydraulics: Actuator force ratings, pump specifications.

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 Poundal (pdl)

How do I convert poundals to newtons?

Formula: N = pdl Ɨ 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.

Convert poundals to other force units ā†’

Conversion Table: Pound-force to Poundal

Pound-force (lbf)Poundal (pdl)
0.516.087
132.174
1.548.261
264.348
5160.87
10321.741
25804.351
501,608.702
1003,217.405
2508,043.512
50016,087.024
1,00032,174.049

People Also Ask

How do I convert Pound-force to Poundal?

To convert Pound-force to Poundal, enter the value in Pound-force 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 ā†’

What is the conversion factor from Pound-force to Poundal?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Pound-force 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 Pound-force?

Yes! You can easily convert Poundal back to Pound-force by using the swap button (ā‡Œ) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Poundal to Pound-force converter page. You can also explore other force conversions on our category page.

Learn more ā†’

What are common uses for Pound-force and Poundal?

Pound-force 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:

šŸ“š How to Convert Units

Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.

šŸ”¢ Conversion Formulas

Essential formulas for force and other conversions.

āš–ļø Metric vs Imperial

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āš ļø Common Mistakes

Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.

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All Force Conversions

Newton to MillinewtonNewton to KilonewtonNewton to MeganewtonNewton to DyneNewton to Pound-forceNewton to Kilogram-forceNewton to Gram-forceNewton to Metric Ton-forceNewton to US Ton-forceNewton to UK Ton-forceNewton to PoundalNewton to Ounce-forceNewton to KipMillinewton to NewtonMillinewton to KilonewtonMillinewton to MeganewtonMillinewton to DyneMillinewton to Pound-forceMillinewton to Kilogram-forceMillinewton to Gram-forceMillinewton to Metric Ton-forceMillinewton to US Ton-forceMillinewton to UK Ton-forceMillinewton to PoundalMillinewton to Ounce-forceMillinewton to KipKilonewton to NewtonKilonewton to MillinewtonKilonewton to MeganewtonKilonewton to DyneKilonewton to Pound-forceKilonewton to Kilogram-forceKilonewton to Gram-forceKilonewton to Metric Ton-forceKilonewton to US Ton-forceKilonewton to UK Ton-forceKilonewton to PoundalKilonewton to Ounce-forceKilonewton to KipMeganewton to NewtonMeganewton to MillinewtonMeganewton to KilonewtonMeganewton to DyneMeganewton to Pound-forceMeganewton to Kilogram-forceMeganewton to Gram-forceMeganewton to Metric Ton-forceMeganewton to US Ton-forceMeganewton to UK Ton-forceMeganewton to PoundalMeganewton to Ounce-forceMeganewton to KipDyne to NewtonDyne to MillinewtonDyne to KilonewtonDyne to MeganewtonDyne to Pound-forceDyne to Kilogram-forceDyne to Gram-forceDyne to Metric Ton-forceDyne to US Ton-forceDyne to UK Ton-forceDyne to PoundalDyne to Ounce-forceDyne to KipPound-force to NewtonPound-force to MillinewtonPound-force to KilonewtonPound-force to MeganewtonPound-force to DynePound-force to Kilogram-forcePound-force to Gram-forcePound-force to Metric Ton-forcePound-force to US Ton-forcePound-force to UK Ton-forcePound-force to Ounce-forcePound-force to KipKilogram-force to NewtonKilogram-force to MillinewtonKilogram-force to KilonewtonKilogram-force to MeganewtonKilogram-force to DyneKilogram-force to Pound-forceKilogram-force to Gram-forceKilogram-force to Metric Ton-forceKilogram-force to US Ton-forceKilogram-force to UK Ton-forceKilogram-force to PoundalKilogram-force to Ounce-forceKilogram-force to KipGram-force to NewtonGram-force to MillinewtonGram-force to KilonewtonGram-force to MeganewtonGram-force to DyneGram-force to Pound-forceGram-force to Kilogram-forceGram-force to Metric Ton-forceGram-force to US Ton-forceGram-force to UK Ton-forceGram-force to PoundalGram-force to Ounce-forceGram-force to KipMetric Ton-force to NewtonMetric Ton-force to MillinewtonMetric Ton-force to KilonewtonMetric Ton-force to MeganewtonMetric Ton-force to DyneMetric Ton-force to Pound-forceMetric Ton-force to Kilogram-forceMetric Ton-force to Gram-forceMetric Ton-force to US Ton-forceMetric Ton-force to UK Ton-forceMetric Ton-force to PoundalMetric Ton-force to Ounce-forceMetric Ton-force to KipUS Ton-force to NewtonUS Ton-force to MillinewtonUS Ton-force to KilonewtonUS Ton-force to Meganewton

Other Force Units and Conversions

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology ā€” Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures ā€” International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization ā€” Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: February 19, 2026