Convert load and force units including pounds-force, kips, tons-force, newtons, kilonewtons, kilograms-force, line loads, and area loads for structural, construction, framing, and engineering estimates.
Kips to pounds-force:
1 kip = 1,000 lbf
Pounds-force to newtons:
1 lbf = 4.44822 N
Kilonewtons to pounds-force:
1 kN = 224.809 lbf
PSF to total load:
total load = PSF × tributary area
Load conversions are useful for beams, joists, rafters, headers, columns, footings, slabs, decks, roof framing, floor loads, snow loads, wind loads, equipment loads, and structural material estimates.
Use this converter when switching between point loads, line loads, area loads, imperial force units, and metric force units.
Your result shows the entered load converted from the starting unit into the selected ending unit. For distributed loads such as pounds per square foot or pounds per linear foot, the converter uses the tributary area or tributary length you enter to estimate equivalent total load.
This converter is for unit conversion and estimating only. Structural design depends on load type, load combinations, span, material strength, deflection limits, connection details, code requirements, and professional engineering judgment.
A kip is a structural load unit equal to 1,000 pounds-force.
Multiply kips by 1,000. For example, 3.5 kips equals 3,500 pounds-force.
Multiply pounds-force by 0.00444822. For example, 1,000 pounds-force equals about 4.44822 kN.
Multiply pounds per square foot by tributary area. For example, 40 PSF over 100 square feet equals 4,000 pounds total load.
They are related, but not always the same. Weight is a force caused by gravity, while load can include weight, live load, snow load, wind load, equipment load, and other forces.