Kips (kip)
The kip is 1,000 pound-force, used by US structural and civil engineers for loads on beams, columns and bridges.
Convert kips to any force unit
1 kip = 4,448.221615 newtons
Quick facts
1 kip in other units
| Newtons | 4,448.221615 N |
| Pounds-force | 1,000 lbf |
| Kilograms-force | 453.59237 kgf |
| Kilonewtons | 4.448221615 kN |
| Dynes | 444,822,161.5 dyn |
What is a kip?
The kip is 1,000 pound-force, used by US structural and civil engineers for loads on beams, columns and bridges.
Where the kip sits among force units
The kip is number 13 of 18 on our scale of force units, ordered from smallest to largest.
What kips are used for
- US structural engineering loads on beams, columns and foundations.
- Bridge design and bolt capacities.
- Stress in ksi (kips per square inch).
Kips in real life
- A large steel column might carry 500–2,000 kips.
- A 3/4-inch A325 bolt in shear: roughly 15–20 kips design capacity.
- An HS20 design truck axle: 32 kips.
One kip is about the weight of 6 adults, or about the weight of 62 bowling balls, or about 38% of the weight of a small car, or about 7.6% of the weight of an African elephant.
Top kip conversions
Common amounts of kips
Convert kips to all 17 other units
Metric (SI)
Gravitational
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Frequently asked questions
What is a kip?
The kip is 1,000 pound-force, used by US structural and civil engineers for loads on beams, columns and bridges.
How is the kip defined?
1,000 lbf (about 4.448 kN).
How many newtons are in a kip?
One kip equals 4,448.221615 newtons.
How many pounds-force are in a kip?
One kip equals 1,000 pounds-force.
How many kilograms-force are in a kip?
One kip equals 453.59237 kilograms-force.