In 1 kip there are 32,174.037829 poundals. Meanwhile in 1 poundals there are 0.0000310810 kip. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure and how they are calculated. Or just use the Poundals to Kip calculator above to convert any number.
* Values rounded to 6 decimal places for readability
To convert kip to poundals (pdl), convert through pound-force (lbf).
Formula (kip to poundals):
pdl = kip × 1,000 × 32.174
So, 1 kip = 32,174 pdl (approx.)
Quick examples:
Use this kip to poundal conversion when you need force in pdl instead of kips or lbf.
A kip is a unit of force used in the US customary system. It equals 1,000 pounds-force (lbf). Engineers often use kips to show large loads on beams, bolts, and structures.
A poundal (pdl) is a unit of force from the foot-pound-second (FPS) system. It’s defined as the force needed to accelerate 1 pound-mass (lbm) at 1 foot per second squared (ft/s²). Poundals show up in older physics and mechanics work.
Convert kips to poundals by converting kips to pounds-force, then pounds-force to poundals. Use this direct conversion:
1 kip = 32,174.048556 poundals (pdl)
So the formula is:
pdl = kip × 32,174.048556
Kip is based on pounds-force, while poundal is based on pounds-mass and acceleration. The link between them comes from standard gravity. Since 1 lbf = 32.174048556 pdl, and 1 kip = 1,000 lbf, the result is 1,000 times larger.
To convert poundals to kips, divide by the same factor:
kip = pdl ÷ 32,174.048556
This is helpful when a value is given in poundals but you need a kip load.
Using standard gravity (g = 32.174048556 ft/s²):
Many sources round this, so small differences can come from rounding g.
Yes, rounding is common when extreme precision isn’t needed. Typical rounded values are:
For careful engineering checks, keep more digits.
Both are units of force. They are not mass units.
This matters because pound (lb) can mean mass or force depending on context.
The kip-to-poundal conversion uses standard gravity to relate lbf to pdl. In most work, that standard value is assumed. If a problem uses a different gravity value, the lbf-to-poundal step would change.
Common mistakes include:
Yes. The unit conversion is the same for tension and compression. Only the sign changes based on your sign convention, not the conversion factor.
The Calculate Box tool to convert kip to poundals uses the open source script Convert.js to convert units of measurement. To use this tool, simply type a kip value in the box and have it instantly converted to poundals.