Kilonewton (kN)

Definition

One thousand newtons — the scale of structural and vehicle loads.

History

The kilonewton is one thousand newtons, a convenient multiple for large forces. It matches the scale of structural and vehicle loads.

Where it is used

Kilonewtons state structural loads and appear in crash and safety ratings.

Typical uses include structural engineering, crash ratings.

Conversion pages

These pages convert kilonewton to or from another unit in force.

No conversion pages use this unit yet.

Other Force units

• Newton (N)
• Pound-force (lbf)
• Kilogram-force (kgf)

Sources

• NIST SP 811 NIST SP 811, App. B (force). lbf and kgf are exact via the pound/kilogram and standard gravity 9.80665 m/s² (CGPM 1901); SP 811 prints them rounded · Dataset reviewed Nov 11, 2026