Conduit Bending Calculator and Chart
A free conduit bending calculator and conduit bending chart for bending EMT conduit by hand or with an electric conduit bender. Calculate stub-up marks, offsets, saddles, and back-to-back 90s — and see exactly how to calculate bending when you have an angle other than 30°.
Conduit bending how-to: the short version
Every conduit bend comes down to three numbers: the conduit size (which sets the deduction or "take-up"), the bend angle (which sets the multiplier), and the dimension you're trying to hit (stub height, offset depth, saddle height, or back-to-back distance). Plug those in below — the calculator returns the mark to put on the conduit and the right reference point on the bender.
The same math works whether you're using a Klein hand bender, a Greenlee electric conduit bender, or a hydraulic bender for 2" rigid. Multipliers are tied to the bender's shoe radius, not the operator. The "Standard Multipliers (EMT)" chart further down lists the deductions for the most common EMT trade sizes.
Override standard multiplier
Desired height from floor to end of conduit
Need this validated by a licensed PE?
A free calculator gets you in the ballpark. For permit-stamped, defensible work, ClarkTE delivers a PE-stamped raceway design package from a working engineer — typically within 48 hours of receiving your one-line and load data.
Conduit bending chart: standard EMT take-up multipliers
| Conduit Size | Multiplier | Radius |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 4" | 4" |
| 3/4" | 5" | 4-1/2" |
| 1" | 6" | 5-3/4" |
| 1-1/4" | 8" | 7-1/4" |
| 1-1/2" | 8" | 8-1/4" |
| 2" | 9.5" | 9-1/2" |
Calculate bending when you have an angle: offset multipliers
When the offset angle isn't 30°, the distance between bends and the shrinkage both change. The multiplier is the cosecant of the bend angle. The shrinkage constant tells you how much travel you "lose" per inch of offset depth — useful when you're trying to land at a specific termination point.
| Angle | Multiplier | Shrinkage Constant |
|---|---|---|
| 10° | 6.0 | 0.015 |
| 22.5° | 2.6 | 0.14 |
| 30° | 2.0 | 0.25 |
| 45° | 1.414 | 0.414 |
| 60° | 1.155 | 0.577 |
Conduit Bending Guide
90° Stub-Up
- Formula: Mark = Stub Height + Deduction (multiplier)
- Example: For 12" stub with 3/4" EMT: Mark at 12" + 5" = 17" from end
- Arrow Mark: Place arrow on bender at your mark
- Star/Rim Mark: Some benders use different reference points
Offset Bends
- Purpose: Move conduit around obstacles or change elevation
- Matching Angles: Both bends must be the same angle
- Shrinkage: Offset uses less conduit length than straight run
- 30° Most Common: Good balance of clearance and ease of bending
- Formula: Distance = Depth × Multiplier
3-Bend Saddle
- Purpose: Pass over pipes or other obstructions
- Center Bend: 45° bend at center of obstruction
- Outside Bends: 22.5° bends on each side
- Spacing: Outside bends at 2.5× height from center
- Mark Order: Make center bend first, then outside bends
Back-to-Back 90s
- Purpose: Create U-shaped run (e.g., conduit up and down wall)
- Calculation: Distance between bends minus two deductions
- Bending: Make first bend, measure for second, flip conduit
- Alignment: Ensure both bends are in same plane
Bending Tips
- Measure Twice: Double-check all measurements before bending
- Start Simple: Practice basic bends before complex saddles
- Avoid Overbending: Easier to add than remove a bend
- Support Properly: Use foot pressure evenly on bender
- Check Level: Use level to verify 90° bends
- Mark Clearly: Use permanent marker for visibility
- Account for Gain: Advanced: gain occurs in back-to-back bends
Common Mistakes
- Wrong multiplier for conduit size
- Forgetting to account for shrinkage in offsets
- Not matching offset bend angles
- Bending too fast causing conduit kinks
- Making saddle outside bends before center
- Using wrong reference mark on bender
NEC Considerations
- NEC 358.24: Maximum 360° total bends between boxes
- NEC 358.28: Minimum bending radius per NEC Table 2
- Support: Support within 3 ft of box, every 10 ft thereafter
- Fill: Maintain proper fill ratio per NEC Chapter 9 — see the conduit fill calculator
Learning the trade?
Bending conduit is one piece of a much larger skill set. ClarkTE's electrician path covers NEC, conduit, wiring, controls, and the math you actually need on the job — taught by working professionals, on your schedule.
See ClarkTE training programsConduit bending FAQ
How do I calculate a 90-degree stub-up?
Mark = stub height + take-up (the 'deduction'). For 1/2" EMT, the take-up is 5". Want a 12" stub? Mark at 17" from the end. Place the bender's arrow at the mark and pull. The Conduit Bending tab automates this for every common conduit size and bender style.
How do I calculate the bend when I have an angle other than 30 degrees?
The distance between bends in an offset is depth × cosecant of the angle. At 30°, multiplier is 2.0; at 45°, it's 1.414; at 60°, it's 1.155; at 22.5°, it's 2.6. The calculator above handles the trig and reports both the spacing and the shrinkage to maintain final length.
When do I use a saddle bend versus an offset?
Use an offset (two matched bends) when you need to step the conduit around something on one plane — over a ceiling joist, around a beam. Use a 3-bend saddle when you need to clear a single round obstruction (a pipe crossing) and continue on the original line. Saddles use a 45° center bend with 22.5° outside bends.