Conduit Kick Calculator
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
A kick is one shallow bend in the leg of a 90, turned a quarter turn from it, that shifts the stub sideways. By the multiplier method, mark the kick at kick × multiplier from the back of the 90, so a 5" kick at 30° goes 10" from the 90. It has only one bend, so the shrink is a single offset's: kick × 0.268 at 30°.
Calculator
- Results
- Back of the 90 to the kick mark
- 8"
- Shrink
- 1 1/16" (1.07")
Worked out the textbook way, from the bend angle alone. BendMate also uses your bender’s radius, deduct and shoe.
A kick is one bend, not two
An offset takes two bends because it has to carry the conduit on parallel to its old line. A kick is one bend: it only moves where the stub stands. That makes it the quick way to land a stub on a box that sits a little off to one side of the run.
mark from back of the 90 = kick × multipliershrink = kick × shrink per inchWorked example: a 5" kick
- Kick (sideways move)
- 5"
- Kick angle
- 30°
- Mark from back of 90
- 5" × 2.000 = 10"
- Shrink, by multiplier
- 5" × 0.268 = about 1 5/16"
- Bend the 90 first and leave the leg straight.
- Measure the mark from the back of the 90, along the leg.
- Put that mark on the arrow with the hook facing the 90.
- Turn the conduit a quarter turn, toward the side the stub has to move, and bend to the kick angle.
- Stand the stub up and check it is still plumb and sits the kick distance over.
How the angle changes the mark
| Angle | Mark from the 90 | Shrink |
|---|---|---|
| 10° | 28 13/16" | 7/16" |
| 15° | 19 5/16" | 11/16" |
| 22.5° | 13 1/16" | 1" |
| 30° | 10" | 1 5/16" |
| 45° | 7 1/16" | 2 1/16" |
A shallow angle puts the mark far from the 90; a steep one puts it close and takes more shrink. Keep the kick bend clear of the 90, as the shoe needs a short length of straight conduit to grip.
What goes wrong with kicks
- Bending the kick in the same plane as the 90. It then tips the stub forward or back instead of moving it sideways.
- Turning the conduit the wrong way, which sends the stub off in the opposite direction.
- Measuring from the front of the 90 rather than its back.
- Choosing a kick so small that its bend runs into the 90.
Kicks and your bender
The 90 uses your bender’s deduct, and the kick mark is adjusted for the setback, half the OD and the start of bend. In BendMate the same math accounts for your bender’s radius and deduct, and warns when the kick is too small for the shoe.
Get the marks for your bender
BendMate works this out from your bender’s radius and deduct, flags a bend that won’t work, and shows you every mark.
Common questions
What is a kick in conduit bending?
A kick is a single shallow bend, made a quarter turn away from a 90, that moves the stub sideways. Electricians use it to line a stub up with a box that is slightly off the run.
How far from the 90 do you mark a kick?
By the multiplier method, kick × multiplier from the back of the 90. For a 5" kick at 30° that is 10", and at 45° it is 7 1/16".
How much shrink does a kick have?
One bend's worth: about the kick × shrink per inch, less the gain of that one bend. A 5" kick at 30° is about 1 5/16" by the multiplier method.
Which angle should I use for a kick?
30° is common. A small kick may need a smaller angle, or its bend runs into the 90, and a steeper angle suits a leg with little room.