Printable conduit bending chart
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
This page puts every offset multiplier, the shrink per inch and the typical EMT deducts on one sheet you can print. A 30° offset multiplies by 2.000, a 45° by 1.414; 1/2" EMT typically deducts 5" on a hand bender and 3/4" 6". Print it and keep it in your pouch or on the bender.
Offset multipliers and shrink
| Angle | Multiplier | Rule of thumb | Shrink per inch | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5° | 11.474 | 11.5 | 0.044 | 1/32" |
| 10° | 5.759 | 6 | 0.087 | 1/16" |
| 15° | 3.864 | 3.9 | 0.132 | 1/8" |
| 22.5° | 2.613 | 2.6 | 0.199 | 3/16" |
| 30° | 2.000 | 2 | 0.268 | 1/4" |
| 45° | 1.414 | 1.4 | 0.414 | 3/8" |
| 60° | 1.155 | 1.2 | 0.577 | 1/2" |
Typical hand bender deduct, EMT
| Size | Deduct |
|---|---|
| 1/2" EMT | 5" |
| 3/4" EMT | 6" |
| 1" EMT | 8" |
| 1-1/4" EMT | 11" |
Conduit outside diameters
| Size | EMT | Rigid (RMC) | IMC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 0.706" | 0.840" | 0.815" |
| 3/4" | 0.922" | 1.050" | 1.029" |
| 1" | 1.163" | 1.315" | 1.290" |
| 1-1/4" | 1.510" | 1.660" | 1.638" |
| 1-1/2" | 1.740" | 1.900" | 1.883" |
| 2" | 2.197" | 2.375" | 2.360" |
| 2-1/2" | 2.875" | 2.875" | 2.857" |
| 3" | 3.500" | 3.500" | 3.476" |
| 3-1/2" | 4.000" | 4.000" | 3.971" |
| 4" | 4.500" | 4.500" | 4.466" |
| 5" | — | 5.563" | — |
| 6" | — | 6.625" | — |
What is on the page
- Offset multipliers and shrink. Every standard angle from 5° to 60°, with the exact multiplier, the shrink per inch, and the trade’s rounded rule next to each.
- Hand-bender deducts. The take-up most hand benders give for 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1-1/4" EMT, so you can mark a 90 without a calculator.
- Conduit sizes. The trade sizes the deducts and benders are listed for.
The multipliers and shrink are worked out from the same math as the calculator, not typed in, so they are the exact values rather than a rounded card. The deducts are the figure most hand benders use. Individual benders differ, so write your own bender’s deduct on the sheet if it is different.
How to print it
- Use the print command in your browser from this page.
- Choose letter paper and set the page to fit, so the chart lands on one sheet.
- Print in black and white if you want a card you can laminate; the tables are readable without color.
- Laminate it or put it in a sleeve, and tape it to the inside of your pouch or the toolbox lid.
Using the chart at the bender
For an offset, find your angle in the multiplier column and multiply the offset height by it for the distance between bends. Multiply the height by the shrink column to see how much conduit the offset will take.
- Offset height
- 4"
- Angle
- 30°
- Stub length
- 12"
- Between bends
- 8"
- Shrink
- 1 1/16"
- Mark for the stub
- 7"
A chart treats each bend as a sharp corner, so a real bender comes out a little shorter than the chart. For a one-off job the card is plenty. When the bend has to land exactly, work it out from your bender’s own radius and deduct.
Which angle to pick from the chart
The chart gives every angle, but a few do most of the work. Use 2.000 at 30° as the default, 1.414 at 45° when the offset is tall or the room is short, and 2.613 at 22.5° or 5.759 at 10° for small offsets with space to spare. The steeper the angle, the larger the shrink per inch: 0.268" at 30°, 0.414" at 45° and 0.577" at 60°.
Keep the sheet next to the bender and the tape. A chart is quickest for the common jobs, where you know the offset height and want the marks in a few seconds.
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 on a conduit bending chart?
The offset multipliers and shrink for each angle, the deduct (take-up) for each EMT size on a hand bender, and the conduit sizes they apply to.
How do I print the chart?
Use your browser’s print command from this page and set it to fit one sheet of paper. Black and white is fine.
Are the numbers on the chart exact?
The multipliers and shrink are exact values from the same formulas the calculator uses, shown beside the rounded trade rule. The deducts are the figure most hand benders use, so check them against your own bender.