Conduit bending guides
How to bend every common offset, saddle, 90 and kick, with the math behind it and a worked example for each.
The basics
- Trigonometry for bendingMultipliers, shrink per inch, and the triangle behind every offset.
- Centerline radius, gain and deductWhat the shoe’s radius does to every mark, and why the numbers differ from a multiplier chart.
- Bender typesHand, mechanical, electric and hydraulic benders, their shoes, and the conduit they take.
- Bending on centersMarking for the arrow or for the middle of the bend, shoe center marks, and flipping a mark.
Offsets
- Bending an offsetTwo equal bends that move a run sideways around something in its way.
- Bending a rolling offsetAn offset that moves the conduit up and over at the same time.
- Bending parallel offsetsA bank of offsets that keep the same spacing through the bends.
- Matching bends offsetFind the angle of an offset that is already bent, so you can bend one to match.
- Matching centers offsetOffsets of different heights whose bends line up along the run.
Saddles
90s and kicks
- Bending a 90° stub-upA single 90° bend that brings the conduit up to a set height.
- Bending a kick with a 90A 90 with a shallow bend in its leg, at right angles to it, that moves the stub sideways.
- Parallel kicksA bank of conduits kicked together toward a wall that runs alongside them.
- Parallel kicks forwardA bank of conduits kicked toward a wall square to the run, each with its own kick.
- Matching bend kickFind the angle of a kick that is already bent, and the mark to bend one like it.
- Matching center kickKicks of different sizes whose bends line up along the run.
Compound and segmented 90s
- Compound 90° around a round obstructionTwo 45° bends that cut across a corner in front of a pipe or tank.
- Compound 90° around a square obstructionTwo 45° bends that cut across a corner in front of a square obstruction set diagonally.
- Compound 90° around a rectangular obstructionTwo 45° bends that cut across a corner in front of a box or cabinet.
- Bending a segmented 90°A big, sweeping 90 made from several small bends.
Several bends on one conduit
More conduit bending how-tos
- How to Bend Back-to-Back 90s in ConduitHow to bend back-to-back 90s in conduit: measure from back to back, mark for the star or the arrow, and check the legs are parallel. Worked example.
- How to Bend a Box Offset in ConduitHow to bend a box offset in conduit: two matched offsets that carry the run over a box or beam, with measuring, angle choice, four marks and an example.
- How to Bend Concentric 90s for a Rack of ConduitHow to bend concentric 90s so a rack of conduits turns a corner with even spacing: radius per conduit, sweep length, spacing between marks, and an example.
- How to Bend Conduit: A Beginner’s GuideA beginner’s guide to bending conduit: pick the bend, measure, mark, bend and check. Which bend solves which problem, with two worked examples on EMT.
- How to Bend EMT With a Hand BenderHow to bend EMT with a hand bender: the right head, floor and air bending, marking a 90 and an offset, avoiding kinks, and the typical take-up by size.
- How to Bend Rigid and IMC ConduitHow to bend rigid (RMC) and IMC conduit: which benders do it, how it differs from EMT, springback, threading, and a worked offset on 3/4" rigid.
- How to Use a Conduit BenderHow to use a conduit bender: seating the conduit, foot and handle position, floor and air bending, reading the angle, and how to test your bender on scrap.
- Conduit Bender Take-Up ExplainedWhat take-up (deduct) means on a conduit bender, how to use it for a 90, where it comes from, how it differs from gain and shrink, and why it varies.
- Conduit Bender Markings ExplainedThe arrow, star, notch, teardrop, degree lines and multipliers on a conduit bender explained: what each mark is for and which bends use it, hand or power.
- Hydraulic Conduit Bender GuideHow a hydraulic conduit bender works and how to use one: table versus push-type, set-up, marking, reading the gauge, and allowing for springback.
- Common Conduit Bending Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemThe most common conduit bending mistakes, from forgetting shrink to flipping the hook, with the symptom, the cause and the fix for each, and a checklist.
- The 360° Rule: How Many Bends Between Pull PointsHow many bends conduit can have between pull points: the NEC 360° limit, how offsets, saddles and kicks count, a worked tally, and what to do when over.
- What Is Gain in Conduit Bending?Gain is the conduit a bend saves against a sharp corner. The formula for a 90, why it sets cut length and back-to-back 90s, and the gain of real shoes.
- What Is Shrink in Conduit Bending?Shrink is how much shorter conduit runs after an offset or saddle. Shrink per inch by angle, rules of thumb against exact, and when to add it to a mark.
- How to Fix a Dog Leg in a Conduit BendWhat a dog leg in conduit is, why offsets get one, how to spot it by sighting down the pipe or laying it on the floor, and how to fix it or bend it again.
- Minimum Bending Radius for Conduit (NEC Chapter 9, Table 2)The NEC minimum bending radius for conduit by trade size, from Chapter 9 Table 2: which column applies to EMT, rigid, IMC and PVC, and how benders meet it.
- How to Measure the Angle of a Conduit BendFour ways to measure a conduit bend angle: the bender’s angle lines, a torpedo level, an angle finder and a phone level, plus checking springback and 90s.
- How to Bend PVC ConduitHow to bend PVC conduit: heat it evenly in a heater box or blanket, form it, hold it till it cools, and mark offsets on bend centers with multipliers.