How to Bend Conduit: A Beginner’s Guide
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
To bend conduit, decide which bend the job needs, measure it, work out the marks, then mark the conduit and bend each mark to its angle with the hook facing the right way. A 90 uses the bender’s take-up; an offset uses a multiplier. Check each bend with a level or tape before you install the conduit.
Start with the job, not the bender
Every conduit bend solves a small problem in the way of the run. Name the problem first and the bend follows.
| You need to | Bend | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Turn conduit up a wall or out of a floor | 90° stub-up | Stub length, take-up |
| Step the run over by a few inches | Offset | Offset height, angle |
| Clear a pipe or a coupling | 3-point saddle | Obstruction height |
| Go over a box or a beam | 4-point saddle, or box offset | Height and width |
| Move over and up at once | Rolling offset | Rise and roll |
| Turn a bank of conduits together | Parallel offsets or concentric 90s | Spacing |
What you need
- A bender with a head made for your conduit type and trade size. EMT and rigid of the same trade size are different diameters.
- A tape, a pencil or marker, and a level.
- A reamer or file for cut ends, and a scrap piece to practice on.
- The bender’s take-up, usually cast on the head, and a multiplier chart, or a calculator that knows your bender.
The same five steps for every bend
- Measure the job: stub height, offset height, obstruction width. Measure from the end of the conduit.
- Work out the marks: take-up for a 90, multiplier for an offset or saddle.
- Mark the conduit on the top, in pencil, and number the marks in the order you will bend them.
- Bend each mark with the mark on the arrow and the hook facing the way the bend needs. Bend slowly and steadily to the angle.
- Check the result: a level for a 90, a tape for the distances, a look down the conduit for a twist.
Two bends to learn first
mark = stub length − take-up- Stub length
- 14"
- Take-up
- 5"
- Mark at
- 9" from the end of the stub
distance between bends = offset height × multiplier- Offset height
- 3"
- Angle
- 30°
- Marks
- 6" apart
- Shrink
- about 3/4"
The offset’s two bends are made with the hook facing the same end, rolling the conduit half a turn between them.
Choosing an angle
Offsets and saddles can be bent at several angles. A shallow angle needs more room along the run but leaves less shrink; a steep one fits a short run but shrinks more.
| Angle | Chart multiplier | Chart shrink per inch | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5° | 2.6 | 3/16 | Plenty of room, or a saddle’s outer bends |
| 30° | 2 | 1/4 | The usual choice for most offsets |
| 45° | 1.4 | 3/8 | A tall offset in a tight space |
| 60° | 1.2 | 1/2 | Very little room along the run |
Habits that save conduit
- Practice on scrap. Bend a 90, measure it, and learn how your bender actually behaves.
- Mark every bend before you make any. It is easy to lose your place halfway through.
- Keep a line along the top of the conduit so you can see when it rolls.
- Know which way the hook faces for every bend. Most beginner mistakes come from this.
- Leave a little extra on the conduit; you can cut it, but you cannot lengthen it.
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 the easiest conduit bend to learn first?
The 90° stub-up. It needs only one mark, from the stub length and the bender’s take-up, and it is easy to check with a level.
What size conduit should a beginner practice on?
1/2" EMT. It is cheap, bends easily on a hand bender, and teaches the same marks and habits as larger sizes.
Do I need a calculator to bend conduit?
Not for the basics: a tape, the take-up on your bender and a multiplier chart cover 90s and offsets. A calculator helps with saddles, kicks and racks, and with allowing for your own bender’s radius.
How do I know where to mark conduit for a bend?
Measure from the end of the conduit. For a 90, subtract the bender’s take-up from the stub length. For an offset, the second mark is the offset height × the angle’s multiplier from the first.