Conduit Bending Multiplier Chart: Complete Reference Guide

Every offset bend you make on the job starts with a conduit bending multiplier. Get it wrong and your conduit misses the mark, your run is too short, or your bends don't line up. The multiplier tells you how far apart to space your bend marks based on the offset depth and the bend angle you're using.

This page gives you the full bending multiplier chart, the math behind why each number works, shrink constants for every common angle, and worked examples you can follow step by step. Bookmark it, print it, or use the bend multiplier calculator to skip the math entirely.

Conduit Bending Multiplier Chart

The table below covers every bend angle you'll encounter in the field. The five most common angles for offset bends (10, 22.5, 30, 45, and 60 degrees) are highlighted, but the full chart includes every degree from 5 to 60 so you can handle non-standard situations too.

How to read this chart: Find your bend angle in the left column. Multiply the offset depth (the distance you need the conduit to move over) by the multiplier in the middle column. That result is the distance between your two bend marks on the conduit.

The five angles in bold (10, 22.5, 30, 45, and 60 degrees) are the ones you'll use 95% of the time. Most hand benders have degree markings at 10, 22.5, 30, and 45 degrees. If you only memorize three multipliers, make them 30 degrees (2.0), 45 degrees (1.4), and 22.5 degrees (2.6).

How Conduit Bending Multipliers Work

The multiplier isn't some arbitrary number someone made up. It comes directly from basic trigonometry, as explained in this EC&M bending fundamentals article. When you bend an offset, the conduit forms a right triangle. The offset depth is the vertical side (opposite), the distance between bends is the diagonal (hypotenuse), and the horizontal run is the adjacent side.

From trigonometry:

sin(angle) = offset depth / distance between bends

Rearranging to solve for the distance between bends:

distance between bends = offset depth / sin(angle)

Since dividing by the sine is the same as multiplying by the cosecant:

distance between bends = offset depth x cosecant(angle)

That cosecant value is the multiplier. For 30 degrees, sin(30) = 0.5, so the cosecant = 1/0.5 = 2.0. For 45 degrees, sin(45) = 0.7071, so the cosecant = 1/0.7071 = 1.414. You don't need to remember the trig. Just remember the multiplier.

This method is an approximation because it doesn't account for the arc of the bend itself, but for most field work up to about 30 degrees the difference is negligible. Even at 45 degrees, the error is small enough that it falls within normal conduit bending tolerances. The Mike Holt forums have a solid thread on the math if you want to go deeper.

The Five Multipliers Every Electrician Should Know

You don't need the full chart for everyday work. These five angles cover nearly every offset and saddle bend you'll make. For a broader look at all the conduit bending formulas including deduct values and gain, see our formulas guide.

30 degrees is the default for most electricians. The multiplier of 2.0 is easy to calculate in your head, the shrink is a clean 1/4 inch per inch, and the resulting bend looks professional. Use 22.5 degrees when you want a gentler transition or when the obstruction is small. Go to 45 degrees when you need to cover a lot of depth in a short run.

The Offset Bend Formula

Every offset bend uses the same core formula:

Distance Between Bends = Offset Depth x Multiplier

The offset depth is how far the conduit needs to shift over (measured perpendicular to the original run). The multiplier comes from the chart above based on your chosen bend angle. The result tells you how far apart to space your two bend marks on the conduit.

But there's a second piece you can't skip: shrink.

Shrink = Offset Depth x Shrink Constant

Shrink compensates for the fact that the conduit takes a longer diagonal path between the two bends. Without the shrink adjustment, your conduit will end up short of where it needs to go. Add the shrink amount to your first bend mark (measure it farther from the end of the conduit) to keep everything lined up.

Worked Examples

Example 1: 30-Degree Offset (4-Inch Depth)

You need to offset your conduit run 4 inches to clear a beam. You choose 30 degrees.

1. Distance between bends: 4" x 2.0 = 8 inches
2. Shrink: 4" x 1/4" = 1 inch
3. First mark: Measure from the end of the conduit to where the offset needs to start, then add 1 inch of shrink.
4. Second mark: 8 inches from the first mark.
5. Bend the first mark to 30 degrees. Flip the conduit, bend the second mark to 30 degrees in the opposite direction.

Use the offset bend calculator to double-check your numbers or try different angles.

Example 2: 22.5-Degree Offset (3-Inch Depth)

A shallow offset around a small pipe. 22.5 degrees keeps the transition gentle.

1. Distance between bends: 3" x 2.6 = 7.8 inches (round to 7-13/16")
2. Shrink: 3" x 3/16" = 9/16 inch
3. First mark: Add 9/16" to your starting measurement.
4. Second mark: 7-13/16" from the first mark.

22.5-degree bends produce less shrink and a longer, more gradual transition. That's a good thing when you have room, but it uses more conduit length between the two bends.

Example 3: 45-Degree Offset (6-Inch Depth)

A deep offset in a tight space. 45 degrees gets you there faster but eats more shrink.

1. Distance between bends: 6" x 1.414 = 8.484 inches (round to 8-1/2")
2. Shrink: 6" x 3/8" = 2-1/4 inches
3. First mark: Add 2-1/4" to your starting measurement.
4. Second mark: 8-1/2" from the first mark.

Notice the shrink is more than double what you'd get at 30 degrees. At 45 degrees, shrink adds up fast on deeper offsets. Miss it and your conduit will be noticeably short.

Shrink Constants Explained

Shrink is the hidden gotcha in offset bends. Every offset shortens the effective reach of your conduit because the diagonal path between bends is longer than the straight-line distance it replaces. The NEC requires that conduit runs between pull points not exceed 360 degrees of total bends, so keeping your offsets accurate prevents unnecessary extra bends or junction boxes.

The shrink constant tells you exactly how much reach you lose per inch of offset depth. Here's the math behind it:

Shrink per inch = (1/sin(angle)) - (1/tan(angle))

Or more simply: Shrink per inch = (cosecant - cotangent) of the bend angle

The pattern is clear: steeper angles produce more shrink. A 6-inch offset at 60 degrees loses 3 full inches of reach. If you don't add that shrink to your first mark, your conduit will land 3 inches short of where it needs to be. That's the kind of mistake that costs you a stick of pipe and twenty minutes of rework.

Using Multipliers with Saddle Bends

The same multipliers apply to 3-point saddle bends. A saddle is really just two offsets: one going up and over the obstruction, and one coming back down. The center bend is at the full angle, and the two outer bends are at half the angle.

For a 3-point saddle, you use the multiplier to find the distance from the center mark to each outer mark:

Distance from center to outer marks = obstruction height x multiplier (for the center angle)

For example, with a 45-degree center bend over a 2-inch obstruction:

1. Center mark: Place at the center of the obstruction.
2. Distance to outer marks: 2" x 2.6 = 5.2" (the outer bends are at 22.5 degrees, so use the 22.5-degree multiplier).
3. Shrink: 2" x 3/16" = 3/8" (use the shrink constant for the half-angle, 22.5 degrees).
4. Mark 5.2 inches on each side of the center mark, adjusted for shrink.

The bend multiplier calculator handles saddle calculations too, so you don't have to worry about mixing up which angle's multiplier to use.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting shrink. This is the most frequent error. The conduit ends up short, and you either have to pull it out and re-bend or add a coupling. Always calculate and add shrink to your first mark.
• Using the wrong multiplier for saddle bends. On a 3-point saddle with a 45-degree center bend, the outer bends are at 22.5 degrees. Use the 22.5-degree multiplier for the distance from center to outer marks, not the 45-degree multiplier.
• Rounding too aggressively. The multiplier for 45 degrees is 1.414, not 1.4. On a 10-inch offset, that 0.014 difference means about 1/8 inch, which matters if you're running parallel conduit. The conduit fill chart won't help you if your conduit doesn't line up with the box.
• Not matching bend angles. Both bends in an offset must be the same angle. If the first bend is 30 degrees and the second is 28 degrees, the conduit won't sit flat. Take the time to hit the angle mark on your bender precisely.
• Measuring from the wrong reference point. The offset depth is measured perpendicular to the conduit run, not along the wall or at some random angle. Hold a level or square against the existing run to get an accurate depth measurement.

Using the Bend Multiplier Calculator

If you don't want to look up multipliers and calculate shrink by hand, the Conduit Bending app and its online bend multiplier calculator do it all for you. Enter the bend angle and offset depth, and you get the distance between marks, shrink, and total conduit length instantly.

The Conduit Bending app goes further. It covers 16 bend types, lets you switch between imperial and metric, and includes a bender library with take-up and deduct values for every common bender from 1/2" to 4" conduit. You can also run offset calculations right on your phone while you're standing at the bender.

Conduit Bending App 16 bend types, bender library, fraction calculator. Free on iOS.