Conduit Bending Multipliers Chart — Offset, Shrink & Take-Up
Who this is for: For anyone who wants the numbers without the tool: apprentices studying for the bench test, journeyman prepping a class handout, or a DIYer checking what the bender's stamped chart is telling them.
Not the right tool for: Brand-specific shoe charts — manufacturers publish deductions matched to their own radius · Mechanical, hydraulic and CNC bender programs — they run developed length and gain
The whole hand-bender cheat sheet in one table: take-ups per size, offset multipliers, shrink per inch of rise, and saddle combos.
Quick answer: Take-ups: 1/2" = 5", 3/4" = 8", 1" = 11", 1-1/4" = 14". Offset multipliers: 10° ×6.0, 22.5° ×2.6, 30° ×2.0, 45° ×1.4. Shrink per inch of rise: 1/16", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8". Saddles: 45°/22.5° ×2.6, 60°/30° ×2.0, 30°/15° ×3.9 per inch of depth.
| Conduit size | Take-up | Mark for a 25" rise | Rise from a 30" mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" EMT / IMC / RMC | 5" | 30" | 25" |
| 3/4" EMT / IMC / RMC | 8" | 33" | 22" |
| 1" EMT / IMC / RMC | 11" | 36" | 19" |
| 1-1/4" EMT / IMC / RMC | 14" | 39" | 16" |
| Bend angle | Multiplier | Shrink per inch of rise | Marks for a 6" rise | Shrink for a 6" rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10° | ×6 | 1/16" | 36" | 3/8" |
| 15° | ×3.9 | 1/8" | 23.4" | 3/4" |
| 22.5° | ×2.6 | 3/16" | 15.6" | 1 1/8" |
| 30° | ×2 | 1/4" | 12" | 1 1/2" |
| 45° | ×1.4 | 3/8" | 8.4" | 2 1/4" |
| Combo | Side multiplier | Side shrink / inch | Center ↔ side marks, 4" depth | Total shrink, 4" depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45° center / 22.5° sides | ×2.6 | 3/16" | 10.4" | 1 1/2" |
| 60° center / 30° sides | ×2 | 1/4" | 8" | 2" |
| 30° center / 15° sides | ×3.9 | 1/8" | 15.6" | 1" |
Stub example: a 25" rise on 1/2" EMT marks at 30" (25 + 5 take-up); a 30" stub length gives a 25" rise (30 − 5). Saddle example row: 4" wide × 3" tall obstruction, 1" clearance → 4" depth — 10.4" to each side mark, 1 1/2" total shrink on the 45°/22.5° combo. Take-up figures are the standard teaching set; brand shoes vary, and the chart stamped on your bender wins.
| Take-up | 5" · 8" · 11" · 14" (1/2"–1-1/4") |
|---|---|
| Multipliers | ×6.0 · ×2.6 · ×2.0 · ×1.4 (10°–45°) |
| Shrink / inch rise | 1/16" · 3/16" · 1/4" · 3/8" |
| Saddle side mult. | ×2.6 (45/22.5) · ×2.0 (60/30) · ×3.9 (30/15) |
| Worked stub | 25" rise on 1/2" → 30" mark; 30" mark → 25" rise |
| Status | Hand-bender teaching reference (Benfield take-ups, multipliers and shrink), compiled September 2026. Brand shoes vary — the chart stamped on your bender wins. Factory elbows, hydraulic and mechanical bender work are different methods. |
What's in the chart?
Three tables cover every everyday hand-bender mark. Take-up table: the 90° deduction per size — 1/2" = 5", 3/4" = 8", 1" = 11", 1-1/4" = 14" — with worked rows showing the mark for a 25" rise (30" on 1/2") and the rise hiding in a 30" mark (25"). Offset table: multiplier and shrink per inch of rise for 10° (×6.0, 1/16"), 22.5° (×2.6, 3/16"), 30° (×2.0, 1/4") and 45° (×1.4, 3/8"), with a worked 6"-rise row showing marks from 36" down to 8.4" and shrink from 3/8" to 2-1/4". Saddle table: the three combos with side multipliers and total shrink per inch of depth — 45°/22.5° at ×2.6 and 3/8" per inch, 60°/30° at ×2.0 and 1/2", 30°/15° at ×3.9 and 1/4". Every figure is the standard teaching set (Benfield method); brand shoes vary and the stamped chart on the shoe is the final word for that bender.
Common uses
- Studying for an apprenticeship bending test or a journeyman practical
- Checking a bender's stamped chart against the teaching-standard set
- Printing one page for the gang box instead of three dog-eared cards
- Writing a class handout with consistent numbers across stubs, offsets and saddles