Conduit Bending How-To

• Arrow: stub-ups, offsets, and the outer marks of a saddle.
• Star point: back-to-back 90s. It marks the back of the bend.
• Rim notch / teardrop: the center of a saddle bend.
• Degree marks on the side of the head show the bend angle. Some benders have a level vial too.
• Use foot pressure on the heel and the handle mostly as a guide. Over-bend slightly to allow for spring-back.

1. Subtract the bender's take-up from the stub height you want. Klein values: ½" EMT 5", ¾" EMT 6", 1" EMT 8", 1-¼" EMT 11".^[1]
2. Mark that distance from the end. Put the hook toward the free end and line the arrow up with the mark.
3. Bend to 90° and check with a level. Example: ¾" EMT with an 8½" stub → 8½ − 6 = 2½" mark.

1. Make the first 90 as a stub-up.
2. Measure the back-to-back distance from the back of the first 90 and mark it.
3. Turn the bender to face the opposite way and line up the star point with the mark. Bend in the same plane as the first 90 so the U doesn't twist (dog-leg).

1. Distance between bends = depth × multiplier.
2. Shrink = depth × shrink per inch. When you're working toward an obstacle, add the shrink to the distance to the obstacle.
3. Example (Klein): 6" offset at 45°, 20" to the obstacle → shrink 6 × 3/8 = 2¼", first mark 22¼", marks 6 × 1.4 = 8.4" apart.^[1]
4. Make the first bend on the arrow. Roll the conduit 180° and make the second bend to the same angle, in the same plane.

When the conduit has to move both up (rise) and over (roll), the true offset is √(rise² + roll²). Bend a normal offset of that depth, then rotate the conduit so the offset lies along the diagonal. The calculator does the math.

1. Measure to the center of the obstacle. Choose a 45° center with 22½° returns, or a 60° center with 30° returns.
2. 45° center: shrink 3/16" per inch of height, outer marks 2½" per inch of height from the center. 60° center: shrink 1/4" per inch, marks 2" per inch.^[1]
3. Center mark = distance to center + shrink. Example: a 2" obstacle 20" away → 20-3/8" center, outer marks at 15-3/8" and 25-3/8".
4. Bend the center on the rim notch or teardrop, then the two returns on the arrow, each to half the center angle.

Two offsets back to back over a wide obstacle. The first offset rises before the near edge, and the second comes back down after the far edge. Keep all four bends in one plane and check the height at the obstacle as you go. The calculator gives all four marks, including shrink for both offsets.

A single bend under 90° that moves the conduit off a wall or floor, for example kicking a stub out to clear a footing. Travel = rise ÷ sin θ. Bend at the mark, sight down the pipe, and check the rise at the end.

A 90 uses less conduit than its two legs measured square, because the bend cuts the corner. The difference is the gain. Cut length = leg 1 + leg 2 − gain for each 90. Use the gain stamped on your bender, or estimate it from the bend radius in the calculator.

1. Klein Tools, Conduit Bender Guide (stub-up take-up, back-to-back, offset table, 3-point saddle table) — https://data.kleintools.com/sites/all/product_assets/documents/instructions/klein/ConduitBenderGuide.pdf
2. Greenlee 777 instruction manual (offset multiplier & shrink table incl. 15°) — https://cdn.greenlee.com/resources/media?countryCode=US&key=ecb9fe70-3148-4581-ab7a-8ad45d4cae36&languageCode=en