Conduit Bending Cheat Sheet: Offsets, Saddles & Kicks

Offset Bending Multipliers

An offset bend consists of two equal bends in opposite directions to move the conduit around an obstacle. The multiplier tells you the distance between bend marks based on your offset depth and bend angle. The shrink constant tells you how much shorter the conduit becomes because of the bends — you need to add this to your overall measurement.

Example: You need a 4-inch offset using 30° bends. Distance between marks = 4 × 2.0 = 8 inches. Shrink = 4 × 1/4" = 1 inch. Add 1 inch to your starting measurement to compensate.

90-Degree Stub-Ups

A stub-up is the most basic bend. You're bending the conduit 90° to go from horizontal to vertical (or vice versa). The key measurement is the take-up — how much of the conduit the bender "uses" to create the bend.

How to use it: If you need a 12-inch stub using 1/2" EMT, mark the conduit at 12" - 5" = 7 inches from the end. Place the bender arrow on that mark and bend to 90°.

Three-Point Saddle Bends

A saddle bend goes over an obstacle (like another pipe) and comes back to the original plane. It uses three bends: a center bend and two equal outer bends.

Standard Method: 45° Center, 22.5° Outers

• Mark the center of the obstacle on the conduit
• Measure the depth of the saddle (how high the obstacle is)
• Multiply the depth by 2.6 to get the distance from center mark to each outer mark
• Bend the center mark to 45°
• Flip the conduit and bend each outer mark to 22.5°
• Shrink: multiply depth by 3/16" per inch

Alternative: 60° Center, 30° Outers

• Distance from center to outers: depth × 2.0
• Center bend: 60°
• Outer bends: 30° each
• Shrink: multiply depth by 1/4" per inch

Back-to-Back 90s

Back-to-back bends create a U-shape. Measure the distance between the two legs (outside to outside), subtract the gain for your conduit size, mark the conduit, and bend.

Kicks (Partial 90s)

A kick is a single bend less than 90° used to angle conduit into a box or transition between surfaces. The approach is similar to a stub-up but you're bending to a smaller angle. Use the travel and setback method or simply eyeball it for small kicks (10-15°) — experienced electricians often do this by feel for minor adjustments.

Key Rules to Remember

• Never exceed 360° of total bends between pull points (NEC requirement)
• Always account for shrink on offsets and saddles — it's the most common mistake
• Mark your conduit with a pencil, not a marker — marker lines are hard to see under jobsite lighting
• The arrow on the bender marks different things depending on the bend type — check your bender's instructions
• Anti-dog (aligning multiple conduit runs) requires consistent technique — bend one stick, use it as a template for the rest

Pricing the job as well as bending it? Tradesman Office builds estimating and labor-rate tools for contractors that pair well with a cheat sheet like this one.