By Blissom · Updated 2026-10-23
Layout values: check them against your own bender, on scrap first.
Take-up, radius and gain for EMT hand benders
| EMT size | Take-up | NEC minimum radius | Example shoe (radius) | Gain (centerline) | Gain to back of 90 | Developed 90 | Rigid on same shoe (if rated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 5" | 4" | Klein 51606 (4-5/8") | 2" | 2-11/16" | 7-1/4" | — |
| 3/4" | 6" | 4-1/2" | Klein 51607 (5-1/2") | 2-3/8" | 3-5/16" | 8-5/8" | 1/2" |
| 1" | 8" | 5-3/4" | Greenlee 842AH (6-1/2") | 2-13/16" | 3-15/16" | 10-3/16" | 3/4" |
| 1-1/4" | 11" | 7-1/4" | check your shoe | — | — | — | 1" |
The NEC column is the Chapter 9, Table 2 minimum radius for a one-shot bend. Actual shoes may match or exceed it: the example column uses the centerline radius published for a named bender (Klein catalog, Greenlee distributor specifications), and gain and developed length follow from it. Other models differ, so use the radius and take-up of your own shoe; the per-size EMT charts have a gain-by-radius table.
Take-up, gain and developed length: what each is for
- Take-up (deduct) is for marking a stub: stub height − take-up = where the arrow goes. See the stub-up calculator.
- Gain is for cutting to length: a piece with a 90 is shorter than its two legs added together by the gain. For legs measured to the back (outside) of the 90, the gain is the centerline gain plus one conduit diameter.
- Setback is used with different meanings in the trade, so check what your bender's guide means by it before using a setback figure.
- Developed length is the conduit inside the bend itself: π ÷ 2 × radius for a 90.
Gain at other angles (centerline)
| EMT size | 10° | 22.5° | 30° | 45° | 60° | 90° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" (Klein 51606) | 0.002" | 0.024" | 0.057" | 0.199" | 0.497" | 1.985" |
| 3/4" (Klein 51607) | 0.002" | 0.028" | 0.068" | 0.237" | 0.591" | 2.361" |
| 1" (Greenlee 842AH) | 0.003" | 0.033" | 0.080" | 0.280" | 0.699" | 2.790" |
Gain at smaller angles is tiny, which is why the field multiplier method ignores it for offsets. On a 1" Greenlee 842AH (6-1/2" radius) a 45° bend already gains a little over 1/4".
The marks on a hand bender
- Arrow: the reference for stubs, offsets and kicks.
- Teardrop / rim notch: on many benders, the center of a bend, used for the center of a 3-point saddle.
- Star point: on many benders, the back of a 90, for back-to-back bends with the bender reversed.
- Degree marks: sight lines on the side of the shoe, commonly 10°, 22.5°, 30°, 45° and 60°; markings vary by model, so follow your bender's guide.
Checking your own shoe
Bend a 90 on a scrap with the arrow at a known mark, for example 10" from the end. Measure the finished stub from the floor to the end: stub − 10 is your real take-up. Do it once per shoe and write it inside the handle.
Sources: NEC 2023 358.24 and Chapter 9, Table 2; Klein Tools Conduit Bender Guide (stub take-up, offset multipliers and shrink, saddles); Klein Tools Conduit Bending Basics (90° stub-up take-up table: 5", 6", 8", 11"). Method.
Questions electricians ask
What is the deduct for a 1/2 inch EMT bender?
5 inches. For a 90° stub, subtract 5" from the stub height and put the arrow on that mark.
What is the take-up on a 1 inch EMT bender?
8 inches in Klein’s guide. A 1" EMT shoe rated for it also bends 3/4" rigid with the same 8" take-up; check the rating on your shoe.
What is gain in conduit bending?
Gain is the conduit a 90° bend saves compared with two straight legs meeting at a sharp corner. When a piece has 90s in it, subtract the gain for each 90 from the sum of the leg lengths to know how long to cut it.
Where is the star on a conduit bender?
On benders that have one, the star point is cast into the side of the shoe; it marks the back of a 90 and is used for back-to-back bends. The arrow marks the start of the bend and the notch or teardrop marks the center of a bend for saddles.
Common shoes, already loaded
- Klein, Greenlee, IDEAL, Milwaukee, Southwire, Gardner Bender
- Edit take-up and radius to match the number cast in your shoe
- Spec sheet: deduct, gain, setback and travel for every angle
- Rigid on an EMT shoe, and mechanical and electric bender templates
Android only. There is no iPhone version yet; the free calculators on this site work on any phone.
$7.99 one time · no subscription · no ads · works offline