By Blissom · Updated 2026-10-23
Layout values: check them against your own bender, on scrap first.
Which bender for which size
| Rigid / IMC size | Usual bender |
|---|---|
| 1/2" to 1" | Hand bender (an EMT shoe one size up that is rated for rigid, or a rigid hand bender); a hickey for bends in place |
| 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" | Rated mechanical ratchet or power bender |
| 2" and larger | Power bender (hydraulic or electric) with the matching shoe |
Rigid 90° deduct chart: Klein hand-bender reference
| Rigid size | Bent on | Take-up | 18" stub mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 3/4" EMT shoe | 6" | 12" |
| 3/4" | 1" EMT shoe | 8" | 10" |
| 1" | 1-1/4" EMT shoe | 11" | 7" |
These are reference values from Klein's Conduit Bender Guide, not universal deducts for every EMT shoe: use only a shoe rated for the rigid or IMC size you are bending, and confirm the deduct on the shoe or in its manual, since other makers and models can differ. Always check the bender maker's stated capacity too. Mechanical and electric benders publish their own take-up and gain per shoe in the manual; use those. Stub marks work the same way as EMT: stub height − take-up. See the stub-up calculator and the deduct chart.
How to bend a 90° in rigid conduit, step by step
- Check the bender is rated for the conduit type (RMC or IMC) and size.
- Find the deduct for that specific shoe and decide the finished stub height, measured from the floor (the back of the 90) to the end.
- Mark the conduit at stub height minus the deduct, measured from the end that becomes the stub.
- Set the bender with the hook toward that end and the arrow on the mark, the conduit fully seated in the shoe.
- Bend with the foot pressure and handle technique the maker specifies, keeping the conduit seated, up to the shoe's 90° reference.
- Release and check the angle with a level and the stub height with a tape; correct any spring-back as the bender's instructions describe.
- Inspect the bend for flattening, kinks or cracked coating before installing it.
Worked example: a 14" stub in 3/4" rigid
3/4" rigid goes on the 1" EMT hand bender, which takes up 8". 14 − 8 = 6": put the arrow on a mark 6" from the end, hook toward that end, and bend. Check the angle with a level before taking it out of the shoe, and correct for spring-back as the bender’s instructions describe.
Technique and spring-back
- Rigid takes much more force. Use a long, sturdy handle and keep the pipe seated in the groove, with the foot pressure and handle technique the bender's maker specifies.
- Spring-back often differs from EMT. Bend to the shoe's reference, release, check with a level and correct as the bender's instructions describe, rather than overbending by a fixed amount.
- Offsets and saddles use the same multipliers and shrink as EMT; the shoe radius is larger, so the exact correction matters more on deep offsets.
Bending with a hickey
A hickey is a short bending head on a handle for rigid up to about 1". It bends in many small bites rather than one sweep: move the hickey a little along the pipe between each bite so the bend forms a smooth radius instead of a kink. It is useful for bends in place and short pieces where a full bender will not fit.
Threads and bends
Keep bends away from threaded ends; a fitting needs straight thread to seat. Plan enough straight conduit at each end for the threads, coupling and fitting. When the final length means cutting after bending, cut squarely, ream and deburr the cut end before threading, then thread with the right equipment, and protect field-cut threads against corrosion where required (NEC 344.28 for RMC, 342.28 for IMC).
RMC vs IMC
IMC has a thinner wall than RMC and a slightly smaller outside diameter, with the same threads, so it is lighter and typically bends with a little less effort on benders rated for it. The conduit sizes chart has outside and inside diameters.
NEC rules for rigid and IMC bends
- Bends must not damage the conduit or effectively reduce its internal diameter (344.24 for RMC, 342.24 for IMC).
- No more than 360° of bends between pull points (344.24, 342.24).
- Minimum radius per Chapter 9, Table 2.
Sources: NEC 2023 344.24 and 342.24; Klein Tools Conduit Bender Guide (stub take-up, offset multipliers and shrink, saddles). Method.
Questions electricians ask
Can you bend rigid conduit with an EMT bender?
Yes, one size up, on shoes rated for it: a 3/4" EMT hand bender bends 1/2" rigid, a 1" EMT bender bends 3/4" rigid, and a 1-1/4" EMT bender bends 1" rigid, with that shoe's take-up. Rigid is harder to pull, so use a long handle and steady foot pressure.
What is the take-up for 1/2 inch rigid conduit?
6" in Klein’s guide, the take-up of the 3/4" EMT shoe it is bent on. 3/4" rigid on a 1" EMT shoe is 8", and 1" rigid on a 1-1/4" EMT shoe is 11". Check the number on your own bender.
Does rigid conduit spring back more than EMT?
It can: the heavier wall and the larger shoes mean spring-back often differs from EMT. Bend to the shoe’s reference mark, release, check with a level and correct as the bender’s instructions describe, rather than overbending by a fixed amount.
What is the difference between RMC and IMC?
IMC (intermediate metal conduit) has a thinner wall than RMC and is lighter, with a slightly smaller outside diameter but the same threads, so the same fittings fit. It is bent on the same benders when they are rated for IMC, typically with a little less effort.
Rigid on the right shoe, already set
- Rigid on EMT shoes with the correct take-up
- Mechanical and electric bender templates for larger sizes
- Marks from the end of the pipe for every bend
- Your own take-up and radius, saved
Android only. There is no iPhone version yet; the free calculators on this site work on any phone.
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