Kink Calculator

In the electrical trade, a kink is a collapsed, over-bent section of conduit: the wall buckles because the bend was too sharp or poorly supported. This calculator helps you plan a run before you bend: enter the angle of each bend and it totals them, shows the average bend, and checks the total against the NEC 360-degree limit between pull points, telling you how much bend you have left or whether a junction box is required.

Worked example, checked against this exact tool

An EMT run with four bends: 90° + 90° + 45° + 45°. Total = 270°, average = 67.5°. Against the NEC 360° limit: 90° remaining before a pull point is required. Add one more 90° bend and the run sits exactly at 360°: compliant, with nothing left for the next bend.

The NEC 360-degree rule

NEC 358.26 (EMT), 344.26 (rigid metal), and 352.26 (PVC) all say the same thing: no more than the equivalent of four quarter bends (360 degrees total) between pull points such as boxes and conduit bodies. The reason is practical: every bend adds friction, and past 360° the pull can damage conductor insulation. Exceed the total and the fix is a junction box or conduit body that resets the count.

What counts toward the total

Every bend between the two pull points counts: 90s, 45s, offsets (two bends), and saddles (three or four). A 30° offset is two 30° bends = 60° of your budget. Conduit bodies (LB, LL, LR, T) count as pull points and reset the total, which is why the tool asks about the run between pull points, not the whole job.

Avoiding an actual kink

The 360° rule keeps pulls safe; kinking is about how each bend is made. Use the right bender for the conduit size and type, keep the conduit flat against the bender shoe, align the bend marks, and bend in one smooth motion: stopping and restarting in the same spot ripples the wall. For PVC, heat evenly and use a plug or spring so the wall can’t collapse; for EMT, a kinked section is scrap, so measure twice.

Plumbing and general use

The 360° limit is an electrical code rule about pulling wire. For plumbing and general-purpose pipe the tool still totals your bends (useful for fitting counts and layout), but there is no equivalent code ceiling: the verdict line says so instead of applying the NEC limit.

What competing calculators cover

Calculatoratoz’s “sharp kink” tools compute the geometry of a folded-rectangle shape: a different “kink” entirely. Nobody else totals conduit bend angles against the NEC pull-point rule. This page does that one job, with the code reference stated.

Frequently asked questions

How many degrees of bend are allowed between pull points?

360 degrees total: the equivalent of four quarter bends (NEC 358.26 for EMT; equivalent sections for RMC and PVC).

What happens if I exceed 360 degrees?

Add a pull point: a junction box or conduit body between the bends resets the count.

Do offsets count as bends?

Yes. A 30-degree offset is two 30-degree bends: 60 degrees of your 360 budget.

Do conduit bodies reset the bend count?

Yes. Conduit bodies (LB, LL, LR, T) and boxes are pull points; the total restarts after each one.

What is a kink in conduit?

A collapsed section where the wall buckled from too sharp or poorly supported a bend. Kinked EMT is scrap.

How do I avoid kinking EMT?

Right-size bender, conduit flat on the shoe, aligned marks, one smooth motion; never re-bend the same spot.

Can I heat PVC conduit to bend it?

Yes, with even heat and internal support (plug or spring) so the wall can’t collapse.

Does the 360-degree rule apply to plumbing?

No. It is an electrical rule about pulling conductors; plumbing uses fittings and has no equivalent ceiling.

What are the common bend angles?

90, 45, 30, 22.5, 15, and 10 degrees, plus the multi-bend combinations (offsets, saddles).

Is four 90-degree bends exactly at the limit?

Yes: 4 × 90 = 360 degrees. Compliant, with zero remaining for the next bend.