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How to bend a 3-point and a 4-point saddle over an obstruction

For a 3-point saddle, bend the centre at 45° and each side at 22.5°, with the side marks placed the obstruction height × 2.613 from the centre mark (7 27/32" for a 3" pipe). A 4-point saddle is two offsets over a flat top: height × multiplier between the marks of each one. PipeMaster's 3-Point Saddle and 4-Point Saddle calculators (Pro) give those distances — sight down the pipe before every centre bend, since the math won't catch a twisted saddle.

3 min read · Updated 2026-09-10

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3-point or 4-point: which saddle?

A 3-point saddle crosses something round or narrow, such as another pipe: one centre bend and two half-angle bends on either side. A 4-point saddle crosses something wide and flat, such as a duct or a beam: two offsets with a straight section on top that spans the obstruction.

The 3 point saddle formula

  • Side angle = centre angle ÷ 2.
  • Side mark distance = obstruction height ÷ sin(side angle), measured from the centre mark to each side mark.
  • With a 45° centre and 22.5° sides that is height × 2.613.

Plenty of field charts round the 45° multiplier to 2.5 — 7 1/2" instead of 7 27/32" for a 3" obstruction. PipeMaster sticks to the plain geometry. Bend a test saddle with both numbers once and keep whichever one actually lands on your obstruction with your own bender.

Steps in PipeMaster

  1. Open 3-Point Saddle under Pro Calculators.
  2. Enter the Obstruction Height.
  3. Tap the centre bend angle in the row of angles; 45.0° is the usual choice.
  4. Read Side Angle and Side Bend Distance under Result.
  5. Mark the centre where the conduit crosses the middle of the obstruction, adjusted for shrink by your usual method, then mark each side at the side bend distance.
3-point saddle results
Obstruction HeightAngleSide AngleSide Bend Distance
3"45°22.5°7 27/32"
2"45°22.5°5 7/32"
50 mm45°22.5°131 mm
3"60°30.0°6"

PipeMaster does not give shrink for a 3-point saddle or move the centre mark for it. A figure often taught for a 45° centre is 3/16" of shrink per inch of obstruction height; check it against a test bend.

The 4 point saddle bend formula

Each side of a 4-point saddle is an offset of the obstruction height, so the distance between the outer and inner mark of each offset is height ÷ sin(angle), the normal offset multiplier. The flat section between the two offsets has to be at least as long as the obstruction is wide.

Steps in PipeMaster

  1. Open 4-Point Saddle under Pro Calculators.
  2. Enter the Obstruction Height and tap the angle for both offsets in the row of angles.
  3. Enter the Obstruction Top Width.
  4. Read Outer-to-Inner Distance; the top width is repeated under Result so you have both numbers on one screen.
  5. Lay out the first offset, the flat section over the top width plus any clearance, then the second offset, following the method you were taught.
4-point saddle results
Obstruction HeightAngleObstruction Top WidthOuter-to-Inner Distance
4"30°8"8"
4"45°8"5 21/32"

The app does not lay out all four marks and does not work out shrink for a 4-point saddle; the shrink of each offset is height × shrink per inch (0.268 at 30°) from the Bend Reference card.

Common mistakes

  • Letting the conduit rotate between bends: all bends of a saddle must stay in one plane or it dog-legs.
  • Forgetting shrink, so the saddle lands off-centre on the obstruction.
  • Choosing steep angles on a long run: a 4-point saddle at 45° adds 180° of bends, half of the 360° allowed between pull points.
  • Bending the centre of a 3-point saddle in the wrong direction; sight down the pipe before each bend.

Questions and answers

What is the 3 point saddle multiplier at 45 degrees?
The geometry gives 2.613 × the obstruction height from the centre mark to each side mark, because each side is bent at 22.5°. Many field charts use 2.5 instead; for a 3" obstruction that is 7 1/2" against 7 27/32".
How do you bend a saddle in EMT with PipeMaster?
Pick 3-Point Saddle for a pipe or 4-Point Saddle for a wide obstruction, enter the height (and top width for a 4-point), choose the angle and read the distances. You still lay out the marks and apply shrink yourself.
Can I use any angle for a saddle?
No, the saddle calculators offer 10°, 22.5°, 30°, 45° and 60°. For a 3-point saddle the value you pick is the centre angle, and the side angle is half of it.

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