OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occlusal force and contact area and to find its associating factors in Koreans. METHODS: Occlusal force and contact area in maximum intercuspation were measured using the Dental Prescale(R) system in 651 subjects (15 with normal occlusion, 636 with various malocclusions divided into subgroups according to the skeletal pattern, Angle's molar relationship, age and gender). RESULTS: Occlusal force of the normal occlusion group (744.5 +/- 262.6 N) was significantly higher than those of the malocclusion group (439.0 +/- 229.9 N, p < 0.05). Occlusal force was similar regardless of differences in ANB angle or Angle's molar classification, however the increase in vertical dimension significantly reduced occlusal force (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal force was significantly lower in the malocclusion group compared to the normal occlusion group, and in females compared to males, but it was not affected by age, antero-posterior skeletal pattern or molar classification. Although a hyperdivergent facial pattern indicated lower occlusal force compared to a hypodivergent facial pattern, the differences in skeletal pattern were not the primary cause of its decrease, but a secondary result induced by the differences in occlusal contact area according to the facial pattern.