Torque specifications for wheel nuts, engine bolts and bicycle parts appear in newton-metres, pound-feet or pound-inches depending on the manual. Using the wrong unit can mean a bolt 12 times too tight or too loose, so double-check the unit on your wrench.
How to use the Torque Converter
- Pick the unit you are starting from in the From menu and type your value.
- Pick the unit you want in the To menu. The heading changes to match – for example “Newton-meters to Pound-feet Converter”.
- The most common torque units are shown below at the same time, so you can compare them at a glance.
- Type into any result to convert backwards, then use Copy results – the copied text starts with the heading for your chosen units.
Results update as you type. Everything is calculated in your browser.
How it works
Every torque unit is defined by an exact factor relative to the newton-metre (the base unit). The calculator first turns the value you type into newton-metres, then turns that into the unit you picked in the “To” menu and into each of the common units below it. This two-step method means any unit can be converted to any other – 8 units are available in each menu – and you can type into any field, including a result, to work in the other direction. Changing a unit menu keeps the quantity the same and just re-expresses it, and the page heading and copied results follow your choice.
How to convert torque units
- Choose the unit you have in the From menu and type the value, for example 100 N·m.
- Choose the unit you want in the To menu, for example pound-feet. The page heading changes to “Newton-meters to Pound-feet Converter”.
- The calculator multiplies by the newton-metre factor of the “from” unit and divides by the factor of the “to” unit: 100 N·m × 1 ÷ 1.3558179 = 73.756215 lbf·ft.
1 newton-metre in common units
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Pound-feet (lbf·ft) | 0.73756215 |
| Pound-inches (lbf·in) | 8.8507458 |
| Kilogram-force metres (kgf·m) | 0.10197162 |
| Kilogram-force centimetres (kgf·cm) | 10.197162 |
| Kilonewton-metres (kN·m) | 0.001 |
| Ounce-inches (ozf·in) | 141.61193 |
Newton-metres conversion table
| Newton-metres | lbf·ft | lbf·in | kgf·m | kgf·cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.73756215 | 8.8507458 | 0.10197162 | 10.197162 |
| 5 | 3.6878107 | 44.253729 | 0.50985811 | 50.985811 |
| 10 | 7.3756215 | 88.507458 | 1.0197162 | 101.97162 |
| 25 | 18.439054 | 221.26864 | 2.5492905 | 254.92905 |
| 50 | 36.878107 | 442.53729 | 5.0985811 | 509.85811 |
| 100 | 73.756215 | 885.07458 | 10.197162 | 1,019.7162 |
| 150 | 110.63432 | 1,327.6119 | 15.295743 | 1,529.5743 |
| 200 | 147.51243 | 1,770.1492 | 20.394324 | 2,039.4324 |
What is a newton-metre?
The newton-metre is the SI unit of torque: a force of one newton at a lever arm of one metre. Car and bicycle torque specifications use N·m.
What is a pound-foot?
The pound-foot (often written ft-lb) is the U.S. unit of torque, about 1.356 N·m. Wheel-nut and engine torque in U.S. manuals use it.
What is a pound-inch?
The pound-inch (in-lb) is 1/12 of a pound-foot, about 0.113 N·m, used for small fasteners and electrical terminals.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing ft-lb with in-lb (a factor of 12), and treating torque in n·m as energy in joules.
Formula
1 N·m = 0.73756215 lbf·ft1 N·m = 8.8507458 lbf·in1 N·m = 0.10197162 kgf·m1 N·m = 10.197162 kgf·cm1 N·m = 0.001 kN·mWorked example
Inputs — From: 100 N·m.
Results — To = 73.75621493 lbf·ft; Pound-inches = 885.07457913 lbf·in; Kilogram-force metres = 10.19716213 kgf·m; Kilogram-force centimetres = 1,019.71621298 kgf·cm; Kilonewton-metres = 0.1 kN·m; Ounce-inches = 14,161.19326612 ozf·in.
Frequently asked questions
How many lb-ft is 100 N·m?
About 73.76 lbf·ft.
How many in-lb in a ft-lb?
12.
Is N·m torque the same as a joule?
They have the same dimensions, but torque is written N·m and energy J to avoid confusion.
How do I change the units?
Pick any unit in the From and To menus. The value is converted in place, and the heading changes to show your conversion, for example “Newton-meters to Pound-feet Converter”.
Can I type into any field?
Yes. Every field is editable, so you can start from whichever unit you have.
How many units can I convert between?
8 torque units, from the everyday to the specialised.
Which units are exact?
All factors here are exact by definition except astronomical and similar reference values, which use internationally agreed constants.
What formula does the Torque Converter use?
1 N·m = 0.73756215 lbf·ft.