How do you convert Newton-metres to foot-pounds?

One newton-metre equals 0.7376 foot-pounds. To convert N-m to ft-lb, multiply by 0.7376. To convert ft-lb to N-m, multiply by 1.35582. For example, 1 N-m equals 0.7376 ft-lb, and 100 ft-lb equals 135.58 N-m.

What is a kilogram-force metre?

A kilogram-force metre (kgf-m) is a legacy torque unit equal to the torque produced by a one-kilogram-force acting at a one-metre radius. Since one kgf equals 9.80665 N, one kgf-m equals 9.80665 N-m. It is still used in some older machine specifications and in some Asian countries.

How many inch-pounds in a foot-pound?

There are exactly 12 inch-pounds (in-lb or in-lbf) in one foot-pound (ft-lb or ft-lbf), because one foot equals 12 inches. Inch-pounds are commonly used for small fastener torque specifications, such as electronics or appliance screws, while foot-pounds are used for larger automotive and structural fasteners.

Torque Converter

Torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force: it is the tendency of a force to cause rotation about an axis. It equals force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force. The SI unit is the newton-metre (N·m), but a wide range of other units are in everyday use across different industries and countries. Automotive engineers in New Zealand and Australia use N·m for engine torque specifications, while workshop manuals originating in the United States typically quote tightening torques in foot-pounds (ft·lb) or inch-pounds (in·lb). Older European specifications may use kilogram-force metres (kgf·m), still seen on some imported machinery and compressor datasheets. This converter handles all four of those units plus newton-centimetres, which appear in some small motor and servo specifications. Select the unit you are starting from, enter your value, and all the other units update instantly. The default is 1 N·m, which demonstrates a set of reference values you can use to check any manual conversion. Results are rounded to four significant figures or four decimal places to keep them practical for workshop and engineering use. Note that torque in N·m and energy in joules (J) have the same dimensional units but are fundamentally different quantities: torque is a vector quantity (force times distance perpendicular to rotation), while energy is a scalar. Use this tool only for torque conversions, not for energy.

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Convert from

Value

1.0000 N·m

newton-metres

ft·lb0.7376 ft·lb

in·lb8.851 in·lb

kgf·m0.1020 kgf·m

N·cm100.0 N·cm

How it works

All conversions use newton-metres (N·m) as the base. Conversion factors to N·m: 1 ft·lb = 1.35582 N·m; 1 in·lb = 0.11299 N·m; 1 kgf·m = 9.80665 N·m; 1 N·cm = 0.01 N·m. The input is first converted to N·m, then each other unit is obtained by dividing by its factor.

Worked example

Convert 1 N·m to other units. 1 N·m divided by 1.35582 = 0.7376 ft·lb. Divided by 0.11299 = 8.851 in·lb. Divided by 9.80665 = 0.1020 kgf·m. Divided by 0.01 = 100.0 N·cm. These match the default output displayed when the calculator loads.

Related calculators

Torque to Horsepower: convert torque and RPM to mechanical horsepower and kilowatts.
Horsepower Calculator: calculate power output from torque in N·m and shaft speed in RPM.
Force Converter: convert between newtons, lbf, kgf, kip, and dyne.
Energy Converter: convert between joules, kWh, BTU, and other energy units (not to be confused with torque).

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