Nm to ft-lbs Torque Converter
One number in, every torque unit out — N·m, ft-lbs, in-lbs and kgf·m together, exactly.
The short answer
Formula. 1 N·m = 0.7375621 ft-lb — multiply newton-metres by 0.7376 for foot-pounds, divide to go back.
Example. 100 N·m = 73.76 ft-lb (= 885.07 in-lb); 250 ft-lb = 338.95 N·m.
Convert
How the conversion works
Torque is a force times a lever arm, and every unit here is the same physics in different clothes. One newton-meter is a newton pushing at the end of a one-meter wrench; one foot-pound is a pound-force at the end of a one-foot wrench. The bridge is exact definitions: 1 lb = 4.4482216152605 N and 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, which makes 1 ft-lb = 1.355818 N·m and, inverted, 1 N·m = 0.737562 ft-lb. Inch-pounds are just foot-pounds × 12, and a kilogram-force meter is 9.80665 N·m exactly.
Why a converter beats a table: real wrenches mix units shamelessly. German car manuals quote wheel bolts in N·m (typically 110–140 for passenger cars, 160–190 for vans and light trucks); American shops quote ft-lbs (the classic 100 ft-lbs lug spec is 135.58 N·m); bicycle and firearms specs live in in-lbs (a stem bolt at 5 N·m is 44.3 in-lbs); and Japanese motorcycle manuals often use kgf·m. The single box above converts any of the four into all of the others at once, so the number on your torque wrench dial is never the reason a spec gets guessed.
Three field notes worth more than the arithmetic. Torque wrenches read most accurately in the middle of their range — a 20–100 ft-lb clicker at 15 ft-lb is guessing, so own two wrenches, not one. Clicker-style wrenches should be wound back to their lowest setting for storage to keep the spring honest. And the spec assumes clean, dry threads unless stated: oil or anti-seize on threads changes friction, effectively over-torquing the bolt at the same click — manufacturers who permit lubricated threads say so and adjust the number.
Sources & review date
- Exact definitions: 1 lbf = 4.4482216152605 N and 1 ft = 0.3048 m, so the conversion factor is arithmetic — it cannot drift.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Numbers that drift (fees, prices, densities) are editable inputs on this page.
Torque conversion FAQs
Is ft-lb the same as lbf-ft?
Yes — foot-pound, pound-foot, ft-lb, lb-ft and lbf-ft all name the same unit; engineering writing often prefers "pound-foot" to distinguish torque from energy's foot-pound, but the number is identical.
What's a typical wheel nut torque?
Passenger cars cluster at 80–110 ft-lbs (about 110–150 N·m); always use the placard or manual value for your exact vehicle, and re-check after 50–100 km on new wheels.
How accurate does the conversion need to be?
Torque specs carry real tolerance (often ±10% including the wrench), so two decimals of conversion factor are far more precision than the wrench itself. The converter rounds to two decimals, well inside any spec's noise.
Can I convert kgf·cm specs too?
Convert to N·m first: divide kgf·cm by 10.197 to get N·m (1 kgf·m = 9.80665 N·m, 1 m = 100 cm). Small electric-screwdriver specs are usually kgf·cm and land in in-lb territory once converted.