Torque Converter
Enter a value to instantly convert between torque units.
Torque conversions come up whenever a wrench spec crosses unit systems: a repair manual written in newton-meters, a torque wrench calibrated in foot-pounds, or a small-fastener spec in inch-pounds because the numbers involved are too small for foot-pounds to be practical. Anyone doing mechanical work, from car repair to bicycle assembly to industrial equipment maintenance, needs to convert between them to avoid stripping a fastener or leaving one loose enough to fail.
1 Newton-Meter = 0.7376 Foot-Pound
Key Formulas
Newton-Meter → Foot-Pound
ft·lb = N·m × 0.737562Foot-Pound → Newton-Meter
N·m = ft·lb × 1.35582Newton-Meter → Inch-Pound
in·lb = N·m × 8.85075Inch-Pound → Newton-Meter
N·m = in·lb × 0.112985Popular Conversions
Choose Any Torque Units
Choose any two torque units in the converter above. Dedicated conversion guides appear here only after their formulas and supporting content have been reviewed.
About Torque Conversions
History & Background
Torque as a measurable quantity grew out of the same physics as force and lever arms: a newton-meter is the torque produced by one newton of force applied at a one-meter distance from a pivot point. The newton-meter became the SI standard, while foot-pounds and inch-pounds persisted in the US and UK because customary tools (torque wrenches, spec sheets) were already calibrated that way before metric standardization spread through manufacturing. The kilogram-force meter is an older metric unit, defined using a kilogram's weight under standard gravity rather than the newton directly; it still appears on some older or Japanese-manufactured equipment despite the newton-meter now being the preferred SI unit.
How to Use This Converter
Pick the unit your spec is written in and the unit your tool reads, enter the value, and the result updates instantly. Small fasteners (spark plugs, electronics housings) are usually specified in inch-pounds because the values in foot-pounds or newton-meters would be too small to read precisely. Larger fasteners (lug nuts, engine mounts, structural bolts) use foot-pounds or newton-meters depending on the manufacturer's home market. Always match your tool's calibration to the number you enter, and use a calibrated torque wrench rather than estimating by feel for safety-critical fasteners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do small fasteners use inch-pounds instead of foot-pounds?
Inch-pounds give finer resolution for delicate fasteners like spark plugs and electronics housings, where even a small overshoot in foot-pounds (a much larger unit) can crack the component. One foot-pound equals 12 inch-pounds, so a spec of 15 in-lb would round to an unreadable fraction of a foot-pound on a standard wrench.
Is a kilogram-force meter the same as a newton-meter?
No. A kilogram-force meter is about 9.80665 newton-meters, since it's defined using the force a kilogram exerts under standard gravity rather than the newton directly. It still appears on some older or imported equipment manuals, but newton-meters are the standard SI unit for new specifications.
What happens if I use the wrong torque unit by mistake?
Confusing newton-meters with foot-pounds (roughly a 1.36x difference) or foot-pounds with inch-pounds (a 12x difference) can either strip threads and crack components from over-tightening, or leave a fastener loose enough to fail under vibration. Always double check which unit a spec sheet uses before setting a torque wrench, especially for safety-critical fasteners like wheels or suspension components.
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