Torque Converter
Enter a torque value and its unit to see the equivalent in newton-meters, pound-feet, pound-inches, and kilogram-force meters.
How torque conversion works
Torque measures rotational force — the product of a force and the distance from the pivot point (lever arm) at which it's applied. The newton-meter (N·m) is the SI unit; pound-feet (lb·ft) is common for larger torques like car engines in the US, while pound-inches (lb·in) suits smaller torques like fasteners.
1 lb·ft equals exactly 12 lb·in (since 1 foot = 12 inches), and both convert to N·m using the pound-force-to-newton relationship combined with the length unit conversion.
Frequently asked questions
How many lb·ft is one N·m?
1 N·m is approximately 0.738 lb·ft.
Why do small fasteners use lb·in instead of lb·ft?
Lb·in gives finer resolution for small torque values — a bolt torqued to 100 lb·in would be an awkward 8.3 lb·ft, so the smaller unit is more practical and precise for that range.
Is torque the same as work or energy?
Torque and work/energy (both measured in units that reduce to force × distance) share the same dimensional units, but they're conceptually different — torque describes a rotational force, while work/energy describes force applied over a distance of travel.