Torque Converter

Convert between Nm, lb-ft, lb-in, and kg-m

Last updated: 10/8/2026

Data sources:NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B: Conversion factors

Enter a torque in newton-metres, pound-feet, pound-inches, or kilogram-metres and the converter lists the same torque in all four units. Service manuals written for different markets often quote the same fastener in different units, and a wrench set to the wrong scale can strip a thread or leave a bolt loose.

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The converter changes units only. It does not account for wrench calibration, lubricated versus dry threads, or extension bars, all of which change the torque actually delivered to a fastener.

How It Works

Torque is force × lever arm, so each unit is a force unit multiplied by a length unit. The value is first converted to newton-metres: 1 lb-ft = 4.448222 N × 0.3048 m = 1.355818 Nm; 1 lb-in = 1.355818 ÷ 12 = 0.112985 Nm; 1 kg-m (kgf·m) = 9.80665 Nm. Reversed: 1 Nm = 0.737562 lb-ft = 8.850746 lb-in = 0.101972 kg-m.

lb-ft and ft-lb mean the same torque

Automotive manuals in the US write pound-feet as "lb-ft", "ft-lb", or "ft·lbf". All describe the same quantity: one pound-force applied one foot from the axis. Strictly, "foot-pound" is also the name of an energy unit, which is why engineering texts prefer lb-ft for torque, but tool manufacturers use both spellings interchangeably.

Watch the inch and foot variants carefully. 100 lb-in is only 8.33 lb-ft; setting a wrench to 100 lb-ft on a fastener specified in lb-in applies twelve times the intended torque.

Worked example

A wheel nut specified at 140 Nm on a wrench marked in lb-ft

Pound-feet:140 Nm × 0.737562 lb-ft/Nm= 103.26 lb-ft

Pound-inches:140 Nm × 8.850746 lb-in/Nm= 1,239.10 lb-in

Kilogram-metres:140 Nm × 0.101972 kg-m/Nm= 14.28 kg-m

Most click wrenches are set in whole units, so you would set 103 lb-ft; the 0.26 lb-ft difference is well inside normal wrench tolerance (typically ±4%).

Tips & Best Practices

•Check which unit your torque wrench scale shows before setting it; many have Nm on one side and lb-ft on the other.
•lb-in is common for small fasteners on bicycles, electronics, and interior trim; Nm is used in most non-US manuals.
•kg-m appears in older Japanese and European manuals. Multiply by 9.807 to get Nm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert Nm to ft-lbs quickly in my head?

Multiply Nm by 0.74, or divide by 1.36. 100 Nm is about 74 lb-ft; 50 lb-ft is about 68 Nm.

What is the difference between lb-ft and lb-in?

Only the length unit. One lb-ft is 12 lb-in because there are 12 inches in a foot. Small fasteners are specified in lb-in so the numbers stay readable.