Nm to ft-lbs Converter
Punch a value into the tool. Read the result. This converter changes newton‑meters into foot‑pounds and vice versa so you do not have to remember how the point shifts.
Nm to ft-lb converter
Convert newton metres to foot-pounds, or the other way round. Type in either box and the other updates as you go.
Common torque values
| N·m | ft·lb | in·lb |
|---|
How the conversion works
One newton metre equals about 0.7376 foot-pounds, and one foot-pound equals about 1.3558 newton metres.
ft·lb = N·m × 0.737562
N·m = ft·lb × 1.355818
For example, a wheel nut torqued to 120 N·m is 88.51 ft·lb.
What Are You Actually Converting?
Torque can confuse people because it seems complex than it really is. Torque is simply the twisting force applied around a pivot point. The harder you. The farther from that pivot you push the greater the torque. Tightening a bolt turning a wrench or starting a car engine all involve torque.
You are likely on this page because a torque wrench, a car manual or a supplier spec sheet is using an unit than you are used to. Newton‑meters (Nm) is the measurement that is standard in almost every country outside the United States. Foot‑pounds (ft‑lbs) is the unit still used by American tools and equipment. Mixing cross‑border parts, cars, older equipment and newer wrenches can create unnecessary confusion when a conversion is not at hand.
The Formula If You Want to Do It by Hand
Not everyone trusts a calculator until the math is shown. That is understandable. Here is the math:
ft-lbs = Nm × 0.7376
Take 40 Nm multiply it by 0.7376. The result is about 29.5 ft‑lbs. After a practice runs you will likely estimate that approximately three‑quarters of the Nm value gives a close enough ft‑lbs figure even if you would not rely on a guess for tightening a wheel bolt.
Going the Way. Ft-Lbs to Nm
Reverse the formula to convert in the other direction:
Nm = ft-lbs × 1.3558
This conversion is used more often when a US‑spec torque wrench is employed while following a manual written for a European or Asian vehicle. Multiply the ft‑lbs reading by 1.3558 to obtain the desired Nm value.
Nm to Ft-Lbs. Quick Reference
|
Newton-Meters (Nm) |
Foot-Pounds (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|
|
1 Nm |
0.74 ft-lbs |
|
5 Nm |
3.69 ft-lbs |
|
10 Nm |
7.38 ft-lbs |
|
20 Nm |
14.75 ft-lbs |
|
25 Nm |
18.44 ft-lbs |
|
30 Nm |
22.13 ft-lbs |
|
40 Nm |
29.50 ft-lbs |
|
50 Nm |
36.88 ft-lbs |
|
75 Nm |
55.32 ft-lbs |
|
100 Nm |
73.76 ft-lbs |
|
Foot-Pounds (ft-lbs) |
Newton-Meters (Nm) |
|---|---|
|
1 ft-lb |
1.36 Nm |
|
5 ft-lbs |
6.78 Nm |
|
10 ft-lbs |
13.56 Nm |
|
20 ft-lbs |
27.12 Nm |
|
25 ft-lbs |
33.90 Nm |
|
30 ft-lbs |
40.67 Nm |
|
40 ft-lbs |
54.23 Nm |
|
50 ft-lbs |
67.79 Nm |
|
75 ft-lbs |
101.69 Nm |
|
100 ft-lbs |
135.58 Nm |
Where This Actually Comes Up
Picture this: you are changing wheels and the specification requires 90 ft‑lbs on the lug nuts. The torque wrench however is calibrated in Nm because it was purchased secondhand from a shop that sells imported items. This is not a problem:
90 × 1.3558 = 122.02 Nm
Set the wrench to 122 Nm and the result will be accurate. No one wants to under‑torque a lug nut and discover it while driving on the highway. This is not a "close enough" scenario; it is important to be precise.
The same logic applies to engine work, appliance repair and even flat‑pack furniture that contains hardware while an imperial Allen key set sits in your garage. Units clash often than people anticipate.
A Few Other Torque Units You Might Run Into
Nm and ft‑lbs cover ninety percent of the torque units you will encounter yet a few uncommon units appear on older equipment or specialty parts:
Kilogram-force centimeters (kgf‑cm). 1 Kgf‑cm equals 0.0981 Nm or 0.0723 ft‑lbs. This unit appears on servos, RC hobby parts and tiny fasteners where Nm values are too small to be practical.
Kilopond-meters (kgm sometimes written kp⋅m). 1 Kgm equals 9.807 Nm. This old metric unit is mostly found on legacy machinery.
Inch-pounds (in‑lbs). Used for items. Divide by 12 to convert to ft‑lbs; multiply ft‑lbs by 12 to revert to in‑lbs.
One point that often confuses people is that foot‑pounds (ft‑lbs) measure torque while pounds-force (lbf) measures straight‑line force. They are not the same even though the abbreviations appear similar. If a spec sheet lists "lbf," do not insert that value into a torque converter; verify the measurement first.