Torque Converter

What the Torque Converter does

Torque Converter: 1 N·m = 0.73756215 lbf·ft, so multiply a newton metre value by 0.73756215 to get pound-force foot, or divide to go back. Example: 1 N·m = 0.73756215 lbf·ft.

Give the Torque Converter your Value, From and To and it works out Result, How it was calculated and Reverse conversion. Change any input and the output follows immediately.

Converting once from the original figure beats chaining approximations. That is usually what brings engineers checking a datasheet here.

The work is done by JavaScript already loaded in your browser, so your input never crosses the network.

The field table, the method and a worked example are documented after the tool for anyone who wants to check the working.

What do the Torque Converter fields mean?

The Torque Converter uses 3 inputs. None of the boxes start empty. The page loads with a worked set of values you can edit or replace.

How does the Torque Converter work?

Both units are converted through torque's base unit (N·m), so any of the 8 units in the dropdowns can be paired in either direction without loss of accuracy.

Every factor here is the defined one, not a textbook approximation. That matters more than it sounds: rounding a factor early is the usual reason two converters disagree in the fourth decimal place.

Worked example

These are the values the Torque Converter loads by default, and the result it produces from them. Open the tool above and you will find precisely these figures already in place.

Torque

Torque measures a rotational (twisting) force, distinct from the straight-line forces the newton and pound-force converters describe, and like several units in this category, everyday practice often uses a "gravitational" unit (kilogram-force metre) alongside the proper SI newton-metre.

Worth knowing

• Car engine specifications and torque wrenches commonly use pound-force feet (lbf·ft) in the US and newton-metres (N·m) almost everywhere else: 1 lbf·ft equals exactly 1.3558179483314004 N·m, a conversion that comes up constantly comparing vehicle specs across markets.
• Kilogram-force metre (kgf·m), still printed on many torque wrenches and older specifications, is technically a "gravitational" unit (it depends on standard gravity, 9.80665 m/s²) rather than a purely SI-defined one, but it remains common in everyday mechanical work.
• Correct torque values matter enormously in practice: under-tightening a bolt risks it working loose, while over-tightening can strip threads or fracture a fastener, which is exactly why torque wrenches (and correct unit conversion between their scales) matter for anything safety-critical.

Definitions: BIPM SI Brochure · NIST reference on units

How to use it

1. Set Value.
2. Pick a value for From: the options are Newton metre (N·m), Newton centimetre (N·cm), Kilonewton metre (kN·m), Kilogram-force metre (kgf·m), Kilogram-force centimetre (kgf·cm) or Pound-force foot (lbf·ft).
3. Pick a value for To: the options are Newton metre (N·m), Newton centimetre (N·cm), Kilonewton metre (kN·m), Kilogram-force metre (kgf·m), Kilogram-force centimetre (kgf·cm) or Pound-force foot (lbf·ft).
4. Because there is no round trip to a server, updating on every keystroke costs nothing.
5. Check Result, How it was calculated and Reverse conversion on the right.
6. Use Copy Link if you want the same setup again later, or Print for a paper copy.

What this tool does not do

• Conversion factors use SI definitions; some industries use their own rounded factors.
• Repeated conversions compound rounding, so convert once from the original value where possible.
• Batch work is not supported; each run handles one set of values.
• The tool trusts your numbers completely, so a mis-keyed digit propagates straight through.

Frequently asked questions

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