Torque Converter
Convert a torque between newton-meters, kilonewton-meters, pound-force feet, pound-force inches, ounce-force inches, and kilogram-force meters. One lbf·ft is 1.3558179483314004 N·m. Torque is not a stored energy in joules.
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How to convert newton-meters to pound-force feet
- Enter the torque. The default is 1 newton-meter.
- Keep From as Newton-meters and To as Pound-force feet, or pick lbf·in, ozf·in, or kgf·m.
- Read pound-force feet. Divide N·m by 1.3558179483314004.
- Swap units to start from lbf·ft. Fastener charts stay in this tab as numbers, not as code.
Newton-meter (torque)
Moment of force, not energy
| Newton-meter | Torque: force times perpendicular lever arm |
|---|---|
| Pound-force foot | 1 lbf·ft = 1.3558179483314004 N·m |
| Pound-force inch | 1 lbf·in = 1/12 lbf·ft = 0.1129848290276167 N·m |
| Ounce-force inch | 1 ozf·in = 1/16 lbf·in |
| Kilogram-force meter | 1 kgf·m = 9.80665 N·m |
| Joule collision | 1 J = 1 N·m of work. Same SI product, different quantity |
What this torque converter does
Torque is a turning moment: a force times a perpendicular distance. The SI unit is the newton-meter. Pound-force foot uses the same pound-force as the force converter (4.4482216152605 N) times the international foot (0.3048 m), which is 1.3558179483314004 N·m per lbf·ft. Inch and ounce-force inch units scale that lever arm and that force. Kilogram-force meter uses 9.80665 N times one meter.
A joule is also 1 N·m, but a joule is energy (work along a path). A wrench rating in N·m is not a battery in joules. Energy units live on energy. Straight force without a lever lives on force.
Torque factors
lbf·ft = N·m / 1.3558179483314004. lbf·in = N·m / 0.1129848290276167. kgf·m = N·m / 9.80665. kN·m = N·m / 1000. ozf·in uses 0.007061551814226043 N·m. The engine does not multiply by a bolt diameter or a friction coefficient. Those belong in a tightening spec, not here.
Torque versus force versus energy
Force is newtons. Torque is newtons times meters as a moment. Energy is newtons times meters as work. Engines quote torque at a crank. Power is torque times angular speed: watts = N·m × rad/s. Convert power on power or horsepower to kilowatts. Do not paste a torque into the energy converter and call it joules of fuel.
When to convert torque here
Read a metric wrench spec as lbf·ft, turn an inch-pound fastener rating into N·m, or check kgf·m against newton-meters. Leave motor power and fuel energy on their own pages.
What this page does not do
It does not convert energy. It does not convert force without a lever arm you already folded into the number. It is not a tightening procedure. Input stays in this tab.