Torque Converter (N·m, lb·ft, kgf·m)
Type in either box to turn N·m into lb·ft, lb·in into N·m, kg·cm into oz·in or any pair of torque units, with the answer in every unit at once.
Type in either box. Tap a unit under a box to change it.
Measure from the middle of the bolt to where your hand pushes. 90° means pushing straight across the spanner, which gives the most torque; at an angle you get force × length × sin(angle).
An engine’s peak power and peak torque come at different rpm, so use the power and the rpm from the same point on the curve.
N·m to lbf·ft table
Common values both ways. Change the units above and the table follows.
| N·m | lbf·ft |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.7375621 |
| 2 | 1.475124 |
| 5 | 3.687811 |
| 10 | 7.375621 |
| 15 | 11.06343 |
| 20 | 14.75124 |
| 25 | 18.43905 |
| 30 | 22.12686 |
| 40 | 29.50249 |
| 50 | 36.87811 |
| 75 | 55.31716 |
| 100 | 73.75621 |
| 150 | 110.6343 |
| 200 | 147.5124 |
| 250 | 184.3905 |
| 300 | 221.2686 |
| 400 | 295.0249 |
| 500 | 368.7811 |
| lbf·ft | N·m |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.355818 |
| 2 | 2.711636 |
| 5 | 6.77909 |
| 10 | 13.55818 |
| 15 | 20.33727 |
| 20 | 27.11636 |
| 25 | 33.89545 |
| 30 | 40.67454 |
| 40 | 54.23272 |
| 50 | 67.7909 |
| 75 | 101.6863 |
| 100 | 135.5818 |
| 150 | 203.3727 |
| 200 | 271.1636 |
| 250 | 338.9545 |
| 300 | 406.7454 |
| 400 | 542.3272 |
| 500 | 677.909 |
Typical torques (examples, not specs)
- Laptop screw, M2 (typical)20 N·cm = 0.2 N·m = 1.77 lbf·in
- Bicycle stem or handlebar bolt (typical)5 N·m = 44.3 lbf·in = 51 kgf·cm
- Bicycle pedal (typical)35 N·m = 25.8 lbf·ft = 3.57 kgf·m
- Hobby servo motor (typical)10 kgf·cm = 0.981 N·m = 8.68 lbf·in
- Cordless drill, top setting (typical)50 N·m = 36.9 lbf·ft = 5.1 kgf·m
- Spark plug, 14 mm thread (typical)25 N·m = 18.4 lbf·ft = 2.55 kgf·m
- Engine oil drain plug (typical)30 N·m = 22.1 lbf·ft = 3.06 kgf·m
- Car wheel nuts, small or family car (typical)110 N·m = 81.1 lbf·ft = 11.2 kgf·m
- Pickup or large SUV wheel nuts (typical)140 lbf·ft = 190 N·m = 19.4 kgf·m
- Family car engine, peak (generic)250 N·m = 184 lbf·ft = 25.5 kgf·m
- Truck diesel engine, peak (generic)2,500 N·m = 1,840 lbf·ft = 255 kgf·m
These are typical figures to give a feel for the numbers, not the tightening spec for any car, bike or part. Always use the torque in your vehicle’s or part’s manual: too tight can strip threads or crack parts, too loose can let a wheel come off.
How your torque is converted
Every unit goes into newton metres first, then out to the unit you want.
- 1
Your torque
100 N·m →
lbf·ft - 2
Into newton metres
Already in newton metres:
100 N·m - 3
Out to lbf·ft
100 ÷ 1.355818 =
73.75621 lbf·ft - 4
The shortcut
1 N·m =
0.7375621 lbf·ft
Read more: the formula, worked examples, force × lever, torque and power, and the unit names
The formula
newton metres = your number × N·m in one of your unit
answer = newton metres ÷ N·m in one of the unit you want
N·m → lb·ft: lb·ft = N·m ÷ 1.3558179
lb·ft → N·m: N·m = lb·ft × 1.3558179
torque = force × lever length × sin(angle)
power (W) = N·m × 2π × rpm ÷ 60
hp = lb·ft × rpm ÷ 5,252
Worked example
100 N·m in lb·ft. It is already in newton metres, so go straight out to lb·ft. One lb·ft is 4.4482216152605 N × 0.3048 m = 1.3558179 N·m, so 100 ÷ 1.3558179 = 73.75621 lb·ft, about 73.76 lb·ft. As a shortcut, 1 N·m = 0.7375621 lb·ft.
The other way: 80 lb·ft × 1.3558179 = 108.4654 N·m. And a servo rated 10 kg·cm: 10 × 0.0980665 = 0.980665 N·m.
Force × lever (Advanced)
Torque is the force times the distance from the middle of the bolt, when you push straight across the lever. With the default numbers: 200 N × 0.5 m × sin(90°) = 200 × 0.5 × 1 = 100 N·m, the same as the converter’s default. In US units, 50 lbf on an 18 in spanner is 50 × 18 = 900 lbf·in = 75 lbf·ft (101.69 N·m). Push at 30° to the spanner instead of 90° and you only get half: sin(30°) = 0.5.
Torque and power (Advanced)
Power is torque times how fast it turns. With the defaults: 250 N·m × 2π × 3,000 rpm ÷ 60 = 250 × 314.159 = 78,539.8 W = 78.54 kW. In horsepower, 78,539.8 ÷ 745.69987 = 105.32 hp (106.78 PS). The other way: 100 kW at 6,000 rpm is 100,000 × 60 ÷ (2π × 6,000) = 159.15 N·m (117.39 lb·ft).
The 5,252 rule: 33,000 ÷ 2π = 5,252.11, so hp = lb·ft × rpm ÷ 5,252. That is why torque and horsepower curves on a US dyno chart always cross at 5,252 rpm.
Unit names
| Unit | Also written | In N·m |
|---|---|---|
| lbf·ft | lb·ft, ft·lb, ft-lbs | 1.355818 |
| lbf·in | lb·in, in·lb, in-lbs | 0.112985 |
| ozf·in | oz·in, in·oz | 0.007061552 |
| kgf·m | kg·m, kp·m, mkg | 9.806650 |
| kgf·cm | kg·cm, kgf.cm | 0.098067 |
| N·cm | cN·m (centinewton metre) | 0.010000 |
| dyn·cm | dyne·cm (CGS unit) | 1 × 10⁻⁷ |
Torque or energy?
A newton metre of torque and a joule of energy have the same base units, but they are different things. Torque is a twist: force at right angles to a lever. Energy is force pushed along a distance. One full turn at 1 N·m of torque does 2π = 6.28 joules of work. For energy units, use the energy converter; for watts and horsepower, the power converter.
Factors are exact by definition: 1 lbf = 4.4482216152605 N, 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 in = 0.0254 m, 1 ozf = 1/16 lbf, 1 kgf = 9.80665 N, 1 dyne = 10⁻⁵ N, 1 kip = 1,000 lbf, 1 poundal = 0.138254954376 N; mechanical hp = 745.69987 W, metric hp (PS) = 735.49875 W. Checked 15 October 2026 against NIST Special Publication 811.
Common questions
How do I convert N·m to lb·ft?
Divide by 1.3558, or multiply by 0.7376. So 100 N·m is 73.76 lb·ft. One lb·ft is exactly 4.4482216152605 N × 0.3048 m = 1.3558179 N·m.
How do I convert lb·ft to N·m?
Multiply by 1.3558. So 80 lb·ft is 80 × 1.3558 = 108.47 N·m. A quick rough check: add a third and a bit (80 + 27 = 107).
Are lb·ft and ft·lb the same?
For torque, yes: both mean a force of 1 pound on a lever 1 foot long, 1.3558 N·m. Engineers often write lbf·ft for torque and ft·lbf for work or energy so the two don’t get mixed up, but torque wrenches use either label.
What is kg·cm torque, as on a servo?
kg·cm on a servo or small motor means kilogram-force centimetres: the weight of 1 kg (9.80665 N) on an arm 1 cm long. So 10 kg·cm is 0.98 N·m, or 8.68 lb·in. Divide kg·cm by 10.197 to get N·m.
How do I work out horsepower from torque and rpm?
Power = torque × 2π × rpm ÷ 60, in watts when torque is in N·m. In US units, hp = lb·ft × rpm ÷ 5,252. So 300 lb·ft at 5,252 rpm is 300 hp. Advanced does this in kW, hp and PS, and the other way round too.
Is a newton metre the same as a joule?
They have the same base units, but they measure different things. A joule is energy (a force pushed through a distance along it). A newton metre of torque is a turning force (a force at right angles to a lever). That is why torque is written N·m and never J.
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