Free Torque Converter
Convert torque units instantly — Newton-meters, pound-feet, pound-inches, kilogram-force meters, and more. Free, symmetrical, no sign-up.
Exact Conversion Formula & Multipliers
Torque, the rotational analog of force, is measured as force times lever-arm distance: 1 newton-meter = 1 kg·m²/s² in SI units, while 1 pound-foot = 1.3558179483314 N·m and 1 pound-inch = 0.1129848290276 N·m. Note that pound-foot for torque and foot-pound for energy use the same base units in a different order — a common source of confusion this converter avoids by keeping torque and energy in separate categories entirely.
Practical Real-World Scenarios
- Automotive repair: wrench and bolt torque specifications are given in newton-meters internationally but often in pound-feet or pound-inches in US manuals and tools.
- Engineering design: motor and engine torque curves are published in different unit systems depending on the manufacturer's home market, complicating cross-brand comparisons.
- Sports equipment: cycling power meters and some fitness equipment report pedaling torque, which technical users convert between unit systems for training analysis.
Historical & Technical Background
The concept of torque as a distinct rotational quantity was formalized alongside the broader development of Newtonian mechanics, but its everyday units followed whatever length and force units were already locally standard — hence pound-feet in imperial-measuring countries and newton-meters everywhere the metric system took hold. The lack of a single dedicated 'torque unit' name (unlike the newton for force) reflects that torque is fundamentally a compound quantity, defined by multiplying two other measurements together.
Precision & Accuracy Statement
Every conversion factor used on this page is checked against internationally recognized reference standards — BIPM SI Brochure derived-unit definitions and NIST Special Publication 811 — rather than approximated or rounded for display. Where a constant is fixed by international definition (such as 1 inch = 2.54 cm, or standard gravity = 9.80665 m/s²), we use the exact defined value. Where a figure is a practical industry convention rather than a physical constant, that distinction is stated explicitly above so results are never presented with false precision.
How This Converter Works
Torque (rotational force) is measured in Newton-meters for engineering specs and pound-feet for automotive applications. Our converter handles 9 torque units simultaneously.
Common Conversions
| Newton-meters (N·m) | Pound-feet (lb·ft) | kgf·m | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 N·m | 0.738 lb·ft | 0.102 kgf·m | One Newton-meter |
| 100 N·m | 73.76 lb·ft | 10.2 kgf·m | Small car engine torque |
| 300 N·m | 221.3 lb·ft | 30.6 kgf·m | Average family car |
| 600 N·m | 442.5 lb·ft | 61.2 kgf·m | Performance car |
| 1,355.8 N·m | 1,000 lb·ft | 138.3 kgf·m | Heavy truck engine |