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
Conversion factors use the exact defined values given in NIST Special Publication 811 and the BIPM SI Brochure wherever such a definition exists (for example 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L, g₀ = 9.80665 m/s²); derived factors are computed from those definitions rather than copied as rounded figures. Results are calculated in double-precision floating point and shown to 10 significant digits, so the last digit can differ by one unit of rounding. The rounded figures in the text and tables above are for reading convenience.
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 |