About the Torque Converter
Torque is the turning force that tightens bolts, spins wheels and drives engines. Different manuals give it in newton metres, pound-force feet, pound-force inches or kilogram-force metres, and using the wrong unit on a wheel nut or engine bolt can strip a thread or leave a part dangerously loose. This converter turns a torque value from any of nine units into all the others at once, using exact factors. Use it for car and bike maintenance, tool specifications, machinery and engineering homework.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Torque Converter
- 1Enter the torque value.
- 2Choose the unit it is in.
- 3Read the same torque in every other unit.
- 4Check the lbf·ft and N·m summary at the top.
- 5Set your torque wrench to the converted value.
Reference values
- 1 N·m = 0.73756 lbf·ft = 8.85075 lbf·in.
- 1 lbf·ft = 1.35582 N·m = 12 lbf·in.
- 1 kgf·m = 9.80665 N·m = 7.233 lbf·ft.
- 1 lbf·in = 0.112985 N·m = 16 ozf·in.
- 1 N·cm = 0.01 N·m.
Using a torque wrench
Set the wrench to the target value and pull smoothly until it clicks, then stop. Do not use it to loosen bolts, and wind it back to its lowest setting after use so the spring stays accurate. Clean, dry threads give consistent results, while oil or rust changes the clamping force for the same torque unless the manual says otherwise.
Always follow the manufacturer's value for the exact part, rather than a general table.
A worked example: a car manual gives the wheel nut torque as 90 lbf·ft, but your torque wrench is marked in newton metres. Multiplying by 1.35582 gives 122 N·m, so set the wrench to 122. If the manual gives 12 kgf·m instead, multiply by 9.80665 to get 117.7 N·m. A small bike component listed at 5 N·m converts to 44 lbf·in or 3.7 lbf·ft. Because the wrong unit can leave a bolt dangerously loose or snap it, check the converted number twice and make sure your wrench scale matches the unit you picked.
Torque specifications also depend on the condition of the thread. Manufacturers usually give dry values unless they say lubricated, and adding oil or anti-seize can make the same wrench setting produce a much higher clamping force. Always read the notes next to the figure in the service manual, and do not mix values from different sources or different models, even if the parts look the same.
Other converters
The Pressure Converter helps with tyre pressures, the Power Converter and Horsepower Calculator convert engine output, the Energy Converter covers joules and calories, and the Unit Converter handles lengths and masses.
Features
- Nine torque units
- Exact conversion factors
- All results shown together
- Large and small torques supported
- Summary of the two most common units
- Free and private
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert N·m to lb-ft?
Multiply the newton metres by 0.73756. A torque of 100 N·m is about 73.76 lbf·ft. To go the other way, multiply lb-ft by 1.35582, so 100 lbf·ft is 135.58 N·m.
What is the difference between lb-ft and lb-in?
A foot is 12 inches, so one lb-ft equals 12 lb-in. Small fasteners are usually in lb-in or N·m, while engine and wheel torques are in lb-ft. Mixing them is a common cause of damaged bolts.
What is a kgf·m?
A kilogram-force metre is the torque from a one-kilogram weight acting at the end of a one-metre lever, 9.80665 N·m. Older Japanese and European manuals still use it, and some torque wrenches carry kgf·m scales.
Is torque the same as energy?
They share units, since both are force times distance, but they are different ideas. Torque is a turning effect, while energy in joules is work done. Newton metres for torque are not written as joules.
How tight should wheel nuts be?
The exact value is in your vehicle's handbook; many cars use 100 to 140 N·m (74 to 103 lbf·ft). Use a calibrated torque wrench and tighten in a star pattern, rechecking after the first drive.
Can I convert torque to power?
Only if you also know the speed. Power equals torque times angular speed. The Power Converter and Horsepower Calculator cover this relationship.