Enter the torque and choose from newton-meters, pound-feet, pound-inches and kilogram-force meters. Take the value from a wrench setting, a service manual or an engine specification. Torque is a force times a distance, so a unit of force and a unit of length are combined: one pound-foot is a force of one pound applied one foot from the pivot.
Check whether the specification says pound-feet or pound-inches, which differ by a factor of 12.
Torque Converter: worked example
| Torque to convert | 100 |
|---|---|
| Starting unit | Newton-meters |
| Requested unit | Pound-feet |
| Converted value | 73.8 |
| 1 unit of "from" in "to" units | 0.738 |
Torque Converter: formula
Common error: Confusing pound-force feet with pound-force inches. They differ by a factor of twelve. Word order alone does not reliably distinguish torque from energy; read the physical quantity and full unit.
Confusing pound-feet with pound-inches produces a twelvefold error that can break fasteners or leave them loose. Torque wrench accuracy is limited, and lubrication of threads changes the clamping force produced by a given torque. Engine torque differs from wheel torque.
Always use the manufacturer's value and sequence.
Torque Converter: changing Torque to convert
| Torque to convert | Converted value | 1 unit of "from" in "to" units |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 59 | 0.738 |
| 90 | 66.4 | 0.738 |
| 100 (example) | 73.8 | 0.738 |
| 110 | 81.1 | 0.738 |
| 120 | 88.5 | 0.738 |
Torque Converter: compare input ranges
| Input | Tested from | To | Converted value: low input | Converted value: high input | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting unit | Newton-meters | Newton-centimeters | 73.8 | 0.738 | 73 (980%) |
| Requested unit | Newton-meters | Newton-centimeters | 100 | 10,000 | 9,900 (13544%) |
| Torque to convert | 90 | 110 | 66.4 | 81.1 | 14.8 (20%) |
Torque Converter: individual input comparisons
| Input | Value | Converted value | 1 unit of "from" in "to" units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torque to convert | 80 | 59 | 0.738 |
| 90 | 66.4 | 0.738 | |
| 100 | 73.8 | 0.738 | |
| 110 | 81.1 | 0.738 | |
| 120 | 88.5 | 0.738 | |
| Starting unit | Newton-meters | 73.8 | 0.738 |
| Pound-feet | 100 | 1 | |
| Pound-inches | 8.3 | 0.083 | |
| Kilogram-force meters | 723.3 | 7.2 | |
| Newton-centimeters | 0.738 | 0.00738 | |
| Requested unit | Newton-meters | 100 | 1 |
| Pound-feet | 73.8 | 0.738 | |
| Pound-inches | 885.1 | 8.9 | |
| Kilogram-force meters | 10.2 | 0.102 | |
| Newton-centimeters | 10,000 | 100 |
Torque Converter: which assumptions move the result?
Torque Converter: values and definitions
| Quantity and definition | Value used |
|---|---|
| Torque to convert | 100 |
| Starting unit — Unit to convert from. | Newton-meters |
| Requested unit — Unit to convert to. | Pound-feet |
| Converted value | 73.8 |
| 1 unit of "from" in "to" units | 0.738 |
Unit Conversion calculators: Frequency Converter Calculator, Fuel Economy Converter Calculator, Length Converter Calculator, Weight Converter Calculator, Volume Converter Calculator, Speed Converter Calculator.
Torque is a force at a distance, so its units multiply a force unit by a length unit: newton-meters, pound-feet, pound-inches. One pound-foot is about 1.356 newton-meters, which makes 100 newton-meters about 73.8 pound-feet. A pound-foot is twelve pound-inches, an easy factor to lose when a manual switches between them halfway down the page.
Reference values: one newton-meter is about 8.85 pound-inches or 0.738 pound-feet, and one kilogram-force meter is 9.807 newton-meters. A wheel-nut spec of 100 pound-feet is about 136 newton-meters.
Look at the spec's unit before setting the wrench. A bolt torqued to a pound-foot value in newton-meters ends up far too tight or too loose.
Convert force on the force converter, power on the power converter, and length on the length converter. The fastener pilot hole calculator helps with wood screws, and the physics category covers torque and rotational quantities. Use a calibrated torque wrench and follow the tightening pattern.
Do foot-pound and pound-foot always mean different physical quantities?
No. Usage varies. Torque and work can have the same force-times-distance dimensions, but torque is a moment and work is energy.
Establish the quantity from the specification rather than relying on word order.
Does converting torque determine bolt clamping force?
No. Thread geometry, friction, lubrication and the joint affect clamping force. Unit conversion preserves the specified moment without determining the joint’s preload.
How do I convert newton-meters to pound-feet?
Multiply by 0.7376. So 100 newton-meters is about 73.8 pound-feet.
What is the difference between pound-feet and pound-inches?
A pound-foot is 12 pound-inches, so mixing them up changes the torque by a factor of 12.
Does lubrication change how much to tighten?
Yes. Lubricated threads produce more clamping force for the same torque, so follow the manual's instructions for dry or lubricated threads.