Nm to lb-ft Converter
Convert torque between newton-meters and pound-feet instantly, both directions.
Convert torque between newton-meters (Nm) and pound-feet (lb-ft) — the two most common torque units. Useful whenever you compare a European engine spec with a US one, or set a torque wrench.
Conversion Formula
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the torque in newton-meters.
- Read the pound-feet result instantly.
Common Conversions
| Newton-meters | Pound-feet |
|---|---|
| 100 | 73.8 |
| 200 | 147.5 |
| 300 | 221.3 |
| 400 | 295.0 |
| 500 | 368.8 |
What Torque Units Measure
Both newton-meters and pound-feet measure torque — a rotational, or twisting, force. One newton-meter is one newton of force applied at the end of a one-meter lever; one pound-foot is one pound of force at the end of a one-foot lever. They describe the same physical quantity, just in metric vs imperial units, which is why converting between them is a simple fixed factor.
When You Need This Conversion
Torque conversion comes up constantly: comparing a European engine's Nm rating against a US engine's lb-ft, setting a torque wrench whose scale differs from the spec, or reading fastener torque values in a service manual. Note that lb-ft (pound-feet, a torque unit) is different from ft-lb of work — though numerically identical, the order signals torque vs energy by convention.
Worked Example
Full Nm ↔ lb-ft Conversion Chart
Both directions, covering fastener-range torques through to heavy-diesel engine outputs.
| Nm | lb-ft | lb-in | lb-ft | Nm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7.4 | 88.5 | 10 | 13.6 |
| 20 | 14.8 | 177 | 20 | 27.1 |
| 30 | 22.1 | 266 | 30 | 40.7 |
| 50 | 36.9 | 443 | 50 | 67.8 |
| 80 | 59.0 | 708 | 80 | 108.5 |
| 100 | 73.8 | 885 | 100 | 135.6 |
| 120 | 88.5 | 1,062 | 120 | 162.7 |
| 150 | 110.6 | 1,328 | 150 | 203.4 |
| 200 | 147.5 | 1,770 | 200 | 271.2 |
| 300 | 221.3 | 2,655 | 300 | 406.7 |
| 400 | 295.0 | 3,540 | 400 | 542.3 |
| 500 | 368.8 | 4,425 | 500 | 677.9 |
| 600 | 442.5 | 5,310 | 600 | 813.5 |
| 800 | 590.1 | 7,081 | 800 | 1,084.7 |
| 1000 | 737.6 | 8,851 | 1000 | 1,355.8 |
lb-ft, ft-lb and lb-in — Three Labels, Two Meanings
This trips up more people than the metric conversion does, and getting it wrong by a factor of twelve strips threads.
| Unit | Also written | Relationship | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| lb-ft | ft-lb, ft·lbf | The base imperial torque unit | Engine specs, wheel nuts, suspension |
| lb-in | in-lb, in·lbf | 1 lb-ft = 12 lb-in | Small fasteners, valve covers, electronics, interior trim |
| kgf·m | kg-m, kgm | 1 kgf·m = 9.807 Nm = 7.233 lb-ft | Older Japanese service manuals |
The ft-lb versus lb-ft distinction is a convention rather than a real difference: by tradition lb-ft denotes torque and ft-lb denotes work or energy. Numerically they are identical, and most manuals use them interchangeably. It only matters when you are reading a physics text.
Using This for a Torque Wrench
Converting the number is the easy part. Applying it correctly is where fasteners get ruined.
- Do not round aggressively. Converting 120 Nm and rounding to "90 lb-ft" instead of 88.5 is a 1.7% error — acceptable. Rounding 25 Nm to "20 lb-ft" instead of 18.4 is 9% — not acceptable on an aluminum thread.
- Work in the wrench's native scale where you can. Every conversion adds rounding, and dual-scale wrenches let you skip it entirely.
- Stay in the middle of the wrench's range. Click wrenches are least accurate in the bottom 20% of their scale — a 30–150 lb-ft wrench set to 30 lb-ft is at its worst.
- Wind a click wrench back to its lowest setting after use, or the spring takes a set and the calibration drifts.
- Torque-to-yield bolts do not follow this at all. Head bolts and many suspension fasteners specify an initial torque then an angle — 40 Nm plus 90 degrees. No conversion substitutes for the angle stage.
Typical passenger-car ranges, purely to sanity-check that you are in the right order of magnitude — always follow the manufacturer's figure for your specific vehicle:
| Fastener | Typical range (Nm) | Typical range (lb-ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Spark plug | 20–30 | 15–22 |
| Oil drain plug | 25–40 | 18–30 |
| Wheel nut / bolt | 100–140 | 74–103 |
| Brake caliper bracket | 80–130 | 59–96 |
| Valve cover bolt | 8–12 | 6–9 (72–106 lb-in) |
These are indicative only. Fastener torque depends on thread size, material, whether the thread is lubricated or dry, and whether the fastener is reusable — a service manual is the only correct source.
Once the torque unit is settled, Nm to HP turns a metric torque figure and an rpm into power, and Nm to kW does the same in metric units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply newton-meters by 0.7376. For example, 400 Nm × 0.7376 = 295 lb-ft.
Multiply pound-feet by 1.3558. For example, 300 lb-ft × 1.3558 = 407 Nm.
The US uses pound-feet (imperial) while Europe uses newton-meters (metric/SI). They measure the same thing, just in different units.
A newton-meter is smaller — one lb-ft equals about 1.36 Nm, so torque numbers in Nm are larger than the same torque in lb-ft.
Both exist. US wrenches are often marked in lb-ft (or in-lb for small values), while metric wrenches use Nm. Convert before tightening to spec.
No — 1 lb-ft = 12 lb-in. A spec of "89 lb-in" means 7.4 lb-ft, not 89. Getting this wrong by a factor of twelve strips threads, so check whether a small-fastener spec is in inch-pounds.
295 lb-ft. Multiply newton-meters by 0.7376.
Kilogram-force meters, common in older Japanese manuals. 1 kgf·m = 9.807 Nm = 7.233 lb-ft.
Only gently. Rounding 120 Nm to 90 lb-ft instead of 88.5 is a 1.7% error and fine. Rounding 25 Nm to 20 lb-ft instead of 18.4 is 9% — enough to damage an aluminum thread.
Only for the initial torque stage. Head bolts and many suspension fasteners specify a torque plus an angle — such as 40 Nm then 90 degrees. No unit conversion substitutes for the angle stage, and those bolts are usually single-use.