🔧 Torque

Torque Converter

Tightening a bolt to 90 lb-ft, reading an engine spec in N·m, checking a wrench — convert any rotational force. Press Convert when you are ready.

Written and reviewed by SM Arijul Islam · Last reviewed 28 October 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error

About the torque converter

Torque is a force applied at a distance, measured in newton-metres in the SI system. In the United States and the United Kingdom, pound-feet (often written lb-ft, and confusingly "foot-pounds") is the workshop standard. Note that pound-foot and foot-pound are numerically identical but describe different concepts — torque versus energy.

Factors used

1 lb-ft = 1.3558179483314 N·m
1 lb-in = 0.1129848290276170 N·m
1 kgf·m = 9.80665 N·m exactly
1 kgf·cm = 0.0980665 N·m
1 dyne·cm = 10⁻⁷ N·m

Always use a calibrated torque wrench for critical fasteners and follow the manufacturer's specification precisely.

How to convert torque

Torque is a turning force, calculated as force multiplied by the distance from the pivot, so it is measured in newton-metres (N·m). Imperial equivalents include pound-force feet and pound-force inches. Because torque combines a force with a lever arm, it is not the same quantity as work even though the units look similar — torque is a vector, and no distance is travelled by the force itself.

Common torque conversions

One newton-metre expressed in other units of torque
Unit	1 newton-metre equals
Dyne-centimetre (dyn·cm)	10,000,000
Newton-centimetre (N·cm)	100
Pound-inch (lb·in)	8.8507458
Pound-foot (lb·ft)	0.73756215
Kilogram-force metre (kgf·m)	0.10197162
Kilonewton-metre (kN·m)	0.001

Everyday uses

Tightening bolts and fasteners to specification
Automotive, motorcycle and bicycle maintenance
Machinery, gearbox and motor sizing
Choosing and using a torque wrench
Physics and mechanics problems

Frequently asked questions

Is torque the same as power?

No. Torque is a turning force; power is the rate of doing work and equals torque multiplied by rotational speed.

How many foot-pounds are in a newton-metre?

About 0.7375621 lbf·ft, so 100 N·m is roughly 73.8 lbf·ft.

Why does bolt torque matter?

Too little risks loosening, leaks and vibration damage; too much can strip threads or stretch a fastener past its elastic limit.

Should I use lubricated or dry torque figures?

They differ. Lubrication reduces friction, so a given torque produces more clamping force on a lubricated thread.

More worked examples

100 newton-metres is about 73.76 foot-pounds.
100 foot-pounds is about 135.58 newton-metres.
One kilogram-force metre is 9.80665 newton-metres.
A torque wrench set to 80 foot-pounds applies about 108.5 newton-metres.

Quick reference

Common exact torque conversion factors
Conversion	Exact value
1 newton-metre	0.737562 ft·lb
1 foot-pound	1.35582 N·m
1 newton-metre	8.85075 in·lb
1 kgf·m	9.80665 N·m
1 lbf·ft	1.35582 N·m
1 newton-metre	10.1972 kgf·cm

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing torque with energy. Both are measured in newton-metres, but torque is a rotational force with direction, while energy is a scalar.
Thinking foot-pounds and pound-feet are different. For practical purposes the magnitudes are identical; foot-pound is the more common label.
Using a torque wrench at the very bottom of its scale, where accuracy is worst. Most are most accurate in the middle of their range.
Forgetting that torque specifications are usually quoted dry, and lubricating a thread changes the torque actually delivered.

Further questions

What is torque?

A rotational force, calculated as the force applied multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the pivot, measured in newton-metres.

Is foot-pound the same as pound-foot?

Numerically yes. The two names describe the same magnitude, and foot-pound is the more common in everyday use.

What is a kgf·m?

The torque produced by one kilogram-force acting at a distance of one metre, equal to 9.80665 newton-metres.

Do I really need a torque wrench?

For critical fasteners such as wheel nuts, cylinder heads and suspension bolts, yes. Guessing risks loosening, stripping or warping components.

Sources and standards

Torque is force multiplied by distance, so the newton metre is dimensionally the same as the joule but is written differently by convention. NIST SP 811 provides the pound-force foot factor, which depends on the same standard gravity as the pound-force.