Nm to ft-lbs Converter

ft-lbs and in-lbs are not interchangeable

Foot-pounds and inch-pounds differ by a factor of twelve, which is the most common torque mix-up. Because one foot is twelve inches, $1\ \mathrm{lbf\cdot ft} = 12\ \mathrm{lbf\cdot in}$. A spec of $10\ \mathrm{N\cdot m}$ is about $7.38\ \mathrm{lbf\cdot ft}$ but about $88.5\ \mathrm{lbf\cdot in}$ — applying the wrong one is a $12\times$ error. If the wrench in front of you is marked in inch-pounds instead, use the Nm to in-lbs Converter for that unit.

Torque is force times lever arm

Torque is the turning effect of a force applied at a distance from a pivot:

That is why torque units pair a force unit with a length unit — $\mathrm{N\cdot m}$ is newtons times metres, and $\mathrm{lbf\cdot ft}$ is pounds-force times feet. If you also need to convert the force side of a spec, the Force Converter handles newtons, pounds-force, and other force units directly.

A few units look similar but mean different things

• $\mathrm{J/rad}$ equals $\mathrm{N\cdot m}$ by definition — they are two names for the same quantity, which is why both read identically here.
• The kilogram-force is kilograms times standard gravity, $g_0 = 9.80665\ \mathrm{m/s^2}$, so $1\ \mathrm{kgf\cdot cm} = 0.0980665\ \mathrm{N\cdot m}$ and $1\ \mathrm{kgm} = 9.80665\ \mathrm{N\cdot m}$. The “kgm” (kilopondmeter) and $\mathrm{kgf\cdot m}$ mean the same torque.
• Be careful with the shorthand “kg·cm”: a plain kilogram times a centimetre is not a torque unit. It only makes sense as kilogram-force centimeters, which is why the correct symbol is $\mathrm{kgf\cdot cm}$.