Newton-Meters to Foot-Pounds
- In-lb to ft-lb
- Nm to ft-lb
- Nm to in-lb
Use this tool to convert between newton-meters (Nm) and foot-pounds (ft-lb). Although the technically precise notation is pound-force foot (lbf·ft) - representing force × distance - we use the more familiar 'ft-lb' format. We discuss this distinction further down the page. Note that we also have a dedicated converter for ft-lb to Nm here.
| Newton-meters | Foot-pounds |
|---|---|
| 10 Nm | 7.376 ft-lb |
| 15 Nm | 11.063 ft-lb |
| 20 Nm | 14.751 ft-lb |
| 25 Nm | 18.439 ft-lb |
| 30 Nm | 22.127 ft-lb |
| 35 Nm | 25.815 ft-lb |
| 40 Nm | 29.502 ft-lb |
| 45 Nm | 33.190 ft-lb |
| 50 Nm | 36.878 ft-lb |
| 55 Nm | 40.566 ft-lb |
| 60 Nm | 44.254 ft-lb |
| 65 Nm | 47.942 ft-lb |
| 70 Nm | 51.629 ft-lb |
| 75 Nm | 55.317 ft-lb |
| 80 Nm | 59.005 ft-lb |
| 85 Nm | 62.693 ft-lb |
| 90 Nm | 66.381 ft-lb |
| 95 Nm | 70.068 ft-lb |
| 100 Nm | 73.756 ft-lb |
| 150 Nm | 110.634 ft-lb |
| 200 Nm | 147.512 ft-lb |
| Note: conversions are rounded to max 3 decimal places. | |
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made in building our calculator tools, we are not to be held liable for any damages or monetary losses arising out of or in connection with their use. Full disclaimer.
How to convert Nm to ft-lb
One newton-meter (N·m) = 0.7376 ft-lb. To convert a measurement in newton-meters to foot-pounds, multiply your figure by 0.7376 (or divide by 1.356). Note that while we frequently express the unit as foot-pounds or ft-lb, the technically correct notation is lbf·ft.
Newton-meters (SI system) and pound-feet (Imperial/US customary system) are both units of torque, which is a measure of the rotational force that causes an object to turn about an axis. 3 You'll find these units commonly used in the mechanical, automotive, and structural engineering industries.
What is a newton-meter?
A newton-meter represents the torque produced by applying 1 N of force at a perpendicular distance of 1 meter from the pivot. You can learn more about torque and newton-meters in this article by scientist Anne Helmenstine at Science Notes.
Unit conventions
Note that we express pound-force as lbf in order to distinguish it from lb mass. And although we've used Nm to represent newton-meters in our converter and charts, the technically SI-correct abbreviation is N·m (with a middle dot). Nm is widely accepted and more commonly referenced, hence why we're using it.
When it comes to foot-pounds (ft-lb), it's technically more accurate and precise to refer to the unit as pound-force foot (lbf·ft), although lb-ft is common in automotive contexts.
There has been ongoing debate around whether foot-pounds should be used when referencing torque, with the term "pound-foot" originally being proposed to reduce confusion with foot-pound, a unit of work. This terminology was suggested all the way back in 1900 by British physicist Arthur Mason Worthington in his book 'Dynamics of Rotation', while was a professor of physics at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Devonport.
In an article on EngineLabs, Greg Acosta explains why pound-feet (or pound-force foot) is the correct term to use, referencing the industry standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers:
It's worth being aware that although you might see N/m or ft/lb quoted in magazines, these are incorrect because they imply division and not multiplication.
A final note
You'll notice our converter and reference tables use the more familiar ft-lb format rather than lbf·ft. We took this decision because ft-lb is more common in practical applications like automotive manuals, torque specifications, and torque wrench markings. As always, we try to make our tools as practical and helpful as possible.
References
- A.M Worthington. Dynamics of Rotation.
- EngineLabs. Pound-feet or foot-pounds–which one is it?.
- Science Notes. Torque in Physics.