Newton-Meters to Foot-Pounds
- Inch-pounds to foot-pounds
- Nm to foot-pounds
- Nm to inch-pounds
Use this tool to convert between newton-meters (Nm) and foot-pounds (ft-lb). Although the technically correct term for torque is 'pound-feet (lb-ft)' - representing force × distance - we use the more familiar 'ft-lb' format. We discuss this distinction further down the page.
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 (Nm) = 0.7376 ft-lb (frequently expressed as ft-lb or foot-pounds, but technically lbf·ft is correct) representing 1 lbf acting at 1 ft from the center of rotation. To convert your Nm figure to ft-lb, simply multiply it by 0.7376.
Note: We express pound force as lbf in the definition above in order to distinguish it from lb mass, but it can also be written as lb-ft. The use of ft/lb for torque is incorrect, although frequently seen and quoted in magazines.
Pound-feet and foot-pounds
There has been much debate around whether it is correct to use foot-pounds when referring to torque, with the term "pound-foot" being proposed to reduce confusion with foot-pound, a unit of work. This terminology was suggested by British physicist Arthur Mason Worthington in his 1900 book 'Dynamics of Rotation' while he 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:Newton-meters and pound-feet (lb-ft) are both units of torque in the International System of Units. Torque is a measure of the rotational force that causes an object to turn about an axis. 3
Note that despite the technical preference for lb-ft, our converter and reference table use the more familiar ft-lb format. This is because ft-lb is overwhelmingly more common in practical applications like automotive manuals, torque specifications, and torque wrench markings. We took this decision to ensure users can easily relate our results to any real-world references they encounter.
The chart below features some of the most common torque conversions for newton-meters and foot-pounds.
Nm to ft-lb chart
| Newton-meters | Foot-pounds |
|---|---|
| 10 Nm | 7.376 ft-lb |
| 20 Nm | 14.751 ft-lb |
| 30 Nm | 22.127 ft-lb |
| 40 Nm | 29.502 ft-lb |
| 50 Nm | 36.878 ft-lb |
| 60 Nm | 44.254 ft-lb |
| 70 Nm | 51.629 ft-lb |
| 80 Nm | 59.005 ft-lb |
| 90 Nm | 66.381 ft-lb |
| 100 Nm | 73.756 ft-lb |
| 200 Nm | 147.512 ft-lb |
| 300 Nm | 221.269 ft-lb |
| 400 Nm | 295.025 ft-lb |
| 500 Nm | 368.781 ft-lb |
| 600 Nm | 442.537 ft-lb |
| 700 Nm | 516.294 ft-lb |
| 800 Nm | 590.050 ft-lb |
| 900 Nm | 663.806 ft-lb |
| 1000 Nm | 737.562 ft-lb |
| Note: conversions are rounded to max 3 decimal places. | |
Note that if your calculation involves inch-pounds and foot pounds for energy, you can convert between in-lb and ft-lb here.
For any figures not represented in our Nm and lb-ft chart, please use the converter at the top of the page.
Calculator by Alastair Hazell.References
- A.M Worthington. Dynamics of Rotation.
- EngineLabs. Pound-feet or foot-pounds–which one is it?.
- Khan Academy. What is torque?.