Newton-meter to Pound-foot Converter
Converts newton-meter to pound-foot (N·m to lb·ft) and back. The conversion factor is shown below every result.
How to Convert Newton-meter to Pound-foot
What Is a Newton-meter?
The newton-meter (N·m) is the SI unit of torque, the rotational equivalent of force.
What Is a Pound-foot?
The pound-foot (lb·ft), also written ft-lb, is a US customary unit of torque equal to exactly 1.3558179483314003 newton-meters.
Common Newton-meter to Pound-foot Reference Points
Real-world reference values for quick sanity checks.
| Item | Newton-meter (N·m) | Pound-foot (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| A typical car wheel lug nut torque spec (approx.) | 135 N·m | 99.57 lb-ft |
| A small bolt torque spec (approx.) | 20 N·m | 14.75 lb-ft |
| Reference values are illustrative approximations for common items, not measured specifications. | ||
Newton-meter to Pound-foot Conversion Table
| Newton-meter (N·m) | Pound-foot (lb·ft) |
|---|---|
| 10 N·m | 7.375621 lb·ft |
| 20 N·m | 14.751243 lb·ft |
| 50 N·m | 36.878107 lb·ft |
| 100 N·m | 73.756215 lb·ft |
| 135 N·m | 99.57089 lb·ft |
| 150 N·m | 110.634322 lb·ft |
| 200 N·m | 147.51243 lb·ft |
| Source: NIST SP 811 (1 lb-ft = 1.3558179483314003 N-m exactly, from lbf x ft) | |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert newton-meters to pound-feet?
Multiply the N-m value by 0.7375621493. For example, 50 N-m × 0.7375621493 = 36.878 lb-ft.
Why does torque use the same units as work or energy (like joules)?
Torque and energy share the same dimensional units (force times distance), but they're physically different quantities: torque is a rotational effect, while energy/work describes a transfer. To avoid confusion, torque is usually written as N-m rather than joules, even though they're dimensionally identical.
Where would I need this conversion?
US-made torque wrenches and specifications often use lb-ft (or in-lb for smaller values), while international and metric equipment specifications use N-m, so this comes up often for auto repair, machinery assembly, and engineering work.
Related Torque Converters
A good measuring tool marked in both N·m and lb·ft removes the guesswork at the point of use.