Newton Meters to Pound-Feet Converter (N·m to lb·ft)

European and Japanese workshop manuals, bicycle components and most engine data sheets give torque in newton meters, while many torque wrenches sold in the US are scaled in pound-feet, often written ft-lb. Converting the spec before you set the wrench avoids under-tightening a wheel or snapping a small bolt.

One pound-foot is a pound-force acting at the end of a one-foot lever, so one newton meter is about 0.7376 lbf·ft. Small fasteners such as bicycle stem bolts, at around 5 N·m, are often easier to set with an inch-pound wrench: multiply the lbf·ft result by 12 to get lbf·in.

How to use this tool

1. Type a value in the Newton Meter box to see it in pound-feet, or type in the Pound-Foot box to convert the other way.
2. Press ⇄ to swap the two units, or Load example for a typical value.
3. Check the charts below for common values; for other units, open the Torque converter.

Formula

Pound-Foot (lbf·ft) = Newton Meter (N·m) × 0.737562149277

Newton Meter (N·m) = Pound-Foot (lbf·ft) × 1.35581794833

Both factors come from exact definitions: 1 pound-foot = 1.35581794833 newton meters and 1 newton meter = 0.737562149277 pound-feet (shown to 12 significant digits).

Example

Two conversions worked with the same factors the converter uses:

120 N·m × 0.737562149277 ≈ 88.5075 lbf·ft

300 lbf·ft × 1.35581794833 ≈ 406.745 N·m

Newton Meter to Pound-Foot chart

Common values from newton meters to pound-feet, rounded to four decimal places.

Pound-Foot to Newton Meter chart

The reverse direction for values people often look up.

Torque values in newton meters

Quick mental estimate

Take three quarters, then subtract 2% of the result: 120 N·m → 90 − 1.8, roughly 88 lb·ft. That works out to multiplying by 0.735, within 0.4% of the exact factor.

Use the converter or the charts when the exact figure matters.

The two units

Newton Meter (N·m): The newton meter (N·m) is the SI unit of torque: one newton acting with a perpendicular lever arm of one meter. Torque has the same dimensions as energy, but is a different quantity and is expressed in N·m rather than joules.

Pound-Foot (lbf·ft): The pound-foot (lbf·ft, often written ft-lb) is one pound-force acting with a perpendicular lever arm of one international foot, exactly 1.3558179483314004 N·m. The pound here denotes force, not mass.