Newton-Metres to Foot-Pounds Converter

Convert Nm to ft-lbs of torque and back. Newton-metres are the metric torque unit; foot-pounds (also written lb-ft) are the customary one. Type either field to convert.

Newton-Metres ⇄ Foot-Pounds
Nm
=
ft-lb
Result100 Nm = 73.76 ft-lb
Quick answer
One newton-metre is 0.7376 ft-lb, so multiply Nm by 0.7376 to get foot-pounds, and multiply ft-lb by 1.3558 to go back. A 100 Nm spec is about 73.8 ft-lb. Note that ft-lb and lb-ft mean the same torque, just written in a different order. For small fasteners, inch-pounds (in-lb) are handier.

Conversion table (newton-metres to foot-pounds)

Newton-metresFoot-poundsInch-pounds 
5 Nm3.6944.25small screws
10 Nm7.3888.51
20 Nm14.75177.01spark plug
25 Nm18.44221.27
50 Nm36.88442.54
80 Nm59.00708.06
100 Nm73.76885.07car lug nut
150 Nm110.631327.61
200 Nm147.511770.15truck lug nut

How to convert Nm to ft-lb

ft-lb = Nm × 0.7376reverse: Nm = ft-lb × 1.3558 · ft-lb = lb-ft
Nm
newton-metres you enter
ft-lb
the result in foot-pounds
0.7376
foot-pounds in one newton-metre
1.3558
newton-metres in one foot-pound

Foot-pound (ft-lb) and pound-foot (lb-ft) are two names for the same torque; manuals use both. Do not confuse it with the foot-pound of energy, which is a different quantity that happens to share the name.

Always torque fasteners to the manufacturer's figure. This tool converts units; it does not tell you the correct spec.

Frequently asked questions

How many ft-lb is 100 Nm?

100 Nm is about 73.76 ft-lb.

Is ft-lb the same as lb-ft?

Yes. Foot-pound and pound-foot are the same torque unit written in a different order; both appear in service manuals.

How many Nm is 1 ft-lb?

One foot-pound is 1.3558 Nm.

What is 50 Nm in ft-lb?

50 Nm is about 36.88 ft-lb.

When should I use inch-pounds instead?

For small fasteners, where foot-pound values are less than one. There are 12 inch-pounds in a foot-pound.

Is a newton-metre of torque the same as a joule?

No. They share the same base units but describe different things: torque (Nm) is a twisting effort, energy (joule) is work done.

Related conversions

Working with smaller fasteners? Nm to inch-pounds suits low torque values, and inch-pounds to foot-pounds steps between the two customary units (12 in-lb to the ft-lb). For a straight pull rather than a twist, pound-force to newtons converts force. Torque figures should always come from the manufacturer, not a converter.

Quick facts
1 newton-metre
0.7376 ft-lb
1 foot-pound
1.3558 Nm
1 ft-lb
12 in-lb
Measures
Torque