Torque Converter - Convert Torque Units

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ALSO:

Unit	Value	Actions
kilonewton meter kNm
kilopond meter kp·m
newton meter Nm
newton centimeter Ncm
millinewton meter mNm

Unit	Value	Actions
pound-foot lbf·ft
pound-inch lbf·in
ounce-inch ozf·in

Common torque conversion mistakes

Torque and energy share a dimension but are different quantities. A tightening torque of 10 Nm is not 10 joules of energy, and rewriting a torque as joules gives a number with no meaning. That is why the converter keeps them in separate categories.
Pound-foot (lbf·ft) and foot-pound (ft·lbf) are the same size but mean different things: the first is torque, the second work. An American spec of 100 ft-lb always means torque in practice, that is 135.58 Nm.
1 Nm is 100 Ncm, not 10. The centi prefix is one hundredth, exactly as between the meter and the centimeter. Getting it wrong puts a factor of ten on a screwdriver setting.

Quick conversion quiz

Score: 0

20 kilopond meter equals 2.78e+4 ounce-inch.

Correct answer: 20 kilopond meter = 2.78e+4 ounce-inch.

122 newton centimeter equals 0.249 kilopond meter.

Correct answer: 122 newton centimeter = 0.124 kilopond meter.

55 pound-foot equals 1.58e+4 ounce-inch.

Correct answer: 55 pound-foot = 1.06e+4 ounce-inch.

163 pound-foot equals 24.8 kilopond meter.

Correct answer: 163 pound-foot = 22.5 kilopond meter.

Definitions

kilopond meter (kp·m)

Torque of one kilopond acting at one meter, exactly 9.80665 newton meters.

The kilopond meter (kp·m), also written kgf·m, is the torque produced by a force of one kilopond acting one meter from the axis. It is exactly 9.80665 newton meters and was the usual torque unit on older European machinery.

Read more about kilopond meter at bipm.org

newton meter (Nm)

SI derived unit of torque. One newton acting one meter from the axis.

The newton meter (N·m) is the SI unit of torque: a force of one newton applied at right angles one meter from the axis. It has the same dimensions as the joule but is never written as one, because torque and energy are different quantities.

Read more about newton meter at bipm.org

pound-foot (lbf·ft)

Torque of one pound-force acting one foot from the axis, about 1.3558 newton meters.

The pound-foot (lbf·ft) is the torque produced by one pound-force acting one foot from the axis, exactly 1.3558179483314 newton meters. The foot-pound (ft·lbf) is the same size but names an amount of WORK, not torque. This category converts torque.

Frequently asked questions

Is a newton meter the same as a joule?

No. Both come out as kg·m²/s² in base units, but the joule is energy and the newton meter is torque. The difference is direction: energy is force along a distance, torque is force at right angles to a lever arm. That is why torque is always written Nm and never J.

What is the difference between pound-foot and foot-pound?

They are the same size, 1.3558179483314 Nm, but name different quantities. The pound-foot (lbf·ft) is torque and belongs here. The foot-pound (ft·lbf) is work and lives in the energy category.

How tight should wheel bolts be?

Ordinary passenger cars sit between 110 and 140 Nm, which is roughly 11 to 14 kilopond meters on an older torque wrench. Always check the figure for your own car: the wheel material and the bolt size set the value.

What does kpm mean on an old machine plate?

Kilopond meter, the torque unit on European machinery before SI. 1 kpm = 9.80665 Nm, so a figure in kpm becomes just under ten times as large in newton meters.

How many newton centimeters are in a newton meter?

100. Centi means one hundredth, so 1 Nm = 100 Ncm. Small motors and screwdrivers are usually rated in Ncm or mNm.

How do I use the torque converter on konvertera.nu?

Enter your torque value (like Nm), choose the target unit (like lbf·ft), and konvertera.nu converts it instantly.

All units in torque