My torque wrench reads in ft·lb but I'm following a German repair guide that lists 90 N·m for the lug nuts. Did I set it right at 66 ft·lb?

66 ft·lb × 1.3558 ≈ 89.5 N·m, about 0.6% under 90 N·m. If the manual states a tolerance, check that 89.5 N·m falls within it.

I tightened a bolt to 25 ft·lb but the part is now showing stress marks. The spec sheet says 25 N·m, not ft·lb — did I over-torque it?

Yes. 25 ft·lb ≈ 33.9 N·m, which is significantly more than the 25 N·m specified, about 36% over spec. Loosen the bolt and inspect the bolt and the part for damage. Replace any bolt that has stretched and any part that is cracked, or have the assembly checked by a qualified technician, before reassembling. Only then tighten to the specified 25 N·m (about 18.4 ft·lb).

Why do some small fastener torque specs use inch-pounds instead of foot-pounds?

Inch-pounds give whole numbers for small torques, such as 60 in·lb instead of 5 ft·lb. 1 ft·lb equals 12 in·lb.

Foot-Pounds to Newton-Meters Converter

Enter a value to instantly convert between torque units.

From

Precision4 dp

1 Foot-Pound = 1.3558 Newton-Meter

Key Formulas

Newton-Meter → Foot-Pound

ft·lb = N·m × 0.737562

Foot-Pound → Newton-Meter

N·m = ft·lb × 1.35582

Newton-Meter → Inch-Pound

in·lb = N·m × 8.85075

Inch-Pound → Newton-Meter

N·m = in·lb × 0.112985

Formula

N·m = ft·lb × 1.3558179483

A torque wrench may read in foot-pounds (ft·lb) while the specification lists newton-meters (N·m). This conversion lets you compare a wrench reading against a metric spec sheet without guessing.

Source: NIST SP 811, Table B.9

Reviewed by the Convert Calc editorial team · Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 · see our methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Examples

Example value. Use the torque in your service manual.

20 ft·lb = 27.12 N·m

Example value. Use the wheel torque in your owner's manual.

80 ft·lb = 108.47 N·m

Example value. Take the required torque from your service manual.

150 ft·lb = 203.37 N·m

Example value. Look up the torque for your engine in its service manual.

7 ft·lb = 9.49 N·m

nm to ft lb nm to in lb in lb to nm kgf m to nm nm to kgf m

See This in Context

Mechanics