What is the Torque Converter?

The Torque Converter is a professional tool that helps you convert between different units of torque measurement. Whether you're working with Newton-meters, foot-pounds, inch-pounds, or kilogram-force meters, this converter provides instant and accurate results for all your engineering and mechanical needs.

Who Needs This Tool?

Automotive Technicians

Converting bolt torque specifications between metric and imperial systems for accurate vehicle maintenance.

Mechanical Engineers

Working with torque values across different measurement systems in design and analysis projects.

DIY Mechanics

Following repair manuals from different countries with varying torque unit standards.

RC Hobbyists

Comparing servo torque ratings in kgf·cm and oz·in for optimal performance selection.

Students & Educators

Learning and teaching concepts of torque and rotational force in physics and engineering courses.

Industrial Professionals

Ensuring proper equipment assembly and maintenance with precise torque specifications.

Supported Units

Metric Torque Units

Comprehensive metric system units used worldwide in engineering and automotive applications:

Kilonewton-meter (kN·m) — Large-scale industrial applications
Newton-meter (N·m) — Standard automotive and engineering unit
Newton-centimeter (N·cm) — Precision mechanical work
Newton-millimeter (N·mm) — Small fasteners and electronics
Millinewton-meter (mN·m) — Micro-mechanical applications
Kilogram-force meter (kgf·m) — Traditional metric torque unit
Kilogram-force centimeter (kgf·cm) — Servo motors and RC applications
Gram-force centimeter (gf·cm) — Small motors and mechanisms
Dyne-centimeter (dyn·cm) — Scientific and laboratory measurements

Imperial Torque Units

Imperial system units commonly used in the United States and for legacy equipment:

Foot-pound force (ft·lbf) — Standard US automotive torque unit
Inch-pound force (in·lbf) — Small fasteners and precision work
Foot-ounce force (ft·ozf) — Light-duty applications
Inch-ounce force (in·ozf) — Servo specifications and small mechanisms

Privacy Guarantee: All calculations are performed entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and nothing is stored or tracked. Your input values remain completely private and secure.

Table of Contents

1. What is the Torque Converter?
- 1.1. Who Needs This Tool?
- 1.2. Supported Units
2. How to Use the Torque Converter
3. Features
4. Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use the Torque Converter

Basic Conversion

Enter Your Value

Type a torque value in the input field. Numbers are automatically formatted with thousand separators for improved readability (e.g., 1 000 instead of 1000).

Select Source Unit

Choose your source unit from the dropdown menu. You can type to search for a specific unit quickly—just start typing "newton" or "foot" to filter options.

View Instant Results

Results are displayed immediately below in all enabled units. No button clicks required—conversions happen in real-time as you type.

Customizing Your Experience

Adjust Decimal Precision

Use the "Decimals" dropdown to control how many decimal places are shown in results.

Choose from 2, 4, 6, or 8 decimal places
Select "Auto" for intelligent precision based on value size
Higher precision for engineering calculations
Lower precision for workshop readability

Show/Hide Units

Click "Customize Units" to toggle which units appear in your results panel.

Enable only the units you regularly use
Keep display clean and focused
Perfect for specialized workflows
Settings persist across sessions

Copying Results

Single Value: Click on any result row to copy that specific value to your clipboard. Perfect for quickly pasting a single conversion into documentation or specifications.

Multiple Values: Use the "Copy All Results" button to copy all visible conversions at once. Useful when documenting complete torque specifications across multiple units for comprehensive technical documentation.

Quick Reference

Click the "Unit Reference" button to access a comprehensive table explaining each torque unit, its conversion factor relative to Newton-meters, and common real-world applications. This reference is particularly helpful when you encounter unfamiliar units like dyn·cm (scientific measurements) or kgf·cm (servo specifications).

Pro Tips for Accuracy:

Use higher precision (6-8 decimals) for precision engineering calculations and critical applications
For automotive work, N·m and ft·lbf are the most commonly specified units in service manuals
For RC servos and hobby applications, kgf·cm and oz·in (in·ozf) are industry-standard specifications
Always verify critical torque values with official manufacturer service manuals before final assembly
When working with international teams, confirm which unit system is being used to avoid costly errors

Features

Instant Conversion

Results update in real-time as you type. No need to click a button or wait for processing—just enter your torque value and see all conversions immediately.

Zero latency calculations
Live preview as you type
No page refreshes needed

Smart Input Formatting

Large numbers are automatically formatted with thousand separators (e.g., 1 000 instead of 1000), making it easier to read and verify your input values.

Automatic number formatting
Improved readability
Reduced input errors

Searchable Unit Selection

The unit dropdown includes a powerful search function. Start typing the unit name or symbol to quickly find what you need.

Type "foot" for Foot-pound
Type "nm" for Newton-meter
Instant filtering of options

Customizable Display

Choose which units appear in your results. If you only work with automotive units (N·m, ft·lbf, in·lbf), hide the scientific units for a cleaner interface.

Toggle individual units on/off
Streamlined workspace
Personalized experience

Precision Control

Select from multiple decimal precision options (2, 4, 6, 8) or use Auto mode for intelligent precision adjustment.

Engineering-grade accuracy
Workshop-friendly readability
Flexible precision levels

One-Click Copy

Copy individual results or all results at once. Values are copied in a clean format, ready to paste into work orders, specifications, or documentation.

Single-click copying
Clean formatted output
Batch copy functionality

Unit Reference Guide

Built-in reference panel explains each unit's conversion factor and typical usage scenarios.

Detailed unit explanations
Conversion factor reference
Real-world applications

Bidirectional Input

The converter card allows input in either field. Type in the "from" or "to" field, and the other updates automatically.

Flexible input options
Reverse conversions
Enhanced workflow

Works Everywhere

Fully responsive design works seamlessly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Convert torque values at your workbench or in the shop.

Mobile-optimized interface
Touch-friendly controls
Cross-platform compatibility

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Newton-meters and foot-pounds?

A Newton-meter (N·m) is the SI metric unit of torque, used in most of the world for engineering and automotive applications. A foot-pound (ft·lbf) is the imperial unit commonly used in the United States.

Conversion reference:

1 Newton-meter = approximately 0.7376 foot-pounds
1 foot-pound = approximately 1.356 Newton-meters

This difference reflects the metric vs. imperial measurement systems used in different regions worldwide.

How do I convert N·m to ft·lbf?

Simply enter your N·m value in the converter and look at the ft·lbf result. The conversion happens automatically in real-time.

Quick formula: Multiply N·m by 0.7376 to get ft·lbf, or multiply ft·lbf by 1.3558 to get N·m.

Example: 100 N·m × 0.7376 = 73.76 ft·lbf

What is kgf·cm used for?

A kilogram-force centimeter (kgf·cm) is commonly used in servo motor specifications, especially in robotics and RC hobbies. It represents the torque produced by a one-kilogram weight at one centimeter from the pivot point.

Common applications:

RC servo motor torque ratings
Robotic arm joint specifications
Small motor performance data
Hobby-grade mechanical systems

Why do automotive manuals use different torque units?

European and Asian vehicles typically use Newton-meters (N·m), while American vehicles often use foot-pounds (ft·lbf). This reflects the metric vs. imperial measurement systems used in different regions.

Metric System

European & Asian Vehicles

Uses Newton-meters (N·m)
Standard in most countries
SI unit system

Imperial System

American Vehicles

Uses foot-pounds (ft·lbf)
Traditional US standard
Imperial unit system

Important: Always check your specific vehicle's service manual for the correct units to avoid assembly errors.

What is a dyne-centimeter?

A dyne-centimeter (dyn·cm) is a CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of torque used primarily in scientific applications. It's a very small unit—one N·m equals 10 million dyn·cm—typically used in laboratory measurements.

Typical applications:

Physics laboratory experiments
Micro-mechanical research
Scientific instrumentation
Academic studies and publications

Note: Rarely used in practical engineering or automotive applications.

How accurate are the conversions?

Conversions use internationally recognized conversion factors with high precision. For most practical purposes, including automotive work and engineering calculations, the results are accurate to many decimal places.

Calculation Accuracy 99.999%

The converter uses standard conversion factors defined by international measurement organizations (NIST, BIPM) ensuring consistency with professional engineering tools.

Can I use this for torque wrench settings?

Yes, the converter is ideal for translating torque specifications between units when working with torque wrenches calibrated in different measurement systems.

Safety Notice: Always verify critical fastener torque values against official manufacturer specifications before use. Incorrect torque can lead to equipment failure or safety hazards.

Best practices:

Cross-reference with official service manuals
Use calibrated torque wrenches
Follow proper tightening sequences
Document torque values for quality assurance

What's the difference between torque and force?

Force is a push or pull measured in Newtons or pounds-force. Torque is rotational force—force applied at a distance from a pivot point—measured in N·m or ft·lbf.

Formula: Torque = Force × Distance from pivot

Practical example:

If you apply 10 Newtons of force to a wrench at 0.5 meters from the bolt center, you're applying 5 N·m of torque (10 N × 0.5 m = 5 N·m). The longer the wrench, the more torque you can apply with the same force.