Nm to ft-lb Torque Converter
Convert torque specs between Newton-meters, foot-pounds and inch-pounds. For bike repairs, car work, 3D printer assembly and any bolted joint that matters.
Last updated: May 2026
Enter a value to see the conversion instantly.
How to use this torque converter
Enter your torque value, pick the source unit (Nm, ft-lb or in-lb), and the result appears immediately. The quick buttons give you common torque specs for bike stems (5 Nm), bottle cage bolts (10 Nm), crank arms (25 Nm), or car wheel nuts (80 Nm).
Common torque reference values
| Application | Nm | ft-lb | in-lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bike stem bolts | 5 Nm | 3.7 ft-lb | 44.3 in-lb |
| Bike bottle cage | 10 Nm | 7.4 ft-lb | 88.5 in-lb |
| 3D printer nozzle | 1.5 Nm | 1.1 ft-lb | 13.3 in-lb |
| Bike pedals | 35 Nm | 25.8 ft-lb | 310 in-lb |
| Car wheel nuts | 80-100 Nm | 59-74 ft-lb | 708-885 in-lb |
| Motorcycle oil drain plug | 20-25 Nm | 15-18 ft-lb | 177-221 in-lb |
| Bike cassette lockring | 40 Nm | 29.5 ft-lb | 354 in-lb |
When you need this tool
You're torquing a critical fastener and the spec is in Nm but your wrench reads ft-lb. Get it wrong by a factor of 1.4 and you either crack the part or leave it loose enough to vibrate apart under load. Bicycle manuals, car service specs, and equipment datasheets mix units constantly. The margin between safe assembly and equipment failure is often just a few clicks on the wrench. This converter ensures you match your tool to the spec exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to convert between torque units?
Repair manuals, fastener specs and equipment come from different regions. Bikes and European tools use Nm (newton-meters). US cars use ft-lb (foot-pounds). Small electronics might list in-lb (inch-pounds). Converting between them is essential for correct fastener tightness.
What is the relationship between Nm, ft-lb and in-lb?
1 Nm ≈ 0.738 ft-lb ≈ 8.85 in-lb. A wheel nut torqued to 80 Nm is about 59 ft-lb. The scale difference matters: 1 Nm is small (like nozzle cleaning) while 100 Nm breaks things if applied to the wrong bolt.
Why is getting this conversion right critical?
Overtightening a carbon fiber handlebar to American torque specs when you should use metric torque cracks it permanently. Undertightening wheel nuts lets them vibrate loose and fail. Exact conversion is the difference between safe assembly and equipment failure.