Torque Converter
Newton-meters to pound-feet and back — for torque wrench settings, engine specs and fastener tables that never use the unit you have.
Typical torque values
| Application | N·m | lb·ft |
|---|---|---|
| Phone/laptop screws | 0.2–0.5 | — |
| Bicycle stem bolts | 5–8 | 4–6 |
| Spark plugs | 20–30 | 15–22 |
| Car wheel lug nuts | 100–140 | 75–100 |
| Family car engine | 150–300 | 110–220 |
| Pickup/diesel engine | 400–1000+ | 300–740+ |
Frequently asked questions
What's the quick N·m ↔ lb·ft trick?
Multiply N·m by 0.74 to get lb·ft (exactly 0.737562), or lb·ft by 1.36 to get N·m. So a 120 N·m wheel-nut spec is about 89 lb·ft.
lb·ft or ft·lb — is there a difference?
For torque they're the same thing written in either order; convention prefers lb·ft for torque and ft·lb for energy (foot-pounds of work). Your torque wrench doesn't care.
Why does over-torquing matter?
Fastener specs put the bolt at the right stretch: too loose and it works free under vibration, too tight and the thread yields or the part cracks — aluminium parts and bike carbon are the classic victims. A torque wrench plus the right number beats "tight enough" every time.
Last updated: 2026-07-13