Inch-Pounds to Newton-Meters Converter

Convert small torque values between inch-pounds and newton-metres, with foot-pounds and kgf·cm shown too, for bicycles, optics, electronics and other low-torque fasteners.

1 in-lb = 0.112985 N·m · 1 N·m = 8.8507 in-lb

Inch-pounds

Result will appear here...

The Conversion Factor and Where It Comes From

An inch-pound is one pound-force acting at one inch. Both parts have exact metric definitions: 1 lbf = 4.4482216152605 N and 1 in = 0.0254 m. Multiplying them gives the factor: 1 in-lb = 0.1129848 N·m. Going the other way, 1 N·m is about 8.85 in-lb, so a quick estimate is "N·m × 9, then a little less".

N·m = in-lb × 0.1129848

in-lb = N·m × 8.850746

A common mistake is multiplying N·m by 10 for a rough in-lb figure. That overstates by 13%: 10 N·m is 88.5 in-lb, not 100.

Small N·m Values in Inch-Pounds

The range most often printed on bicycle parts, mounts and small components.

Newton-metres converted to inch-pounds, foot-pounds and kilogram-force centimetres
N·m	in-lb	ft-lb	kgf·cm
1 N·m	8.9	0.74	10.2
2 N·m	17.7	1.48	20.4
3 N·m	26.6	2.21	30.6
4 N·m	35.4	2.95	40.8
5 N·m	44.3	3.69	51
6 N·m	53.1	4.43	61.2
8 N·m	70.8	5.9	81.6
10 N·m	88.5	7.38	102
12 N·m	106.2	8.85	122.4
15 N·m	132.8	11.06	153
20 N·m	177	14.75	203.9
25 N·m	221.3	18.44	254.9

Worked Example: a 5 N·m Bike Stem With an Inch-Pound Wrench

A stem faceplate is marked "5 N·m max". Your torque wrench is scaled in inch-pounds.

Step 1: Convert to inch-pounds

5 × 8.850746 = 44.25 in-lb

Step 2: Round to the wrench's scale, downward for a maximum

44 in-lb (the nearest mark that doesn't exceed the limit)

Set 44 in-lb. When a part gives a maximum, especially carbon fibre, round down rather than to the nearest mark. Using the ×10 shortcut would have given 50 in-lb, 13% over the limit.

Where Small Torque Specs Appear

Low-torque fasteners are where unit mix-ups happen most, because parts and tools often come from different countries:

Common low-torque applications and the units their specs usually use
Application	Specs usually given in
Bicycle stems, seatposts and handlebar clamps	N·m, often 4–6 N·m, printed on the part
Carbon fibre bike components	N·m, usually low values with a maximum printed on the part
Firearm optics mounts and rings	in-lb in US instructions, N·m in European ones
Electronics and small appliance screws	N·m or kgf·cm
Japanese and Chinese tool and motor specs	kgf·cm

Kilogram-Force Centimetres (kgf·cm)

Spec sheets from Japan and China, and many small motor and servo ratings, use kilogram-force centimetres. Despite the "kilogram", it's a torque unit: the force of gravity on 1 kg acting at 1 cm. 1 kgf·cm is 0.0980665 N·m, or about 0.868 in-lb. The converter shows it alongside every result, so a servo rated at 25 kgf·cm is about 2.45 N·m, or 21.7 in-lb. For torque screwdrivers, terminal screws and oz-in motor ratings, see the newton-metres to inch-pounds page.