Foot-Pounds (ft-lbs)

Foot-pounds measure torque on larger fasteners, typically in automotive and structural work. One foot-pound is the force of one pound applied at the end of a one-foot lever. Cordless impact wrenches are rated in ft-lbs because they handle lug nuts, suspension bolts, and structural connections where inch-pounds would produce unwieldy numbers (1 ft-lb = 12 in-lbs). A 1/2-inch impact wrench delivering 300 ft-lbs removes most automotive lug nuts. 700+ ft-lbs handles rusted or overtorqued bolts.