Newton-Meters (Nm)
Affiliate link — we may earn a commissionNewton-meters measure torque in the metric system. One Newton-meter is the force of one Newton applied at the end of a one-meter lever arm. European and Asian tool brands spec torque in Nm, while North American brands tend to use foot-pounds (for wrenches) or inch-pounds (for drills and drivers). The conversion: 1 Nm equals about 0.74 ft-lbs, or 1 ft-lb equals about 1.36 Nm. A Makita impact wrench rated at 300 Nm delivers about 221 ft-lbs. You'll see Nm on imported tools, on automotive torque specs from European and Japanese manufacturers, and on bicycles.
Why It Matters
If your torque spec is in Nm and your wrench is in ft-lbs (or vice versa), you need to convert. Getting this wrong overtightens or undertightens the fastener. Multiply Nm by 0.74 to get ft-lbs. Multiply ft-lbs by 1.36 to get Nm. Or tape a conversion card to your toolbox.