Inch-Pounds to Foot-Pounds Converter
12 inch-pounds equals 1 foot-pound, so 180 in-lb is 15 ft-lb. This torque converter switches between inch-pounds and foot-pounds with the exact 12-to-1 relationship. Use it when a bike, firearm, HVAC, or automotive torque wrench shows one unit but the service spec is written in the other.
Quick answer
There are exactly 12 inch-pounds in 1 foot-pound of torque.
Result
15 foot-pounds
Inch-pounds
180 in-lb
Foot-pounds
15 ft-lb
Relationship
1 ft-lb = 12 in-lb
Method
Divide inch-pounds by 12 to get foot-pounds.
What this tells you
- •There are exactly 12 inch-pounds in 1 foot-pound of torque.
- •To convert inch-pounds to foot-pounds, divide by 12.
- •To convert foot-pounds to inch-pounds, multiply by 12.
- •This tool is for torque units, not length units, even though both use inches and feet in the names.
How to Use
- 1Enter the torque value you want to convert.
- 2Choose whether the starting unit is inch-pounds or foot-pounds.
- 3Choose the torque unit you want back.
- 4Read the converted result plus the matching value in both torque units.
How It Works
Formula
ft-lb = in-lb / 12The conversion is exact because 1 foot-pound equals 12 inch-pounds of torque. Divide inch-pounds by 12 to get foot-pounds, or multiply foot-pounds by 12 to get inch-pounds. For example, 84 in-lb divided by 12 is 7 ft-lb.
Calculation note: values are processed in the order shown above, using the current input units.
Worked Examples
Convert a small wrench setting from 180 in-lb to ft-lb
Divide 180 by 12 to get 15 ft-lb. That is a common way to compare smaller torque wrench settings with larger service-manual specs.
Convert 25 ft-lb to inch-pounds for a beam-style wrench
Multiply 25 by 12 to get 300 in-lb. This helps when your fastener spec is in foot-pounds but your small torque wrench reads in inch-pounds.
Inch-Pounds to Foot-Pounds Torque Table
Common torque values using the exact 12-to-1 relationship.
| Inch-pounds | Foot-pounds |
|---|---|
| 12 in-lb | 1 ft-lb |
| 24 in-lb | 2 ft-lb |
| 60 in-lb | 5 ft-lb |
| 84 in-lb | 7 ft-lb |
| 120 in-lb | 10 ft-lb |
| 180 in-lb | 15 ft-lb |
| 300 in-lb | 25 ft-lb |
Common mistakes
- Treating the units like plain inches and feet. These are torque units, so the numbers describe rotational force at a lever arm.
- Multiplying when you should divide. Inch-pounds are the smaller unit, so the foot-pound number is lower for the same torque.
- Mixing this conversion with newton-meters. If your spec is metric, use a metric torque converter instead of guessing.