Inch-Pounds to Foot-Pounds Converter
12 inch-pounds equals 1 foot-pound, so 180 in-lb is 15 ft-lb. Use this inch-pounds to foot-pounds converter when a torque spec, service manual, or torque wrench shows the value in the other unit. Enter a number in inch-pounds or foot-pounds, pick the unit you have, and the tool returns the matching torque immediately. That helps with bike parts, firearm accessories, HVAC fasteners, engine covers, valve bodies, electrical lugs, and any other job where the target torque matters more than the unit label. The conversion itself is simple because the relationship is exact. One foot-pound is the torque created by one pound of force acting at a one-foot distance from the center of rotation. One inch-pound uses the same pound of force at a one-inch distance. Since a foot contains 12 inches, the same torque equals 12 inch-pounds for every 1 foot-pound. The main job of the converter is making that relationship easy to apply without pausing the work to do mental math or risk reading the spec in the wrong unit.
Quick answer
There are exactly 12 inch-pounds in 1 foot-pound of torque, so the conversion never changes with the application.
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, so the conversion never changes with the application.
- •To convert inch-pounds to foot-pounds, divide by 12 because you are moving from the smaller torque unit to the larger one.
- •To convert foot-pounds to inch-pounds, multiply by 12 because each foot-pound contains 12 inch-pounds.
- •A lower number in foot-pounds does not mean lower torque. It can describe the same torque in a larger unit.
- •Decimal answers are normal. For example, 30 in-lb equals 2.5 ft-lb because 30 is not a whole multiple of 12.
- •This tool converts torque units only. It does not convert inches to feet, force-only pounds, or metric units like newton-meters.
How to Use
- 11. Enter the torque value you want to convert. You can use whole numbers for common wrench settings or decimals when a spec sheet includes fractional torque.
- 22. Choose the starting unit in the From field. Pick inch-pounds if the printed spec says in-lb, or pick foot-pounds if the spec says ft-lb.
- 33. Choose the target unit in the To field. The tool supports inch-pounds to foot-pounds and foot-pounds to inch-pounds in either direction.
- 44. Read the main result, then review the matched values in both units if you want a quick reasonableness check before setting your wrench.
- 55. Compare the converted value with the exact fastener or component spec before tightening. Similar hardware on the same machine can use very different torque targets.
How It Works
Formula
ft-lb = in-lb / 12The formula uses the exact relationship 1 ft-lb = 12 in-lb. When you start with inch-pounds, divide by 12 to express the same torque in foot-pounds. When you start with foot-pounds, multiply by 12 to express the same torque in inch-pounds. In plain language, inch-pounds are the smaller unit and foot-pounds are the larger unit, so the number gets smaller when you move to ft-lb and larger when you move back to in-lb. Example: 84 in-lb ÷ 12 = 7 ft-lb, and 7 ft-lb × 12 = 84 in-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. This is a common comparison when a compact torque wrench is marked in inch-pounds but the service note or parts sheet summarizes the same target in foot-pounds.
Convert 25 ft-lb to inch-pounds for a beam-style wrench
Multiply 25 by 12 to get 300 in-lb. This is useful when a spec for a larger fastener is given in foot-pounds but the wrench you are using for the final pass reads in inch-pounds.
Convert 84 in-lb to ft-lb for a drivetrain or controls check
Divide 84 by 12 and the result is 7 ft-lb exactly. This is a good example of a clean conversion where the inch-pound value is already a whole multiple of 12, so the foot-pound result stays a whole number.
Convert 7.5 ft-lb to inch-pounds for a low-range torque wrench
Multiply 7.5 by 12 to get 90 in-lb. A decimal value in foot-pounds often turns into a cleaner whole number in inch-pounds, which can make low-torque settings easier to dial in on smaller tools.
Convert 30 in-lb to ft-lb when the result is not a whole number
Divide 30 by 12 to get 2.5 ft-lb. This shows why decimal foot-pound results are normal. The torque is still exact even when the converted value is not a whole number.
Convert 9.75 ft-lb to inch-pounds for a precise spec sheet
Multiply 9.75 by 12 to get 117 in-lb. This kind of example comes up when a manufacturer publishes a fractional foot-pound target but your torque wrench scale or adapter chart is easier to read in inch-pounds.
Inch-Pounds to Foot-Pounds Torque Table
Common torque checkpoints using the exact 12-to-1 relationship between inch-pounds and foot-pounds.
| Inch-pounds | Foot-pounds | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| 12 in-lb | 1 ft-lb | Very light hardware and trim fasteners |
| 18 in-lb | 1.5 ft-lb | Optics and accessory screws |
| 24 in-lb | 2 ft-lb | Small covers and clamps |
| 36 in-lb | 3 ft-lb | Light brackets and fittings |
| 48 in-lb | 4 ft-lb | Low-range adjustment work |
| 60 in-lb | 5 ft-lb | Bike cockpit and similar small bolts |
| 84 in-lb | 7 ft-lb | Common service-manual crossover value |
| 120 in-lb | 10 ft-lb | Round-number torque target |
| 180 in-lb | 15 ft-lb | Typical mid-range conversion check |
| 240 in-lb | 20 ft-lb | Larger hardware still within inch-pound scale |
| 300 in-lb | 25 ft-lb | Upper end of many small torque wrenches |
Use the table for quick checks, but always tighten to the exact specification for your hardware and tool setup.
When inch-pounds or foot-pounds make more sense
Inch-pounds are easier to use when the torque value is small and precision matters. A setting like 72 in-lb is easier to read and set on a low-range wrench than 6 ft-lb on a coarse scale. That is why small screws, clamps, covers, and accessories are often specified in inch-pounds.
Foot-pounds are easier to use as torque values get larger. Once the spec moves into double-digit foot-pounds, that unit usually reads more naturally in service manuals and on larger torque wrenches. The actual torque does not change when you swap units. Only the way you express the same amount changes.
A quick reasonableness check can prevent mistakes. If a small fastener suddenly looks like it needs 30 ft-lb when you expected something close to 30 in-lb, stop and verify the unit before tightening. Unit mix-ups can strip threads, crush parts, or leave the joint too loose.
Common mistakes
- Treating inch-pounds and foot-pounds like plain length units. They describe torque, not distance alone.
- Multiplying when you should divide. The foot-pound value must be smaller than the inch-pound value for the same torque.
- Rounding too early and then using the rounded number as the real target. Keep the exact spec until the final wrench setting.
- Confusing torque conversion with wrench capacity. A wrench that displays one unit still needs the correct range for the job.
- Mixing imperial torque with metric torque. If the spec is in newton-meters, use a metric torque converter instead of estimating.
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