An engineering unit converter converts between specialized mechanical and fluid engineering units: torque, force, energy, dynamic viscosity, kinematic viscosity, and flow rate. Select a category and convert instantly.
All Conversions
Common Values
How to Use the Engineering Unit Converter
Select a category from the tabs: Torque, Force, Energy, Dynamic Viscosity, Kinematic Viscosity, or Flow Rate. Choose your source and target units, enter a value, and the result appears instantly. The "All Conversions" panel shows the value in all available units for that category.
Torque Conversions
Torque is rotational force. 1 Nm = 0.7376 ft-lb = 8.851 in-lb = 0.10197 kgf-m. Car engines commonly produce 200–500 Nm (150–370 ft-lb). A typical lug nut torque spec is 80–120 ft-lb (108–163 Nm). Bicycle pedal torque is usually 30–40 Nm (22–30 ft-lb).
Force Conversions
1 pound-force (lbf) = 4.44822 N = 0.453592 kgf = 444,822 dynes. Force equals mass × acceleration: a 1kg mass experiences 9.81N of gravity. A 200lb person exerts about 890N (0.89kN) of force on a scale. 1 ton of force = 8,896 N.
Energy Conversions
1 BTU = 1,055.06 J = 0.29307 Wh. 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J = 3,412 BTU. 1 food Calorie (kcal) = 4,184 J. A typical home uses 900 kWh/month. Gasoline contains about 34 MJ/liter = 9.44 kWh/liter of energy.
Viscosity Conversions
Dynamic viscosity: 1 centipoise (cP) = 0.001 Pa·s. Water at 20°C ≈ 1 cP. Motor oil SAE 30 ≈ 100 cP. Honey ≈ 5,000 cP. Kinematic viscosity = dynamic viscosity / density. 1 centistoke (cSt) = 1 mm²/s. Water at 20°C ≈ 1 cSt.
FAQ
How do I convert newton-meters to foot-pounds?
1 newton-meter (Nm) = 0.73756 foot-pounds (ft-lb). To convert Nm to ft-lb, multiply by 0.7376. Example: 100 Nm = 73.76 ft-lb. Car engine torque is often stated in both Nm and ft-lb for international audiences.
What is the difference between newtons and pounds-force?
1 pound-force (lbf) = 4.44822 newtons (N). Force (N or lbf) measures push/pull, while mass (kg or lbs) measures amount of matter. A 1kg object exerts about 9.81N of force due to gravity (its weight).
How many joules in a BTU?
1 BTU (British Thermal Unit) = 1,055.06 joules (J) = 1.05506 kJ. BTU is used in HVAC to measure heating and cooling capacity. 1 ton of air conditioning = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3,517 watts.
How many calories are in a kilocalorie?
1 kilocalorie (kcal) = 1,000 calories (cal) = 4,184 joules. Food Calories (with capital C) are actually kilocalories. 1 food Calorie = 4,184 J. 1 kWh = 860 kcal = 860,000 cal.
What is dynamic viscosity vs kinematic viscosity?
Dynamic viscosity (Pa·s, cP) measures a fluid's resistance to flow under stress. Kinematic viscosity (m²/s, cSt) = dynamic viscosity / density. Water has ~1 cP (1 mPa·s) dynamic viscosity and ~1 cSt kinematic viscosity at 20°C.
What is a centipoise?
1 centipoise (cP) = 0.001 pascal-seconds (Pa·s) = 1 mPa·s. Water at 20°C ≈ 1 cP. Motor oil ≈ 100 cP. Honey ≈ 2,000–10,000 cP. Peanut butter ≈ 250,000 cP. cP is commonly used in food science and petroleum engineering.
Is this engineering converter free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. All conversions happen in your browser with no data sent anywhere.