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Torque Calculator
Torque is the turning effect of a force. Calculate torque, force or lever arm length.
Torque Calculator
τ = r × F × sin(θ) — find torque, force, or radius
τ = r × F × sin(θ) | 1 N·m = 0.7376 lbf·ft
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m
deg
Torque
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in kN·m
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in lbf·ft
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in lbf·in
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Step-by-Step
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Torque is force with leverage: the turning effect produced when a force acts at a distance from a pivot. This calculator computes torque from the force and the lever arm, and shows why handle length matters as much as strength.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the force applied.
- Enter the lever arm: the distance from the pivot to where the force acts.
- Press calculate to see the torque in newton metres.
Same force, doubled torque
Push at the end of a long wrench and a stubborn bolt gives up; choke up halfway and the same push delivers half the torque. Angle matters too: only the force component perpendicular to the arm turns the pivot, which is why pulling a wrench at its natural right angle is not habit but physics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the torque formula?
τ = r × F × sin θ, where r is the lever arm, F the force and θ the angle between them. At 90°, sin θ is 1 and torque is simply r × F.
What unit is torque measured in?
Newton metres (N·m). Engine torque is often quoted in pound-feet in some countries; 1 lb-ft is about 1.356 N·m.
Is torque the same as energy?
The units coincide but the quantities do not: torque is a turning effect, energy is work done. Torque only becomes work when it turns through an angle.