How do I convert back from pound-feet to kilogram-force-meters?
Multiply the pound-foot value by 0.138255. For example, 1 lb-ft = 0.138255 kgf·m.
Is the kilogram-force-meter bigger than the pound-foot?
Yes. 1 kilogram-force-meter is larger than 1 pound-foot — specifically 7.23301 times larger.
Are these conversion factors exact?
Yes. Since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement, imperial/US units are defined exactly in terms of metric units, so the factor used here (7.23301) is exact within IEEE 754 double precision.
About the kilogram-force-meter and the pound-foot
The kilogram-force-meter
The kilogram-force-meter (kgf·m) equals 9.80665 N·m — one kilogram subjected to standard gravity, acting at a one-meter lever arm. Common in older European automotive documentation and in some industrial torque-wrench scales.
The pound-foot
The pound-foot (lb-ft) is the customary torque unit in the United States. It equals exactly 1.355817948 N·m — derived from the pound-force (4.4482216152605 N) times the foot (0.3048 m). Often informally written 'ft-lb' or 'foot-pound', which technically denotes energy not torque, but the convention is universal in automotive spec sheets.