About this converter
Work measures energy transferred when a force moves an object through a distance. Joule (J) is the SI unit, 1 newton-meter equals exactly 1 J, 1 foot-pound force is about 1.35581795 J, and 1 kilowatt-hour equals exactly 3,600,000 J.
This converter supports mechanical work, thermal energy, electrical energy, and CGS energy units. Mechanics, physics students, machine designers, thermodynamics instructors, and energy analysts use these conversions when comparing lift work, motor output, heat values, and engineering reports.
How to Use This Converter
- Enter the work or energy value.
- Select the source unit from the From menu.
- Select the target unit from the To menu.
- Read the converted result and formula line.
- Use Swap to reverse the selected units.
Units Covered
| Unit | Symbol | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Joule | J | SI work and energy calculations in physics and engineering. |
| Erg | erg | CGS mechanics and older scientific references. |
| Foot-pound force | ft-lbf | US mechanical work, lifting, and torque-related references. |
| Thermochemical calorie | cal | Heat calculations and chemistry references. |
| BTU IT | BTU | HVAC, heat transfer, and thermal equipment ratings. |
| Kilowatt-hour | kWh | Electrical energy, utility billing, and equipment energy use. |
| Newton-meter | N·m | Mechanical work from force applied through distance. |
| Kilojoule | kJ | Engineering reports, thermodynamics, and larger work values. |
Joules to Foot-pound Force Conversion Table
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 J | 0.737562 ft-lbf |
| 5 J | 3.68781 ft-lbf |
| 10 J | 7.37562 ft-lbf |
| 25 J | 18.4391 ft-lbf |
| 50 J | 36.8781 ft-lbf |
| 100 J | 73.7562 ft-lbf |
| 250 J | 184.391 ft-lbf |
| 500 J | 368.781 ft-lbf |
| 1,000 J | 737.562 ft-lbf |
| 5,000 J | 3,687.81 ft-lbf |
How to Convert Joules to Foot-pound Force
Joules to foot-pound force
For example, 250 J x 0.737562 = 184.391 ft-lbf.
Foot-pound force to joules
For example, 500 ft-lbf / 0.737562 = 677.909 J.
When You Need to Convert Work Units
Mechanical work calculations often start in joules, while US equipment references may use foot-pound force. Lifting a 100 lbf load through 5 ft requires 500 ft-lbf, which is about 677.9 J.
Thermal and mechanical systems sometimes mix work and heat units. A 2,000 J work input equals about 1.89563 BTU, useful when comparing a mechanical process with a heat-transfer estimate.
Electrical energy can be expressed as work because both share energy units. A small 0.01 kWh energy use equals 36,000 J, which helps connect utility-style energy values with physics work equations.