Work from one pound-force over one foot.
Foot-pounds to Ergs Converter — ft-lb to erg
Convert Foot-pound (ft-lb) to Erg (erg) using the exact conversion factor (1 foot-pound = 13,558,179.48 erg). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Foot-pounds to Ergs converter
Converter
Engineering Converter
Convert common stress, force, torque, power, and energy units used in engineering.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
An erg is a CGS energy unit.
Result = input x 1.355817948 / 1e-7.
Energy units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Foot-pounds to Ergs
Foot-pound and Erg both measure a quantity used in structural or mechanical engineering — commonly stress, pressure, force, torque, power, or energy — where converting between the unit conventions used in different regions, industries, or equipment specifications is a routine part of design work. Specifically: Work from one pound-force over one foot, and an erg is a CGS energy unit.
Formula
ergs = foot-pounds × 13558179.4833
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 foot-pound equals 1.35581794833 base units, and 1 erg equals 1e-7 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct foot-pound-to-erg factor of 13558179.4833.
Simple example
1 ft-lb × 13558179.48 = 13,558,179.48 erg
1 foot-pound = 13,558,179.48 ergs.
Real-world example
100 ft-lb × 13558179.48 = 1,355,817,948 erg
100 foot-pounds = 1,355,817,948 ergs.
Conversion table
| Foot-pound (ft-lb) | Erg (erg) |
|---|---|
| 1 ft-lb | 13,558,179.48 erg |
| 10 ft-lb | 135,581,794.8 erg |
| 50 ft-lb | 677,908,974.2 erg |
| 100 ft-lb | 1,355,817,948 erg |
| 500 ft-lb | 6,779,089,742 erg |
| 1,000 ft-lb | 13,558,179,480 erg |
Reverse conversion: Erg to Foot-pound
1 erg × 7.375621e-8 = 7.375621e-8 ft-lb
1 erg = 7.375621e-8 foot-pounds.
foot-pounds = ergs × 7.375621e-8
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Erg to Foot-pound.
Understanding the Foot-pound (ft-lb)
Work from one pound-force over one foot.
Understanding the Erg (erg)
An erg is a CGS energy unit.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many ergs are in 1 foot-pound?
1 foot-pound equals 13,558,179.48 ergs, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert foot-pound to erg?
Multiply the foot-pound value by 13558179.48. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert erg back to foot-pound?
Use the reverse factor: 1 erg equals 7.375621e-8 foot-pounds. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a foot-pound?
Foot-pound (ft-lb) is a unit of engineering.
What is a erg?
Erg (erg) is a unit of engineering.
Is the foot-pound to erg conversion exact?
Yes. Both foot-pound and erg are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 13558179.48 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
Why do engineering unit conventions vary so much by region and industry?
Pressure, force, and stress can be expressed in metric (pascal, newton), US customary (psi, pound-force), or older and industry-specific units (atmosphere, torr, kip) depending on the country, industry, and even the equipment manufacturer, which is why engineers routinely need to convert between them when working across specs from different sources.