The kilometer per hour
The kilometer per hour (km/h) is the standard speed unit on road signs almost everywhere except the United States and the United Kingdom. To convert to meters per second, divide by 3.6 (since 1 km = 1000 m and 1 h = 3600 s).
Kilometers per hour to Meters per second Converter
1 km/h = 0.277778 m/s
1 kilometer per hour equals 0.277778 meters per second. To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, multiply the kilometer per hour value by 0.277778. For quick reference: 1 km/h = 0.277778 m/s, 5 km/h = 1.38889 m/s, 10 km/h = 2.77778 m/s, 100 km/h = 27.7778 m/s.
Formula
Meters per second = Kilometers per hour × 0.277778Quick
How to convert kilometers per hour to meters per second
Take your value
Start with your value in kilometers per hour.
Multiply by 0.277778
Multiply the kilometer per hour value by 0.277778. This is the exact conversion factor from kilometers per hour to meters per second.
Read the result
The product is your value in meters per second. For example, 5 km/h × 0.277778 = 1.38889 m/s.
Conversion formula
The exact factor from kilometers per hour to meters per second is 0.277778.
Meters per second = Kilometers per hour × 0.277778
Kilometers per hour to Meters per second conversion table
Fifty common reference values, hand-picked for skim utility. Use the calculator above for any value not listed.
| Kilometers per hour (km/h) | Meters per second (m/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.27778 m/s |
| 2 km/h | 0.55556 m/s |
| 3 km/h | 0.83333 m/s |
| 4 km/h | 1.1111 m/s |
| 5 km/h | 1.3889 m/s |
| 6 km/h | 1.6667 m/s |
| 7 km/h | 1.9444 m/s |
| 8 km/h | 2.2222 m/s |
| 9 km/h | 2.5 m/s |
| 10 km/h | 2.7778 m/s |
| 12 km/h | 3.3333 m/s |
| 15 km/h | 4.1667 m/s |
| 18 km/h | 5 m/s |
| 20 km/h | 5.5556 m/s |
| 22 km/h | 6.1111 m/s |
| 25 km/h | 6.9444 m/s |
| 28 km/h | 7.7778 m/s |
| 30 km/h | 8.3333 m/s |
| 32 km/h | 8.8889 m/s |
| 35 km/h | 9.7222 m/s |
| 40 km/h | 11.111 m/s |
| 45 km/h | 12.5 m/s |
| 50 km/h | 13.889 m/s |
| 55 km/h | 15.278 m/s |
| 60 km/h | 16.667 m/s |
| 65 km/h | 18.056 m/s |
| 70 km/h | 19.444 m/s |
| 75 km/h | 20.833 m/s |
| 80 km/h | 22.222 m/s |
| 85 km/h | 23.611 m/s |
| 90 km/h | 25 m/s |
| 95 km/h | 26.389 m/s |
| 100 km/h | 27.778 m/s |
| 110 km/h | 30.556 m/s |
| 120 km/h | 33.333 m/s |
| 130 km/h | 36.111 m/s |
| 140 km/h | 38.889 m/s |
| 150 km/h | 41.667 m/s |
| 160 km/h | 44.444 m/s |
| 180 km/h | 50 m/s |
| 200 km/h | 55.556 m/s |
| 220 km/h | 61.111 m/s |
| 250 km/h | 69.444 m/s |
| 280 km/h | 77.778 m/s |
| 300 km/h | 83.333 m/s |
| 350 km/h | 97.222 m/s |
| 400 km/h | 111.11 m/s |
| 500 km/h | 138.89 m/s |
| 700 km/h | 194.44 m/s |
| 1000 km/h | 277.78 m/s |
Real-world reference
Urban speed limits are typically 50 km/h. Highway speed limits range from 100 to 130 km/h in most of Europe. In meters per second, that gives you: 1 km/h = 0.277778 m/s, 10 km/h = 2.77778 m/s, 100 km/h = 27.7778 m/s.
Frequently asked questions
- How many meters per second are in 1 kilometer per hour?
- 1 kilometer per hour equals 0.277778 meters per second.
- How do I convert kilometers per hour to meters per second?
- Multiply the kilometer per hour value by 0.277778. So x km/h × 0.277778 = the equivalent in m/s.
- What is 5 kilometers per hour in meters per second?
- 5 kilometers per hour equals 1.38889 meters per second.
- What is 10 kilometers per hour in meters per second?
- 10 kilometers per hour equals 2.77778 meters per second.
- What is 100 kilometers per hour in meters per second?
- 100 kilometers per hour equals 27.7778 meters per second.
- How do I convert back from meters per second to kilometers per hour?
- Multiply the meter per second value by 3.6. For example, 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h.
- Is the kilometer per hour bigger than the meter per second?
- No. 1 kilometer per hour is smaller than 1 meter per second. It takes 3.6 kilometers per hour to equal 1 meter per second.
- Are these conversion factors exact?
- Yes. The factor of 0.277778 is derived directly from the SI definitions of kilometer per hour and meter per second.
About the kilometer per hour and the meter per second
The meter per second
The meter per second (m/s) is the SI derived unit of speed. It is the preferred unit in physics, engineering, and any scientific context. The speed of light in vacuum is exactly 299,792,458 m/s, which is how the meter itself is now defined.