km/h to Metres per Second Converter
Convert kilometres per hour to metres per second — divide by 3.6. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilometre per hour is 0.2778 metres per second — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the km/h to metres per second converter works
Speeds convert through metres per second. 1 km/h is 1000/3600 m/s; 1 mph is 1609.344/3600 m/s; a knot is one nautical mile (1,852 m) per hour. Mach is shown against the standard sea-level speed of sound of 340.29 m/s and varies with altitude and temperature.
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
Common speed conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.2778 m/s | kilometre per hour to metres per second |
| 5 km/h | 1.3889 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 10 km/h | 2.7778 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 30 km/h | 8.3333 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 40 km/h | 11.1111 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 50 km/h | 13.8889 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 60 km/h | 16.6667 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 80 km/h | 22.2222 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 100 km/h | 27.7778 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 110 km/h | 30.5556 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 120 km/h | 33.3333 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
| 200 km/h | 55.5556 m/s | kilometres per hour to metres per second |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in metre per seconds |
|---|---|---|
| metre per second | m/s | 1 metre per second |
| kilometre per hour | km/h | 0.2777777778 metre per second |
| mile per hour | mph | 0.44704 metre per second |
| knot | kn | 0.5144444444 metre per second |
| foot per second | ft/s | 0.3048 metre per second |
| Mach (sea level, 15 °C) | Ma | 340.29 metre per second |
FAQFrequently asked questions about speed conversion
How do I convert km/h to m/s?
Divide by 3.6.
What is 100 km/h in m/s?
27.78 m/s.
What is 50 km/h?
13.89 m/s — a common urban speed limit.
Why convert at all?
Because physics formulas need SI base units. Using km/h in a kinetic energy calculation gives an answer wrong by a factor of 13.
What is 36 km/h?
Exactly 10 m/s.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.