metre per second (m/s)
1 metre per second = 3.6 kilometres per hour
What is metre per second?
Metre per second is the SI unit of speed. It is used in physics, engineering, and scientific contexts to express velocity, and serves as the reference unit for all speed calculations in this converter.
Notes: Base unit for speed
Real-world uses
Metres per second is the SI unit of speed used in physics, engineering, and scientific research. Wind speed in meteorological data, projectile velocities, and fluid flow rates are expressed in m/s. The speed of sound at sea level is approximately 343 m/s.
History
As an SI derived unit, metres per second became the standard scientific speed unit with the adoption of the SI system in 1960. It naturally combines the base units of length (metre) and time (second).
Common mistakes
Forgetting to convert from km/h—divide by 3.6, not by 3.0 or 60. Also, confusing velocity (vector with direction) with speed (scalar magnitude), both expressed in m/s but with different physical meanings.
When is this conversion used?
Speed limits, vehicle speedometers, and weather reports for wind speeds use different units depending on the country, making km/h to mph conversion one of the most practical speed conversions.
How to convert metre per second to kilometre per hour
To convert metre per second to kilometre per hour, multiply the value by 3.6.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 1.0
Measurement standards
The SI unit of speed is metres per second (m/s), a derived unit requiring no independent definition. The knot is defined as exactly one nautical mile (1,852 metres) per hour and is sanctioned for maritime and aeronautical navigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Did you know?
The fastest human-made object is the Parker Solar Probe, which reached 635,266 km/h (about 176 km/s) in 2024 during a close pass of the Sun — fast enough to travel from New York to Tokyo in under a minute.
| metres per second | kilometres per hour |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.36 |
| 0.5 | 1.8 |
| 1 | 3.6 |
| 2 | 7.2 |
| 5 | 18 |
| 10 | 36 |
| 25 | 89.99999999 |
| 50 | 179.99999999 |
| 100 | 359.99999997 |
| 250 | 899.99999993 |
| 500 | 1,799.99999986 |
| 1,000 | 3,599.99999971 |
Common values
| metres per second | kilometres per hour | |
|---|---|---|
| Walking speed | 1.4 metres per second | 5.04 kilometres per hour |
| City speed limit | 13.9 metres per second | 50.04 kilometres per hour |
| Highway driving | 31.3 metres per second | 112.67999999 kilometres per hour |
| Commercial aircraft | 250 metres per second | 899.99999993 kilometres per hour |
| Speed of sound (sea level) | 340.29 metres per second | 1,225.0439999 kilometres per hour |
Full metre per second conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| kilometre per hour | 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h | × 3.6 |
| mile per hour | 1 m/s = 2.23693629 mph | × 2.23693629 |
| knot | 1 m/s = 1.94384449 kn | × 1.94384449 |
| foot per second | 1 m/s = 3.2808399 ft/s | × 3.2808399 |
| metre per minute | 1 m/s = 60 m/min | × 60 |
| kilometre per second | 1 m/s = 0.001 km/s | × 0.001 |
| mach (approx at sea level) | 1 m/s = 0.00293867 Ma | × 0.00293867 |
| centimetre per second | 1 m/s = 100 cm/s | × 100 |
| mile per minute | 1 m/s = 0.03728227 mi/min | × 0.03728227 |