How to Convert Miles per hour to Metres per second (mph to m/s)
Speed conversions come up with expressway limits in km/h, foreign car specs in mph and wind speeds reported in knots by the Meteorological Service. This guide shows how to convert miles per hour into metres per second by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert miles per hour to metres per second, multiply the value by 0.44704. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 2.2369362921). For a quick estimate, multiply by about 0.45.
Metres per second = miles per hour × 0.44704
Worked examples
- 3 mph = 1.3411 m/s
- 12.5 mph = 5.588 m/s
- 75 mph = 33.528 m/s
Miles per hour to Metres per second table
| Miles per hour | Metres per second |
|---|---|
| 1 mph | 0.44704 m/s |
| 2 mph | 0.89408 m/s |
| 5 mph | 2.2352 m/s |
| 10 mph | 4.4704 m/s |
| 20 mph | 8.9408 m/s |
| 25 mph | 11.176 m/s |
| 50 mph | 22.352 m/s |
| 100 mph | 44.704 m/s |
| 250 mph | 111.76 m/s |
| 500 mph | 223.52 m/s |
| 1,000 mph | 447.04 m/s |
Common questions
Is mph to m/s exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the Metres per second to Miles per hour converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Mixing similar-sounding units
US and imperial gallons, pints and tons are different sizes, and decimal kilobytes differ from binary kibibytes.
Multiplying when you should divide
Converting to a smaller unit gives a bigger number, and converting to a larger unit gives a smaller one. If your answer moves the wrong way, you have inverted the factor.
Background
Unit conversion is simply multiplication by a fixed ratio. The ratio between two units of the same quantity never changes, so once you know it you can convert any value in either direction.
Singapore adopted the metric system in the 1970s, replacing imperial units and traditional Chinese measures in most official uses. Metric units are now standard in schools, trade and government, but older units survive in property, markets and imported goods.
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
For any value, use the Miles per hour to Metres per second Converter or browse all speed converters.
Run your own numbers: Miles per hour to Metres per second Converter