Convert speed units — km/h, mph, m/s, knots, Mach.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| m/s | Meter per Second | 0.3048 |
| km/h | Kilometer per Hour | 1.0972791 |
| mph | Mile per Hour | 0.68181818 |
| kn | Knot | 0.59248431 |
| Mach | Mach | 0.0008957066 |
Common foot per second values converted to meter per second — factor: 1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s
| Foot per Second (ft/s) | Meter per Second (m/s) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft/s | 0.3048 m/s | Very slow |
| 5 ft/s | 1.524 m/s | Walk |
| 10 ft/s | 3.048 m/s | Jog |
| 20 ft/s | 6.096 m/s | Sprint |
| 50 ft/s | 15.24 m/s | Fast sprint |
| 88 ft/s | 26.82 m/s | 60 mph car |
| 100 ft/s | 30.48 m/s | 60 mph car |
| 147 ft/s | 44.81 m/s | 100 mph car |
| 500 ft/s | 152.4 m/s | Racing car |
| 880 ft/s | 268.2 m/s | 600 mph jet |
| 1,000 ft/s | 304.8 m/s | High-speed jet |
| 1,125 ft/s | 342.9 m/s | Speed of sound |
| 2,200 ft/s | 670.6 m/s | Rifle bullet |
| 3,000 ft/s | 914.4 m/s | Fast bullet |
| 5,000 ft/s | 1,524 m/s | Rocket |
Converting foot per second to meter per second is essential for drivers, pilots, engineers, and scientists working across different measurement systems. Road speed limits, aviation airspeed, nautical navigation, and physics calculations each use different speed units, making quick and accurate conversion a practical everyday skill.
Key reference points: 5 ft/s = 1.524 m/s and 10 ft/s = 3.048 m/s. At higher speeds, 100 ft/s = 30.48 m/s. For reverse conversion, multiply m/s values by 3.281 to get back to ft/s.
All conversions use the internationally recognized factor of exactly 1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s. Calculations are performed in IEEE 754 double-precision floating point, giving accuracy to at least 8 significant figures — more than sufficient for any practical application.
Formula: Meter per Second = Foot per Second × 0.3048
Multiply any foot per second value by 0.3048 to get meter per second. One foot per second equals 0.3048 m/s.
Reverse: Foot per Second = Meter per Second × 3.2808399
1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s. Memorize this for instant mental estimates.
Use 0.3048 as a quick mental multiplier.
To verify: multiply your result by 3.2808399 to recover the original ft/s value.
Rates bullet muzzle velocity in feet per second for ammunition comparisons.
Measures duct air velocity in feet per second for airflow design.
Evaluates arrow speed in fps to optimize bow setup and shooting form.
Sets character movement speeds in fps for physics-based game engines.
Calculates water hammer and pipe flow velocities in ft/s.
References pitch speed, puck speed, and serve speed in fps for broadcast.
Feet per second is an Imperial unit of speed equal to exactly 0.3048 m/s. It was in common use in Britain and America from the 17th century, particularly in ballistics and military applications.
ft/s remains the standard in US ballistics: bullet velocities, muzzle speeds, and arrow velocities are universally quoted in feet per second. It also appears in HVAC airflow measurements and some engineering contexts.
Interesting fact: A typical rifle bullet travels at 900-1,200 ft/s (270-370 m/s). The speed of sound at sea level is approximately 1,125 ft/s.
Meters per second is the SI derived unit of speed, defined as one meter of distance traveled per second. It was established when the metric system was codified by France in 1795 and became the scientific standard worldwide.
m/s is the preferred unit in physics, engineering, and scientific research. Wind speeds in meteorology, projectile velocities in ballistics, and fluid flow rates in engineering are all measured in m/s.
Interesting fact: The speed of sound in air at 20°C is approximately 343 m/s. A typical sneeze travels at about 4.5 m/s, while a cheetah can reach 28 m/s (100 km/h).