Why Convert Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second?
Converting between kilometers per hour (km/h) and meters per second (m/s) is one of the most common speed conversions. Whether for engineering, cooking, travel, or science, knowing how to quickly convert km/h to m/s saves time and prevents errors.
Speed conversions between km/h and m/s are essential for driving, aviation, and weather monitoring. When renting a car abroad, speed limits are posted in km/h in most countries but mph in the US and UK. Aviation and maritime industries use knots internationally. Weather reports express wind speeds differently by region — understanding these conversions can be critical during severe weather events like hurricanes and typhoons.
How to Convert Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second
To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, use the following formula:
m/s = km/h × 0.2777777778
Example: 1 km/h = 0.2777777778 m/s
For example, 5 km/h = 1.388888889 m/s, 10 km/h = 2.777777778 m/s, and 100 km/h = 27.77777778 m/s. Our calculator above performs this conversion instantly with full precision — no rounding errors.
Common Use Cases
- Highway speed converted for physics problems: 120 km/h = 33.33333333 m/s
- 36 km/h = 10 m/s (easy conversion benchmark): 36 km/h = 10 m/s
- Urban speed limit (for traffic engineering): 50 km/h = 13.88888889 m/s
- Category 3 hurricane wind speed: 200 km/h = 55.55555556 m/s
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Knots vs km/h vs mph: These three speed units are all commonly used but in different contexts — knots for maritime/aviation, km/h in most countries, mph in US/UK.
- Wind speed scales: Weather reports may use different units by country. A "70 mph" hurricane warning is ~113 km/h or ~61 knots.
- Speed of sound varies: Mach 1 is approximately 343 m/s at sea level but changes with altitude and temperature.
Pro Tips
- Memorize the factor: 1 km/h = 0.2777777778 m/s. For quick mental math, remember this base conversion.
- Quick reference: 5 km/h = 1.388888889 m/s · 10 km/h = 2.777777778 m/s · 25 km/h = 6.944444444 m/s · 50 km/h = 13.88888889 m/s · 100 km/h = 27.77777778 m/s
- Bookmark this page: Save this converter for instant access. It works offline once loaded — no internet needed.
Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second Conversion Table
| km/h | m/s |
|---|---|
| 0.01 km/h | 0.002777777778 m/s |
| 0.1 km/h | 0.02777777778 m/s |
| 0.5 km/h | 0.1388888889 m/s |
| 1 km/h | 0.2777777778 m/s |
| 2 km/h | 0.5555555556 m/s |
| 5 km/h | 1.388888889 m/s |
| 10 km/h | 2.777777778 m/s |
| 20 km/h | 5.555555556 m/s |
| 50 km/h | 13.88888889 m/s |
| 100 km/h | 27.77777778 m/s |
| 500 km/h | 138.8888889 m/s |
| 1000 km/h | 277.7777778 m/s |
All values in this table are mathematically exact per NIST SP 811.