Kilometers Per Hour to Meters Per Second
Convert kilometers per hour to meters per second instantly — one kilometer per hour is 0.277778 meters per second.
| Kilometers Per Hour | Meters Per Second |
|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.277778 m/s |
| 2 km/h | 0.555556 m/s |
| 3 km/h | 0.833333 m/s |
| 5 km/h | 1.388889 m/s |
| 10 km/h | 2.777778 m/s |
| 25 km/h | 6.944444 m/s |
| 50 km/h | 13.888889 m/s |
| 100 km/h | 27.777778 m/s |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Kilometers Per Hour field.
- The Meters Per Second figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Meters Per Second field converts back to Kilometers Per Hour the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Kilometers Per Hour to Meters Per Second formula
To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, multiply by 0.277777778.
m/s = km/h × 0.277777778
Put another way, one kilometer per hour is exactly 5/18 meters per second.
Why this factor: the kilometer per hour and the meter per second are both defined against the meter per second, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.277777778 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.277777778 — or use the Meters Per Second to Kilometers Per Hour converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 30 km/h and multiply by the factor 0.277777778: the result is 8.333333 m/s.
30 km/h × 0.277777778 = 8.333333 m/s
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a kilometer per hour?
Kilometers per hour is the everyday speed unit for road traffic in most of the world.
Definition: Exactly 1,000 meters per 3,600 seconds, so 1 km/h is exactly 1/3.6 m/s.
Where it is used: Speed limits, vehicle speedometers, and weather wind speeds outside the US and UK.
Worth knowing: A handy shortcut: divide km/h by 3.6 for m/s, or multiply m/s by 3.6 to go the other way.
What is a meter per second?
Meters per second is the SI unit of speed, and the one physics equations expect.
Definition: Derived directly from the meter and the second.
Where it is used: Physics and engineering calculations, wind speed in meteorology, and sound and projectile velocities.
Kilometers Per Hour vs Meters Per Second
The kilometer per hour is a metric unit while the meter per second is an SI unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many meters per second are in a kilometer per hour?
One kilometer per hour equals 0.277777778 meters per second.
What is the formula to convert kilometers per hour to meters per second?
Multiply the number of kilometers per hour by 0.277777778. To reverse it, divide by 0.277777778 instead.
How do I convert meters per second back to kilometers per hour?
Divide by 0.277777778, which is the same as multiplying by 3.6.
How many meters per second are in 10 kilometers per hour?
10 km/h works out to 2.777778 m/s.
Is there anything to watch out for with kilometers per hour?
A handy shortcut: divide km/h by 3.6 for m/s, or multiply m/s by 3.6 to go the other way.
How is the kilometer per hour defined?
Exactly 1,000 meters per 3,600 seconds, so 1 km/h is exactly 1/3.6 m/s.