Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second Converter
Enter the speed in kilometers per hour below to convert it to meters per second.
Convert Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second
Enter a value in kilometers per hour (km/h) to convert to meters per second (m/s).
Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second Conversion Table
Table showing various kilometers per hour measurements converted to meters per second. Click any preset value or arrow to load it into the converter.
| Kilometers per Hour (km/h) | Meters per Second (m/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.2777778 m/s |
| 2 km/h | 0.5555556 m/s |
| 5 km/h | 1.3888889 m/s |
| 10 km/h | 2.7777778 m/s |
| 15 km/h | 4.1666667 m/s |
| 18 km/h | 5 m/s |
| 20 km/h | 5.5555556 m/s |
| 25 km/h | 6.9444444 m/s |
| 30 km/h | 8.3333333 m/s |
| 36 km/h | 10 m/s |
How to Convert Kilometers per Hour to Meters per Second
To convert kilometers per hour to meters per second, multiply the speed by the following conversion ratio: 0.2777778 meters per second/kilometers per hour.
Since one kilometers per hour is equal to 0.2777778 meters per second, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The speed in meters per second is equal to the speed in kilometers per hour multiplied by 0.2777778.
For example, here's how to convert 36 kilometers per hour to meters per second using the formula above.
How Many Meters per Second Are in a Kilometers per Hour?
There are 0.2777778 meters per second in a kilometers per hour, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
Our kilometers per hour to meters per second calculator automatically converts your speed measurements with full decimal and scientific precision across US customary, imperial, and SI metric standards.
Kilometers per Hour and meters per second are both units used to measure speed. Keep reading to learn more about each unit.
What Is a Kilometers per Hour?
A kilometers per hour is a unit of speed equal to 0.2777778 meters per second (m/s), the base unit for speed. Standard metric road speed unit (1 m/s = 3.6 km/h). [1]
The kilometers per hour is classified as a metric and SI-compatible unit of speed. Kilometers per Hour can be abbreviated as km/h; for example, 1 kilometers per hour can be written as 1 km/h.
In the metric system, "kilo" is the standard SI prefix for thousands, or 10³. This makes the kilometers per hour (km/h) a convenient decimal multiple of the meters per second (m/s).
In practice, kilometers per hour (km/h) are widely used across standard speed applications within SI metric workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
What Is a Meters per Second?
Coherent SI unit of velocity. It serves as a primary reference unit for measuring speed across scientific and practical applications. [2]
The meters per second is classified as an International System of Units (SI) unit of speed. Meters per Second can be abbreviated as m/s; for example, 1 meters per second can be written as 1 m/s.
As the primary coherent reference unit for speed in this category, all other speed units are mathematically anchored to the meters per second (m/s).
In practice, meters per second (m/s) are widely used across standard speed applications within International System of Units (SI) workflows, engineering documentation, and technical data sheets.
When converting speed between kilometers per hour (km/h) and meters per second (m/s), keep full floating-point precision (1 km/h = 0.2777778 m/s; 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h) during intermediate calculations and round only the final meters per second figure to match your instrument tolerance.
More Kilometers per Hour & Meters per Second Conversions
Need to calculate in the opposite direction? Use our meters per second to kilometers per hour converter (m/s to km/h) to switch your starting unit immediately. You can also explore related tools such as converting miles per hour to meters per second, converting kilometers per hour to miles per hour, or converting miles per hour to kilometers per hour.
Convert from Kilometers per Hour
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- [1]NIST SP 811 StandardNIST SP 811 (NIST SP 811 App. B.9 (Velocity))·Speed Metrology Standard — Kilometers per Hour (km/h) to Meters per Second (m/s)
- [2]NIST OWM SpecificationNIST OWM (SI Units — Length & Distance)·Unit Specifications: Kilometers per Hour (km/h) & Meters per Second (m/s)
- [3]NIST CUU ReferenceNIST CUU (SI Coherent Derived Units (m/s))·Conversion Factors & Mathematical Basis (km/h to m/s)