How to use the Speed, Distance & Time Calculator
- Choose what you want to find: time, speed or distance.
- Enter the two values you know. The field for the value you are finding is ignored.
- Enter time as hours and minutes.
- Read the answer, with all three values shown below it.
Formula used
Speed = distance ÷ time. Distance = speed × time. Time = distance ÷ speed. Time is converted to hours for the calculation.
Worked example
Here is the Speed, Distance & Time Calculator worked through with the example values shown above, so you can check each step by hand.
| Inputs | |
|---|---|
| Find | Time (from speed and distance) |
| Speed (distance units per hour) | 60 |
| Distance | 150 |
| Time: hours | 2 |
| Time: minutes | 30 |
| Result | |
| Answer | 2 h 30 min |
| Speed (per hour) | 60 |
| Distance | 150 |
| Time | 2 h 30 min |
The three formulas
Speed = distance ÷ time. Distance = speed × time. Time = distance ÷ speed. A trip of 150 miles at 60 mph takes 150 ÷ 60 = 2.5 hours, which is 2 h 30 min. Driving for 2 hours 30 minutes at 60 mph covers 150 miles.
If you cover 150 km in 2 h 30 min, your average speed is 60 km/h.
Keep the units consistent
The speed must match the distance unit and a time of one hour. If distance is in kilometres, speed must be in km/h; if it is in miles, speed is in mph. To work in minutes, convert to hours first: 30 minutes is 0.5 hours. For a 10 km run in 55 minutes, the speed is 10 ÷ (55/60) = 10.91 km/h.
If your speed is in metres per second, convert it to km/h by multiplying by 3.6, or use the speed converter on this site.
Average speed on a real trip
Average speed is total distance divided by total time, not the average of speeds. If you drive 60 km at 30 km/h and then 60 km at 60 km/h, the total time is 2 + 1 = 3 hours for 120 km, so your average speed is 40 km/h, not 45 km/h. Slow sections cost more time than fast sections save.
Stops, traffic and detours all add time, so real trips usually take longer than distance ÷ top speed. Add a margin when planning a journey.
Everyday uses
Use the calculator to plan journeys (how long will 320 km at 80 km/h take: 4 h 0 min), to check a runner’s or cyclist’s speed, or for physics and maths problems. Add a travel time to a start time to find your arrival time, or use the hours calculator to work it out between two clock times.
For running pace, which is time per kilometre or mile, use the pace calculator.
Worked problems
A train travels 240 km in 3 hours 20 minutes. Convert 20 minutes to 0.3333 hours, so the time is 3.3333 hours, and the speed is 240 ÷ 3.3333 = 72 km/h. A cyclist riding at 18 km/h for 45 minutes covers 18 × 0.75 = 13.5 km. A car that must cover 90 miles in 1 hour 30 minutes needs an average of 60 mph.
When speeds are given in different units, convert first. 20 m/s is 72 km/h, so a runner at 5 m/s covers 18 km in an hour. For return trips, the average speed is not the average of the two speeds: go at 40 km/h and return at 60 km/h, and the average speed is 48 km/h, because you spend more time at the slower speed.
Frequently asked questions
Which units can I use?
Any, as long as they match. If speed is in miles per hour, distance is in miles. If it is in km/h, distance is in km.
How do I calculate average speed over a trip with stops?
Divide the total distance by the total time, including the stops, or use only the moving time for moving speed.
How do I convert minutes to hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 45 minutes is 0.75 hours.
What is the formula for time?
Time = distance ÷ speed.
Why is average speed not the average of two speeds?
Because you spend more time at the slower speed. Average speed is total distance divided by total time.
Can I use it for walking or cycling?
Yes, with any speed and distance.
What is the average speed for a round trip at 40 km/h and 60 km/h?
48 km/h, found by dividing the total distance by the total time. It is not the simple average of 50 km/h.
This calculator gives estimates for information only. Actual figures from a bank, employer, tax authority or doctor may differ. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice.