Feet per Second to Meters per Second Converter - Convert ft/s to m/s
Accurate feet per second (ft/s) to meters per second (m/s) converter using exact constants, with step-by-step examples, expanded tables, rounding rules, detailed FAQs, tips, and structured data.
Exact identity: m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048. Reverse: ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123). See all MetricCalc's online speed converters.
About Feet per Second to Meters per Second Conversion
Feet per second (ft/s) remains widespread in U.S. testing archives, ballistics and sports timing, and older civil-engineering specs. Meters per second (m/s) is the SI unit favored for modeling, controls, and international reporting. This converter implements the exact identity (0.3048) so your public numbers align with SI-first analytics without arithmetic drift.
To keep results consistent across dashboards and exports, convert at the presentation boundary and round once at output. Store canonical values in m/s to simplify equations and reduce maintenance overhead.
Feet per Second to Meters per Second Formula
Exact relationship
Use either expression:
m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048
// inverse
ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123)SI breakdown:
1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact) ⇒ multiply ft/s by 0.3048 to obtain m/s.Related Speed Converters
What is Feet per Second (ft/s)?
Feet per second expresses the distance in feet covered per second. It appears in firearm ballistics, athletics (e.g., throw/exit speeds), and facility tests where U.S. customary units are entrenched. The linear, exact factor to m/s (0.3048) makes reconciliation with SI straightforward.
Document constants and anchors near figures to accelerate reviews and avoid rework during handoffs.
What is Meters per Second (m/s)?
Meters per second measures how many meters are traveled each second. It is the preferred compute unit for physics-based models, control systems, and cross-border reporting. Using m/s internally and converting to ft/s at display time keeps formulas simple and results reproducible.
For discoverability and user familiarity you can also present kmph in certain UIs-just convert from m/s at the edge to maintain exactness and consistency.
Step-by-Step: Converting ft/s to m/s
- Read the speed in ft/s.
- Multiply by 0.3048 to obtain m/s.
- Apply a single rounding step aligned to your policy or device precision.
- Keep unit symbols explicit in legends, labels, and column headers.
Example walkthrough:
Input: 100 ft/s
Compute: m/s = 100 × 0.3048
Output: 30.48 m/s (UI rounding only)Common Conversions
| Feet per Second (ft/s) | Meters per Second (m/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 |
| 5 | 1.524 |
| 10 | 3.048 |
| 25 | 7.62 |
| 50 | 15.24 |
| 100 | 30.48 |
| 150 | 45.72 |
| 200 | 60.96 |
| 300 | 91.44 |
| 500 | 152.4 |
Quick Reference Table
| Meters per Second (m/s) | Feet per Second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.280839895 |
| 5 | 16.40419948 |
| 10 | 32.80839895 |
| 25 | 82.02099738 |
| 50 | 164.0419948 |
| 100 | 328.0839895 |
| 150 | 492.1259843 |
| 200 | 656.167979 |
| 300 | 984.2519685 |
| 500 | 1640.419948 |
Precision, Rounding & Significant Figures
Operational rounding
Maintain full internal precision through calculations and round once at presentation. Use scientific notation for extreme magnitudes; never let rounded UI values leak back into storage.
Consistent documentation
Publish constants, the inverse, and example anchors alongside your export schema. Use explicit field names (speed_fps, speed_ms) and keep a tiny CI suite to validate both directions continuously.
Where This Converter Is Used
- Navigation overlays and broadcast graphics that require SI figures alongside customary units.
- Sports and biomechanics tools reconciling legacy ft/s logs with SI-first analytics.
- Aerospace facility tests that must publish SI-compliant summaries from ft/s instruments.
- Compliance and safety reporting with exact constants and transparent rounding policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact formula to convert feet per second to meters per second?
Because 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048. The reverse is ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 ≈ (m/s) × 3.280839895013123. Both follow from SI-traceable definitions.
Is 0.3048 exact for the foot-to-meter conversion?
Yes. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. That definition underpins all ft ⇄ m (and ft/s ⇄ m/s) conversions and makes the factor suitable for compliance documents.
Which unit is best for canonical storage-ft/s or m/s?
Use meters per second (m/s). It simplifies equations, reduces rounding risk, and aligns with SI. Convert to ft/s for presentation and round once at output.
How should I round values for public content versus engineering analysis?
Keep internal precision and round once at presentation. For consumer dashboards 1–2 decimals are typical; for engineering analysis choose decimals or significant figures consistent with your sensor precision.
Can I paste scientific notation values into the calculator?
Yes. Inputs such as 9.1134e1 are accepted. Very small or large outputs automatically switch to scientific notation for readability without losing significance.
What anchor pairs should I test regularly?
1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s; 10 ft/s = 3.048 m/s; 100 ft/s = 30.48 m/s. Reverse checks: 1 m/s ≈ 3.280839895 ft/s; 50 m/s ≈ 164.0419948 ft/s.
Is the relationship linear across the full range?
Yes. Doubling ft/s doubles m/s. The proportionality constant (0.3048) is fixed and exact.
Does locale formatting alter the stored numbers?
No. Locale affects only the visual separators and decimal symbols. The stored numbers and conversion remain exact. Apply locale formatting at render time.
Where is ft/s → m/s conversion used?
Legacy U.S. telemetry streams, sports timing, aerospace test data, and any pipeline that must reconcile customary inputs with SI-first analytics and reporting.
Is there a quick mental conversion from ft/s to m/s?
Multiply by ~0.305 for a rough estimate; for exact results use 0.3048 and perform a single rounding step at presentation.
How many significant figures should I publish?
Match your measurement uncertainty. Avoid multiple rounding stages; round once when numbers cross into human-facing reports or UI.
How should APIs and exports label speed fields?
Use unit-suffixed names like speed_fps and speed_ms. Include a brief methodology note-constants, inverse, rounding policy, and anchor conversions-for reviewers and auditors.
Can I rely on these constants for regulatory filings?
Yes. Cite the exact constants (0.3048 and 1250/381) and your rounding policy. These factors are SI-traceable and widely accepted.
Tips for Working with ft/s & m/s
- Prefer m/s for compute; render ft/s for external audiences as needed.
- Round once at output; avoid multiple rounding stages across the pipeline.
- Publish constants and anchors; run CI round-trip tests to catch regressions.
- Use explicit unit-suffixed fields in exports and API contracts.