FPS to MPH Converter — Convert feet per second to miles per hour (Exact: × 15/22)
Professional feet per second (ft/s, fps) to miles per hour (mph) converter. Exact identity: mph = fps × 15/22 ≈ 0.681818…. Built for automotive test labs, safety validation, sports timing, and ballistics telemetry.
Exact identity: mph = fps × 15/22 ≈ 0.681818…. Explore the full family on our free speed metric converter hub.
About FPS to MPH Conversion
Feet per second (ft/s) is the workhorse unit in many U.S. laboratories, proving grounds, and ranges because kinematics and layout plans are expressed in feet and seconds. Miles per hour (mph) is the public-facing unit used on road networks and consumer dashboards. Converting fps → mph lets you preserve the fidelity of your instrumentation while communicating results in a unit that decision-makers and audiences intuitively understand. For more tools, visit our online speed conversion metric tool category.
FPS to MPH Formula
Exact relationship
Use the factor method:
mph = fps × (3600 s/h ÷ 5280 ft/mile) = fps × 15/22 ≈ fps × 0.681818…Example:
88 ft/s × 15/22 = 60.00000 mphReverse calculation (mph → fps)
Multiply by 22/15 (≈ 1.466666…): fps = mph × 22/15.
What is feet per second (ft/s)?
Feet per second tracks linear speed in imperial time–distance units. It pairs cleanly with U.S. safety standards, cone spacing, and track/range instrumentation, eliminating hidden conversion hops during analysis.
What is mph?
Miles per hour measures statute miles covered per hour. It’s the default unit across U.S. roads and is widely used by media and consumer devices. Publishing mph alongside fps helps mixed audiences read results without sacrificing technical correctness.
Step-by-Step: Converting fps to mph
- Record the speed in ft/s (radar gun, logger, or test system).
- Multiply by 15/22 (≈ 0.681818…).
- Label the result in mph. Round per your reporting policy (e.g., one or two decimals).
Example walkthroughs (practical):
Automotive: 110 ft/s × 15/22 = 75.00 mph (highway passing scenario)
Athletics: 40 ft/s × 15/22 = 27.27 mph (elite sprint radar)
Ballistics: 1500 ft/s × 15/22 = 1022.73 mph (supersonic projectile reporting)Deep-Dive Use Cases
Automotive testing, safety, and telematics
In instrumented stops and time-to-collision analysis, distances are recorded in feet and timestamps in seconds. Converting to mph is essential for stakeholder reports, but keeping an fps backbone simplifies formulas such as stopping distance ≈ v²/(2μg) (with v in ft/s). Coast-down tests for CdA and rolling resistance likewise normalize to fps in the math, then publish mph for communication. Using a single unit system in equations reduces rounding hops and audit uncertainty.
Ballistics telemetry and wind/target inputs
Chronographs, Doppler radars, and solver tables commonly output in ft/s. For public-facing materials (training handouts, press briefings), mph is more legible. Convert fps → mph when reporting projectile velocities or converting target traverse and wind values for mixed audiences. Internally, keep ft/s for solver consistency with BC models and drag functions; externally, provide mph summaries.
Common Conversions
Everyday checks for labs, tracks & ranges
| ft/s | mph |
|---|---|
| 10 | 6.81818 |
| 30 | 20.45455 |
| 44 | 30.00000 |
| 58.67 | 40.00000 |
| 73.33 | 50.00000 |
| 88 | 60.00000 |
| 102.67 | 70.00000 |
| 117.33 | 80.00000 |
Quick Reference Table
| mph | ft/s |
|---|---|
| 20 | 29.33333 |
| 30 | 44.00000 |
| 40 | 58.66667 |
| 50 | 73.33333 |
| 60 | 88.00000 |
| 70 | 102.66667 |
| 80 | 117.33333 |
| 100 | 146.66667 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact formula to convert feet per second (fps) to miles per hour (mph)?
Multiply by 15/22. Since 1 mile = 5280 feet and 1 hour = 3600 seconds, 1 ft/s = (3600/5280) mph = 15/22 mph ≈ 0.681818… mph.
Why do automotive teams convert fps to mph?
Many U.S. safety and track tests compute in feet and seconds (stopping distance, TTC, reaction envelopes), but executive summaries and dashboards are in mph. Converting fps → mph keeps the math consistent while communicating in a familiar unit.
How is fps → mph used in ballistics and range work?
Telemetry, chrono traces, and solver tables often run in ft/s. For media, training, or public reports, teams publish mph. Converting fps → mph helps align range instrumentation with high-level narratives without changing the underlying physics.
Does wind, slope, surface, or sensor smoothing alter the conversion?
No. Those factors affect the measured value, not the unit identity. The conversion fps × 15/22 is exact and constant.
What precision should I show on dashboards?
Keep full precision internally; round for presentation. One or two decimals in mph is common. Document the exact constant (15/22).
How do I convert back from mph to fps?
Multiply by 22/15 (≈ 1.466666…): fps = mph × 22/15. The reverse page is linked below in Related Speed Converters.
Is fps the same as ft/s?
Yes. Both are standard shorthands for feet per second (the same unit).
Can I chain fps → m/s → mph instead of converting directly?
You can (fps ÷ 3.28084 = m/s, then × 2.236936292 = mph), but direct fps × 15/22 is simpler and avoids extra rounding.
Why do different devices show slightly different mph from the same fps?
Typically due to sampling cadence, filtering, map matching, and rounding policies. The underlying conversion factor is identical.
Where else is fps → mph helpful?
Sports timing (radar guns in baseball/tennis), robotics on imperial rigs, and EDR post-processing when distances are logged in feet.
Tips for Working with ft/s & mph
- Convert once at ingestion; keep raw telemetry precise and immutable. Round at the presentation layer.
- Stick to one unit system in calculations (ft and s) to minimize silent conversion errors.
- State the exact factor (15/22) in methods so audits are straightforward.
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