Meters per Second to Feet per Second Converter - Convert m/s to ft/s
High-quality meters per second (m/s) to feet per second (ft/s) converter using exact identities, with worked steps, expanded tables, rounding guidance, detailed FAQs, practical tips, and structured data.
Exact identity: ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123). Reverse: m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048. See all MetricCalc's free speed converters.
About Meters per Second to Feet per Second Conversion
Meters per second (m/s) is the SI base speed unit favored in modeling, physics, and engineering because it simplifies equations and maintains dimensional clarity. Feet per second (ft/s) remains common in U.S. aerospace testing, sports performance analytics, and long-running telemetry streams. This converter applies the exact identity between the two so your values stay reproducible across dashboards, PDFs, and CSV exports.
As a best practice, treat m/s as your canonical compute unit. Convert to ft/s (or kmph) at presentation boundaries, and round once at output. This avoids silent divergence when numbers move across services and devices.
Meters per Second to Feet per Second Formula
Exact relationship
Use either expression:
ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123)
// inverse
m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048SI breakdown:
1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact) ⇒ 1 m = 1 ÷ 0.3048 ft = 1250/381 ft (exact).Related Speed Converters
What is Meters per Second (m/s)?
Meters per second indicates the number of meters traveled in one second. It is the foundation for most physical models and instrumentation specifications. Because m/s aligns with SI, it reduces conversion overhead, protects precision, and keeps formulas clean (e.g., kinetic energy, drag, and flow calculations).
Typical magnitudes: walking (~1–2 m/s), sprinting (~10 m/s top speed bursts), urban traffic flows (≈ 10–20 m/s), and aerospace/wind-tunnel regimes (> 100 m/s). Regardless of scale, conversion to ft/s uses the same exact factor.
What is Feet per Second (ft/s)?
Feet per second is a U.S. customary unit reporting how many feet are covered each second. It persists in legacy engineering datasets, facility tests, and sports contexts. Converting from m/s to ft/s is linear via the exact rational constant 1250/381, making it straightforward to synchronize legacy and SI-first systems.
When publishing outward-facing numbers in ft/s, include a short methodology note (constants, rounding policy, and anchors) to make reviews and audits faster.
Step-by-Step: Converting m/s to ft/s
- Read or ingest the speed in m/s.
- Multiply by 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123) to obtain ft/s.
- Apply a single rounding step aligned to your policy or device precision.
- Label units explicitly in legends, labels, and column headers.
Example walkthrough:
Input: 10 m/s
Compute: ft/s = 10 × 1250/381
Output: ≈ 32.80839895 ft/s (UI rounding only)Common Conversions
| Meters per Second (m/s) | Feet per Second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.280839895 |
| 5 | 16.40419948 |
| 10 | 32.80839895 |
| 20 | 65.6167979 |
| 30 | 98.42519685 |
| 50 | 164.0419948 |
| 100 | 328.0839895 |
| 150 | 492.1259843 |
| 200 | 656.167979 |
| 300 | 984.2519685 |
Quick Reference Table
| 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 |
Precision, Rounding & Significant Figures
Operational rounding
Preserve full internal precision and round once at presentation. For very small or large magnitudes, scientific notation keeps values readable while retaining significance. Never overwrite stored values with rounded UI numbers.
Consistent documentation
Publish exact identities (“ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381”), the inverse, your display policy, and a few anchor conversions. Use explicit unit-suffixed fields (speed_ms, speed_fps) in APIs/exports, and add a tiny CI test set for round-trip validation.
Where This Converter Is Used
- Wind tunnels and CFD, where raw m/s data must be presented as ft/s in stakeholder summaries.
- Sports analytics translating SI instrumentation into U.S. customary displays.
- Industrial and aerospace telemetry bridging SI-first compute with legacy reporting obligations.
- Compliance documents that require transparent constants and one-time rounding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact formula to convert meters per second to feet per second?
Using exact SI-traceable definitions, 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, so 1 m = 1 ÷ 0.3048 ft = 1250/381 ft (exact). Therefore ft/s = (m/s) × 1250/381 ≈ (m/s) × 3.280839895013123. The reverse identity is m/s = (ft/s) × 0.3048 (exact).
Why is 1250/381 considered exact for meters to feet?
Because the international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. The reciprocal 1/0.3048 simplifies to 1250/381 as a rational number, which is exact and not a rounded approximation.
Which speed unit should I use as the canonical store in my database?
Store meters per second (m/s) for computation to minimize chained factors and unit confusion. Derive ft/s or kmph at presentation time. Centralizing constants and rounding once at output prevents subtle drift between services.
How should I round values for dashboards, PDFs, or CSV exports?
Keep full internal precision, then round once at presentation based on sensor resolution or policy. For consumer dashboards, 1–2 decimals often suffice; for engineering analysis, keep more decimals or significant figures as required.
Can I enter numbers in scientific notation like 1.2e1 for 12?
Yes. The calculator accepts common numeric forms, including scientific notation. For extremely large or small results, the display switches to scientific notation automatically for readability while preserving significant digits.
Is the conversion from m/s to ft/s linear across all magnitudes?
Yes. Speed conversions are linear. Doubling the input in m/s doubles the output in ft/s; the proportionality constant (1250/381) remains fixed regardless of magnitude.
What anchor pairs are useful for sanity checks and CI tests?
1 m/s ≈ 3.280839895 ft/s; 10 m/s ≈ 32.80839895 ft/s; 50 m/s ≈ 164.0419948 ft/s. Reverse checks: 1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s; 100 ft/s = 30.48 m/s.
Does locale formatting change the stored value or just its appearance?
Only the appearance. Thousands separators and decimal symbols differ by locale, but the stored number and the conversion remain exact. Apply locale formatting at render time for the target audience.
Where do m/s → ft/s conversions appear in practice?
Aerospace and wind-tunnel studies, sports performance analytics, industrial telemetry pipelines, and international collaborations that must present numbers in U.S. customary units without losing SI rigor.
Is there a quick mental-math trick for approximate conversion?
Multiply m/s by ~3.28 for a quick estimate. For production systems and compliance documents, use the exact factor 1250/381 (≈ 3.280839895013123) and apply a single rounding step at presentation.
How many significant figures should I report after conversion?
Match your measurement uncertainty or policy. If a sensor outputs 3 significant figures, present 3 significant figures after conversion. Avoid multiple rounding stages to prevent accumulation of small errors.
How should I label fields in exports and APIs to avoid confusion?
Use explicit unit-suffixed names such as speed_ms, speed_fps, and speed_kmph. Include a short methodology note listing identities, the inverse, rounding policy, and a few anchor conversions.
Are there regulatory or standards preferences I should consider?
Many standards and scientific styles prefer SI-first (m/s) with clear conversions. When reporting non-SI (ft/s), cite the exact constants and your rounding policy for auditability.
Tips for Working with m/s & ft/s
- Adopt m/s as the compute base; render ft/s (or kmph) at presentation edges.
- Round once at output; never feed rounded UI values back into storage.
- Publish constants and anchors; validate both directions continuously in CI.
- Keep unit symbols explicit in labels, legends, and export headers.