Millimeter per Second to Feet per Second Converter - Convert mm/s to ft/s
High-quality millimeter per second (mm/s) to feet per second (ft/s) converter using the exact identity ft/s = (mm/s) × 5/1524 ≈ (mm/s) × 0.003280839895. Includes step-by-step examples, expanded tables, rounding guidance, a large FAQ, tips, and structured data.
Exact identity: ft/s = (mm/s) × 5/1524 (≈ 0.003280839895 × mm/s). Reverse: mm/s = (ft/s) × 1524/5 (exact = 304.8 × ft/s). See all MetricCalc's free speed converters.
About Millimeter per Second to Feet per Second Conversion
Millimeter per second (mm/s) is common in precision motion, robotics, medical devices, and metrology where tiny displacements matter. Feet per second (ft/s) appears in mechanical specs, ballistics discussions, and some regional engineering contexts. Converting mm/s to ft/s helps cross-walk technical measurements to audience-friendly reports while retaining an exact, auditable relationship.
This converter uses the exact factor 5/1524; no approximations are introduced by the conversion itself. For robust pipelines, keep m/s as the canonical compute unit, derive mm/s or ft/s for presentation, and round once at output so values stay consistent across dashboards, PDFs, and exports.
Millimeter per Second to Feet per Second Formula
Exact relationship
Use either expression:
ft/s = (mm/s) × 5/1524
// inverse
mm/s = (ft/s) × 1524/5 (exact = (ft/s) × 304.8)Derivation (exact):
1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact), 1 mm = 0.001 m ⇒ 1 mm/s = 0.001 m/s
ft/s = (m/s) ÷ 0.3048 = (0.001 × mm/s) ÷ 0.3048 = (mm/s) × 5/1524Related Speed Converters
What is Millimeter per Second (mm/s)?
Millimeter per second counts millimeters traversed each second. It is ideal for slow, precise motions-linear stages, syringe pumps, and conveyor indexing. Because the millimeter is an SI decimal subunit, scaling between mm/s and m/s is exact, and downstream conversions (to ft/s, mph, kmph) remain deterministic and audit-friendly.
In mixed-unit environments, label axes, legends, and export headers explicitly (mm/s vs ft/s) and publish constants with your rounding policy so reviewers can verify results quickly.
What is Feet per Second (ft/s)?
Feet per second expresses feet traveled in one second. With 1 foot defined exactly as 0.3048 meters, ft/s connects to SI via a fixed constant. While many scientific computations keep m/s internally, ft/s is still encountered in specifications, testing, and regional norms, making reliable interconversion important.
The exact linkage means conversions are stable across locales and systems when you round only at presentation and keep unit labels explicit.
Step-by-Step: Converting mm/s to ft/s
- Read the speed in mm/s.
- Multiply by 5/1524 (≈ 0.003280839895) to obtain ft/s.
- Apply one presentation-time rounding step according to policy or device resolution.
- Use explicit unit labels in UI, PDFs, and export headers.
Example walkthrough:
Input: 2,500 mm/s
Compute: ft/s = 2,500 × 5 / 1,524
Output: ≈ 8.202099737 ft/s (UI rounding only)Common Conversions
| Millimeter per Second (mm/s) | Feet per Second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 0.3280839895 |
| 250 | 0.8202099737 |
| 500 | 1.640419947 |
| 1,000 | 3.280839895 |
| 2,500 | 8.202099737 |
| 5,000 | 16.40419947 |
| 10,000 | 32.80839895 |
| 20,000 | 65.6167979 |
| 30,000 | 98.42519685 |
| 50,000 | 164.0419947 |
Quick Reference Table (Reverse)
| Feet per Second (ft/s) | Millimeter per Second (mm/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 304.8 |
| 2.5 | 762 |
| 5 | 1,524 |
| 10 | 3,048 |
| 25 | 7,620 |
| 50 | 15,240 |
| 60 | 18,288 |
| 80 | 24,384 |
| 100 | 30,480 |
| 120 | 36,576 |
Precision, Rounding & Significant Figures
Operational rounding
Compute with full precision and round once at presentation. Use scientific notation for extreme magnitudes; never overwrite canonical stored values with rounded UI numbers.
Consistent documentation
Publish constants and inverse identities, use explicit unit-suffixed fields (speed_mms, speed_fts), and include a small CI anchor set to catch regressions early.
Where This Converter Is Used
- Precision motion systems reporting to region-specific standards that prefer ft/s.
- Mixed-audience reports bridging SI measurements and customary units.
- Compliance exports requiring explicit constants and a one-time rounding rule.
- Education/training materials translating lab measures to familiar imperial speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact formula to convert millimeter per second to feet per second?
Use the SI definition 1 foot = 0.3048 m (exact) and 1 mm = 0.001 m. Therefore 1 mm/s = 0.001 m/s, and ft/s = (m/s) ÷ 0.3048 = (mm/s × 0.001) ÷ 0.3048 = (mm/s) × 5/1524 (exact). Numerically this is ≈ (mm/s) × 0.003280839895.
Is the ratio 5/1524 exact for mm/s → ft/s?
Yes. 5/1524 is the reduced fraction of 0.001 ÷ 0.3048. Because 0.3048 m per foot is defined exactly and 0.001 m per millimeter is exact, the resulting factor is exact.
What is the reverse identity from ft/s to mm/s?
Invert the factor: mm/s = (ft/s) × 1524/5. Since 1524/5 = 304.8 exactly, you can also write mm/s = (ft/s) × 304.8 with no approximation.
Which unit should be my canonical compute/store unit for speed?
Use meters per second (m/s). It is SI base–aligned and integrates cleanly with physics equations. Derive mm/s or ft/s for presentation, and round once at output to keep dashboards, PDFs, and exports consistent.
How should I round values across UI and exports?
Maintain full internal precision and apply a single rounding step at presentation. Choose decimals tied to instrument resolution or a written policy, and publish that policy near constants and worked examples.
Does locale formatting (digit grouping, decimal symbol) affect stored precision?
No. Locale affects appearance only. The stored numbers and the conversion arithmetic remain exact. Apply localization at render time.
Is the mapping linear across all magnitudes?
Yes. The conversion uses a fixed ratio (5/1524), so doubling mm/s doubles ft/s. Zero maps to zero and signs are preserved for directed velocities.
Which anchor pairs help with QA and CI validation?
1,000 mm/s ≈ 3.280839895 ft/s; 2,500 mm/s ≈ 8.202099737 ft/s; 10,000 mm/s ≈ 32.80839895 ft/s. Reverse: 1 ft/s = 304.8 mm/s; 10 ft/s = 3,048 mm/s.
Where is mm/s → ft/s conversion useful?
When precision devices and lab sensors report mm/s but stakeholders, controls, or documentation need feet per second (for example in mechanical specs or region-specific standards).
Can I input scientific notation like 2.5e3 for 2,500 mm/s?
Yes. The input accepts standard numeric forms. For extreme magnitudes, the output switches to scientific notation to preserve readability and significant figures.
Any mental-math shortcut for estimates?
Multiply mm/s by ~0.00328 to estimate ft/s. For reverse checks, multiply ft/s by exactly 304.8 to get mm/s.
How should I name fields in APIs and exports?
Use explicit unit-suffixed names like speed_mms and speed_fts. Include a short methodology note listing identities, inverses, rounding policy, and a few anchor conversions.
Tips for Working with mm/s & ft/s
- Prefer m/s internally; render mm/s or ft/s at the presentation edge.
- Round once at output; avoid multi-stage rounding across services.
- Keep unit symbols explicit in labels, legends, and export headers.
- Document constants and include round-trip anchors for CI validation.