Calculate speed, distance, or time using the speed equation: speed = distance / time. You can also convert between different speed units and calculate average speed.
Enter a speed value to see the chart
Speed is defined as the rate at which an object covers distance. It is a scalar quantity that refers to "how fast an object is moving." Speed is measured in units of distance per time, such as kilometers per hour (km/h), miles per hour (mph), or meters per second (m/s).
The basic formula for speed is:
For example, if a car travels 100 kilometers in 2 hours, its speed is 50 kilometers per hour (km/h).
| Category | Speed | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Land | 1,228 km/h | ThrustSSC jet-propelled car (1997) |
| Water | 511 km/h | Spirit of Australia (1978) |
| Air | 3,530 km/h | Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (1976) |
| Human | 44.72 km/h | Usain Bolt, 100m sprint (2009) |
| Space | 265,000 km/h | Parker Solar Probe (2018) |