Average speed calculator
Enter the distance and how long the trip took to get your average speed. Switch the mode to find the distance you’ll cover or how long a trip will take.
Average speed formula
Average speed is the total distance divided by the total time:
speed = distance ÷ time
distance = speed × time
time = distance ÷ speed
Keep the units consistent. Miles and hours give mph, kilometers and hours give km/h, meters and seconds give m/s. If your time is in minutes, divide it by 60 first — or just use the separate hours and minutes fields in the calculator above.
Worked examples
Average speed in mph
You drive 150 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes. 2 h 30 min = 2.5 hours, so the average speed is 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60 mph.
Average speed in km/h
A train covers 240 km in 1 hour 36 minutes. 1 h 36 min = 1.6 hours, so it averages 240 ÷ 1.6 = 150 km/h — even if its top speed was much higher. Check the real speed on your next ride with the train speed test.
Distance from speed and time
Cruising at 65 mph for 3 hours covers 65 × 3 = 195 miles. At 100 km/h for 45 minutes (0.75 h) you cover 100 × 0.75 = 75 km.
Travel time from distance and speed
A 300 km trip at an average of 80 km/h takes 300 ÷ 80 = 3.75 hours = 3 hours 45 minutes. A 3-mile walk at 3 mph takes exactly 1 hour. For ready-made answers by distance, see how long is 10 miles and similar pages.
Running pace
A 10 km run in 50 minutes: 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 12 km/h, which is a pace of 5:00 per kilometer (about 7.5 mph or 8:03 per mile).
Why you can’t just average the speeds
A classic mistake: you drive to a town 60 miles away at 60 mph and come back at 30 mph. The average of the two speeds is 45 mph, but your real average speed is lower:
- Out: 60 miles at 60 mph = 1 hour
- Back: 60 miles at 30 mph = 2 hours
- Total: 120 miles in 3 hours = 40 mph
The slow leg takes longer, so it weighs more in the result. That’s why you should always divide total distance by total time. When the legs take equal time (not equal distance), the simple average of the speeds does work.
Average speed vs average moving speed
There are two common ways to report an average, and they can differ a lot:
- Overall average speed — distance divided by the full trip time, including traffic lights, fuel stops and breaks. This is what tells you when you’ll arrive.
- Average moving speed — distance divided by the time you were actually moving. Fitness trackers and our GPS speedometer show this one, because it reflects how fast you go rather than how long you waited.
For planning a road trip, use a realistic overall average. Highway trips with a couple of breaks often average noticeably less than the cruising speed, and city driving averages far less than the posted limit.
Units supported
The calculator accepts distance in miles, kilometers, meters and nautical miles, and speed in mph, km/h, m/s and knots. Results are shown in your chosen unit plus the others, so you can mix units freely — for example, enter a distance in miles and read the speed in km/h. To convert a single speed, use the speed converter.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate average speed?
Divide the total distance by the total time: average speed = distance ÷ time. For example, 150 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes is 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60 mph.
What is the formula for distance and time?
Rearrange the same formula: distance = speed × time and time = distance ÷ speed. Make sure the units match — miles with mph and hours, kilometers with km/h and hours.
If I drive 60 mph one way and 30 mph back, is my average 45 mph?
No — it’s 40 mph. You spend twice as long on the slow leg, so it counts twice as much. For a 60-mile trip each way: 1 hour out + 2 hours back = 3 hours for 120 miles, which is 40 mph.
How do I enter minutes in the calculator?
Use the separate hours, minutes and seconds fields. For 1 hour 45 minutes, enter 1 in hours and 45 in minutes — you don’t need to convert it to 1.75 hours yourself.
What is the difference between average speed and average moving speed?
Average speed counts the whole trip time, including stops. Average moving speed only counts the time you were actually moving. A city drive might average 18 mph overall but 27 mph while moving. Our GPS speedometer shows average moving speed.
How do average speed cameras work?
They record your vehicle at two points a known distance apart and divide that distance by the time between them — exactly the formula on this page. If the result is above the limit, you were speeding on average, even if you slowed down at each camera.
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