Pace Calculator
Calculate your running, walking, or biking pace from time and distance. Estimate finish times, convert between pace and speed units, and compare your pace to world record benchmarks with our free online pace calculator.
Quick Race Distances
min/km
5:00
min/km
Pace & Speed Formulas
Pace is the time taken to cover a unit of distance. Speed is the distance covered per unit of time.
Pace Converter
12.07
Convert between different pace and speed units.
Finish Time Calculator
Estimate your finish time for a longer distance based on your current pace.
Estimated Finish Time
00:50:00
hh:mm:ss
Time Remaining
00:25:00
5:00/km · 8:03/mi
Typical Races & World Records
| Distance | Men's WR Pace | Women's WR Pace |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 2:35/mi (1:36/km) | 2:49/mi (1:45/km) |
| 200 m | 2:35/mi (1:36/km) | 2:52/mi (1:47/km) |
| 400 m | 2:54/mi (1:48/km) | 3:12/mi (1:59/km) |
| 800 m | 3:23/mi (2:06/km) | 3:48/mi (2:21/km) |
| 1,500 m | 3:41/mi (2:17/km) | 4:07/mi (2:34/km) |
| 1 mile | 3:43/mi (2:19/km) | 4:13/mi (2:37/km) |
| 5K | 4:04/mi (2:31/km) | 4:34/mi (2:50/km) |
| 10K | 4:14/mi (2:38/km) | 4:45/mi (2:57/km) |
| Half Marathon | 4:27/mi (2:46/km) | 4:58/mi (3:05/km) |
| Marathon | 4:41/mi (2:55/km) | 5:10/mi (3:13/km) |
World record paces shown for reference. Source: World Athletics.
How to Use
- 1
Choose your calculation mode: Pace (find pace from time and distance), Time (find time from pace and distance), or Distance (find distance from time and pace)
- 2
Enter the distance and select its unit — miles, kilometers, meters, or yards — or use a quick preset for common race distances like 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon
- 3
Enter the time as hours, minutes, and seconds (hh:mm:ss) for pace and distance modes
- 4
For time and distance modes, enter your pace — use minutes and seconds for min/mi or min/km, or a plain number for speed units like mph or km/h
- 5
Select your output unit (pace unit for pace mode, distance unit for distance mode) to see the result in the format you need
- 6
Understanding the key inputs — pace is time per unit distance (e.g. 8:30 per mile) while speed is distance per unit time (e.g. 7.1 mph); a lower pace and a higher speed both mean you are moving faster
- 7
Interpreting the results — use the pace converter to translate between min/mi, min/km, mph, and km/h so you can compare workouts from different apps or watches
- 8
Use the finish time calculator mid-race to estimate your finishing time from the distance covered and elapsed time so far
Examples
Good Examples
Calculating pace for a 10K run in 50 minutes
50:00 for 10 km → 5:00/km or 8:03/mi (about 12.0 km/h or 7.46 mph)Estimating marathon finish time from a 10K split
10K in 45:00 → projected marathon finish ≈ 3:09:45 at the same pace (42.195 km)Converting treadmill speed to running pace
8.0 km/h on a treadmill → 7:30/km or 12:04/mi — useful when comparing treadmill runs to outdoor paceFinding the time needed for a 5K at a target pace
Target 5:30/km for 5 km → 27:30 finish time — use this to set realistic race goalsComparing pace vs speed for cycling and running
20 mph cycling = 3:00/mi; 6 mph running = 10:00/mi — the same speed value means very different effort across activitiesUsing world record paces as a benchmark
Marathon men's WR pace is ~4:41/mi (2:55/km) — a 4-hour marathon requires ~9:09/mi (5:41/km)Bad Examples
Confusing pace and speed
A pace of 6:00/km is a speed of 10 km/h — mixing them up gives wildly wrong results when entering dataEntering pace as a decimal instead of mm:ss
Writing 5.30 for 5 minutes 30 seconds per km is wrong — 5:30/km is 5.5 decimal minutes, not 5.30Comparing paces across different units
8:00/mi is faster than 8:00/km — always confirm the unit before comparing splits from different sourcesIgnoring unit differences between apps and watches
A Garmin set to miles and Strava set to km show the same run differently — convert first using the pace converterCommon Mistakes
- Confusing pace (time per distance) with speed (distance per time) — a lower pace is faster, while a higher speed is faster
- Entering pace as a decimal when the format is mm:ss — 5:30 means 5 minutes 30 seconds, not 5.30 minutes
- Comparing paces across different units without converting — 8:00/mi and 8:00/km are very different speeds
- Forgetting that treadmill displays show speed (km/h or mph) while running apps show pace (min/km or min/mi)
- Assuming a constant pace throughout a race — fatigue, hills, and weather all affect your actual splits
- Using a recent short-run pace to predict a much longer race — longer distances usually mean a slower sustainable pace
- Neglecting to account for elevation and terrain — trail and hilly runs produce slower paces than flat road runs at the same effort
- Mixing up elapsed time and moving time — GPS watches report both, and pace based on moving time ignores stops
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my running pace?
To calculate your running pace, divide your total time by the distance covered. The formula is: . For example, if you run 10 km in 50 minutes, your pace is 50 ÷ 10 = 5:00 per kilometer. Convert the result to a mm:ss format by separating the whole minutes from the remaining seconds.
What is the difference between pace and speed?
Pace measures time per unit distance (such as minutes per mile or minutes per kilometer), while speed measures distance per unit time (such as miles per hour or kilometers per hour). A lower pace means you are moving faster, while a higher speed means you are moving faster. Runners usually use pace; cyclists and drivers usually use speed.
How do I convert pace to speed?
To convert pace to speed, divide 60 by the decimal minutes per unit. For example, a pace of 8:30 per mile (8.5 decimal minutes) converts to 60 ÷ 8.5 = 7.06 mph. To go the other direction, divide 60 by the speed: 60 ÷ 7.06 mph = 8.5 min/mi = 8:30/mi.
How do I convert min/mi to min/km?
Since 1 mile equals 1.609344 kilometers, multiply your minutes-per-mile pace by 1.609344 to get minutes per kilometer. For example, 8:30/mi (8.5 min) × 1.609344 = 13.68 min/km ≈ 13:41/km. To convert min/km to min/mi, divide by 1.609344 instead.
How do I estimate my marathon finish time from a 10K split?
Divide the distance covered by the elapsed time to find your speed, then multiply by the full marathon distance (42.195 km or 26.22 miles). For example, 10K in 45 minutes gives a pace of 4:30/km, which projects to a marathon finish of about 3:09:45. Keep in mind that most runners slow down over longer distances, so treat this as a rough estimate.
What is a good running pace for a beginner?
A typical beginner running pace is between 10:00 and 12:00 per mile (6:13 to 7:27 per kilometer), which corresponds to about 5 to 6 mph. As fitness improves, recreational runners often reach 8:00 to 10:00 per mile (5:00 to 6:13 per kilometer). Choose a pace that lets you hold a conversation comfortably.
Why does my GPS watch show a different pace than this calculator?
GPS watches report both elapsed time and moving time, and they calculate pace using slightly different smoothing algorithms. If your watch includes stops in its elapsed time, the pace will appear slower. For consistent comparisons, use moving time and make sure both the watch and calculator use the same distance unit (miles or kilometers).
How accurate is the finish time calculator?
The finish time calculator assumes you maintain the same pace for the entire race, which rarely happens in practice. Fatigue, hills, weather, and fueling all affect your actual pace. Use the estimate as a planning baseline, and expect your real finish time to vary — especially for longer races like the half marathon and marathon.
Should I use pace or speed when training on a treadmill?
Treadmills typically display speed (mph or km/h), while training plans are usually written in pace (min/mi or min/km). Use the pace converter to translate the treadmill speed into the pace your plan calls for. For example, 8.0 km/h on a treadmill equals about 7:30 per kilometer.