Pace Calculator
Calculate running pace and speed from distance and time. Leave one field blank and solve for it — pace in minutes per km or mile, speed in km/h or mph.
Pace versus speed
Pace is time per unit of distance (minutes per km or mile) — a smaller number means you're running faster. Speed is distance per unit of time (km/h or mph) — a bigger number means faster. The two are reciprocals of each other.
The core relationship
Pace, distance, and time form the same triangle as speed, distance, and time: pace = time ÷ distance, and time = pace × distance. This calculator also reports speed (distance ÷ time) alongside the pace.
Worked examples
- 5 km in 30:00 → pace = 30 ÷ 5 = 6:00 /km; speed = 5 ÷ 0.5 h = 10 km/h.
- 10 km in 50:00 → pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5:00 /km (faster than the first example); speed = 12 km/h.
- Pace 5:00/km over a marathon (42.195 km) → time ≈ 5 × 42.195 ≈ 211 minutes, about 3:30:59.
Predicting a race time
Once you know your pace from a training run, multiply it by a new distance to estimate a race time — useful for planning marathon or 10K goal paces before race day.
Common mistakes
- Confusing pace with speed — they move in opposite directions; a smaller pace is faster.
- Mixing minutes and hours inconsistently between fields.
- Forgetting to convert minutes to hours when computing speed in km/h or mph.
Pace is a form of unit rate — time per one unit of distance — and the running-specific case of the speed, distance, time relationship. To check your training weight alongside pace, see the BMI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What is pace?
- Pace is the time it takes to cover one unit of distance, usually written as minutes per kilometer or minutes per mile. A smaller pace number means you are running faster.
- What is the difference between pace and speed?
- Pace is time per unit of distance (minutes per km); speed is distance per unit of time (km per hour). They are reciprocals of each other — a lower pace means a higher speed.
- How do I calculate pace from distance and time?
- Divide your total time by the distance covered. Running 5 km in 30 minutes gives a pace of 30 divided by 5, which is 6 minutes per kilometer.
- How do I predict my time for a race distance?
- Multiply your known pace by the new distance. At a 5:00-per-km pace, a marathon (42.195 km) takes about 5 × 42.195 ≈ 211 minutes, or roughly 3 hours 31 minutes.
- How do I convert pace to speed?
- Speed equals distance divided by time. If your pace is 6 minutes per km, you cover 1 km every 6 minutes, which is 10 km in 60 minutes — a speed of 10 km/h.
- Why does a smaller pace number mean I'm running faster?
- Because pace measures time per distance. Covering the same kilometer in less time means a smaller number, so 5:00 per km is faster than 6:00 per km.
- Can I calculate distance if I know my pace and time?
- Yes. Divide time by pace. At a 6:00-per-km pace running for 30 minutes, the distance is 30 divided by 6, which is 5 km — leave the distance field blank and enter the other two.