Health⏱ 4 min read
How to Convert Between Pace Per Mile and Pace Per Kilometre
Running apps and races switch between imperial and metric constantly. Here is how to convert paces precisely and what common minute-per-mile paces look like in km/h and mph.
If you train in km but race on a course marked in miles, or vice versa, you need these conversions. Getting them right matters most in the first mile of a race, when the wrong pace can ruin the whole effort.
The Core Conversion
1 mile = 1.60934 km
1 km = 0.62137 miles
To convert pace per km to pace per mile:
Pace per mile = Pace per km x 1.60934
To convert pace per mile to pace per km:
Pace per km = Pace per mile / 1.60934
= Pace per mile x 0.62137
Example: 5:00/km pace
Pace per mile = 5:00 x 1.60934 = 8:02.7 per mile ≈ 8:03/mile
Example: 7:30/mile pace
Pace per km = 7:30 / 1.60934 = 4:39.6/km ≈ 4:40/km
Pace to Speed Conversion
Speed (km/h) = 60 / Pace (min/km)
Pace (min/km) = 60 / Speed (km/h)
5:00/km → Speed = 60/5 = 12 km/h
4:00/km → Speed = 60/4 = 15 km/h
6:00/km → Speed = 60/6 = 10 km/h
Speed (mph) = 60 / Pace (min/mile)
8:00/mile → 60/8 = 7.5 mph
6:00/mile → 60/6 = 10 mph
Common Pace Reference Table
min/kmmin/milekm/hmph
3:305:3817.110.6
4:006:2615.09.3
4:307:1413.38.3
5:008:0312.07.5
5:308:5110.96.8
6:009:3910.06.2
6:3010:289.25.7
7:0011:168.65.3
Race Target Paces
5km in 25:00 → 5:00/km → 8:03/mile
5km in 20:00 → 4:00/km → 6:26/mile
10km in 45:00 → 4:30/km → 7:14/mile
10km in 40:00 → 4:00/km → 6:26/mile
Half marathon in 2:00:00 → 5:41/km → 9:09/mile
Half marathon in 1:45:00 → 4:59/km → 8:01/mile
Marathon in 4:00:00 → 5:41/km → 9:09/mile
Marathon in 3:30:00 → 4:58/km → 8:00/mile
Marathon in 3:00:00 → 4:15/km → 6:50/mile
Memory trick: sub-4hr marathon and sub-2hr half marathon
need virtually identical per-km pace (~5:41/km) —
makes sense since both require exactly 5:41/km.