How to Convert Pace Per Mile to Pace Per Km
To convert a pace per mile into a pace per kilometre, divide by 1.609. To go from per km to per mile, multiply by 1.609. The only trick is doing it in seconds, because paces are written in minutes and seconds, not decimals. A 10:00 mile pace is 6:13 per km; a 5:00 km pace is 8:03 per mile.
The method, step by step
Mile pace to km pace: 9:30 per mile
- Convert to seconds: 9 × 60 + 30 = 570 seconds.
- Divide by 1.609344: 570 ÷ 1.609344 ≈ 354 seconds.
- Back to minutes: 354 ÷ 60 = 5 remainder 54, so 5:54 per km.
Km pace to mile pace: 5:30 per km
- 330 seconds × 1.609344 ≈ 531 seconds.
- 531 = 8 minutes 51 seconds, so 8:51 per mile.
Or let the running pace calculator handle it; it shows both units for any time and distance.
Conversion table
| Per mile | Per km |
|---|---|
| 8:00 | 4:58 |
| 9:00 | 5:36 |
| 10:00 | 6:13 |
| 11:00 | 6:50 |
| 12:00 | 7:27 |
| 13:00 | 8:05 |
| Per km | Per mile |
|---|---|
| 4:30 | 7:15 |
| 5:00 | 8:03 |
| 5:30 | 8:51 |
| 6:00 | 9:39 |
| 6:30 | 10:28 |
| 7:00 | 11:16 |
Quick mental shortcut
A km pace is roughly 60% of the mile pace, and a mile pace is roughly 1.6 times the km pace. For 10:00 per mile: 60% of 600 seconds is 360, or 6:00, which is close to the true 6:13. It's good enough on the move, but use the proper conversion for race planning.
Treadmill speeds (mph and km/h) to pace
Treadmills usually show speed, not pace. To convert:
- Pace per mile = 60 ÷ mph (in minutes). 6 mph = 10:00 per mile.
- Pace per km = 60 ÷ km/h. 10 km/h = 6:00 per km.
| Speed | Pace per mile | Pace per km |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mph | 12:00 | 7:27 |
| 6 mph | 10:00 | 6:13 |
| 7 mph | 8:34 | 5:20 |
| 8 mph | 7:30 | 4:40 |
Many runners set the treadmill to a 1% incline to roughly offset the lack of wind resistance compared with running outside.
Common mistakes
- Treating 5:30 as 5.30. 5:30 is 5.5 minutes, not 5.3. Always convert to seconds first.
- Mixing up the direction. A km is shorter than a mile, so your per-km pace should always be the smaller number.
- Forgetting the distance is different too. A half marathon is 21.1 km or 13.1 miles; the same pace gives the same finish time either way.
If you're converting because you're training for a race abroad, the running pace chart lists finish times for common race distances in both units.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert minutes per mile to minutes per km?
Convert the pace to seconds, divide by 1.609344, then convert back to minutes and seconds. For example 10:00 per mile is 6:13 per km.
What is 5:00 per km in minutes per mile?
About 8:03 per mile.
How do I convert treadmill mph to pace?
Divide 60 by the speed in mph to get minutes per mile. 6 mph is a 10:00 mile pace.
Is a km pace always faster than a mile pace?
The number is always smaller because a kilometre is shorter than a mile, but it represents the same running speed.