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Acceleration Converter

Science

Convert acceleration units instantly — metres per second squared, standard gravity (g), feet per second squared, Gal, and more. Free, instant, browser-based.

Written by · Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 15, 2026

From
To
All conversionsfor 1 Metre/second² (m/s²)
Metre/second² (m/s²)1
Centimetre/second² (cm/s²)100
Millimetre/second² (mm/s²)1000
Kilometre/second² (km/s²)0.001
Standard Gravity (g)0.10197162
Gal (cm/s²)100
Milligal (mGal)100000
Foot/second² (ft/s²)3.2808399
Inch/second² (in/s²)39.370079
Kilometre/hour/second (km/h·s)3.6
Mile/hour/second (mph/s)2.2369363

What is a Acceleration?

An Acceleration Converter converts values between different units of acceleration, the rate of change of velocity over time. The SI base unit is metres per second squared (m/s²), but acceleration is expressed in many other units depending on the field: standard gravity (g) in aerospace and everyday contexts, Gal and milligal in geophysics, feet per second squared (ft/s²) in imperial engineering, and kilometres per hour per second (km/h·s) when describing vehicle performance.

This converter supports 11 acceleration units spanning SI, CGS, imperial, and everyday measurement systems. All conversions use exact or NIST-defined factors referenced to the SI base unit m/s².

The standard gravity unit (g₀ = 9.80665 m/s² exactly) is particularly useful for contextualising accelerations, a fighter pilot experiencing 9g during a manoeuvre is experiencing an acceleration of 88.26 m/s², or about 9 times Earth's surface gravity.

Related converters: Force Converter for Newtons and pound-force, Speed Converter for velocity units.

Why Use an Acceleration Converter?

Acceleration values appear in very different units across disciplines. A structural engineer reading a seismic report works in Gal; an aerospace engineer works in g; a vehicle dynamics engineer works in m/s²; a US automotive specification sheet uses ft/s². Converting between these while maintaining precision requires the exact conversion factors that this tool provides.

Who Should Use This Converter?

Physics and engineering students, convert between SI and other unit systems in coursework and lab reports.

Automotive and aerospace engineers, convert vehicle performance data between g, m/s², and km/h·s.

Geophysicists and seismologists, convert gravitational anomaly measurements between Gal, milligal, and m/s².

Technical writers and translators, render acceleration values in the unit system appropriate for the target audience.

How to use this Acceleration calculator

  1. Enter the acceleration value in the From field.
  2. Select the unit you are converting from.
  3. Select the unit you want to convert to.
  4. The converted value appears instantly.
Show formula & methodology ↓Hide formula & methodology ↑

Formula & Methodology

All units convert via a fixed multiplier to the base unit m/s²:

Unit Symbol Exact factor to m/s²
Metre/second² m/s² 1
Centimetre/second² / Gal cm/s² 0.01
Millimetre/second² mm/s² 0.001
Milligal mGal 0.00001
Standard gravity g 9.80665
Foot/second² ft/s² 0.3048
Inch/second² in/s² 0.0254
km/h per second km/h·s 0.27̄ (= 1/3.6)
mph per second mph/s 0.44704

Example: 1 g = 9.80665 m/s² = 32.1740 ft/s² = 980.665 Gal

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is acceleration?

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time, how quickly an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction. In SI units it is expressed in metres per second squared (m/s²). An acceleration of 1 m/s² means the velocity increases by 1 metre per second every second.

What is standard gravity (g)?

Standard gravity (symbol: g or g₀) is the standard acceleration due to Earth's gravitational field at sea level, defined exactly as 9.80665 m/s². It is used as a unit of acceleration in aviation, aerospace, and everyday contexts, '3g' means an acceleration three times Earth's surface gravity, or approximately 29.4 m/s².

What is the Gal unit of acceleration?

The Gal (named after Galileo) is a CGS unit of acceleration equal to 1 centimetre per second squared (cm/s²), or 0.01 m/s². The milligal (mGal) equals 0.00001 m/s². These units are commonly used in geophysics and geodesy to measure gravitational anomalies, which are very small deviations from standard gravity.

How do I convert m/s² to g?

Divide the acceleration in m/s² by 9.80665. For example: 19.6133 m/s² ÷ 9.80665 = 2g. Conversely, multiply g by 9.80665 to get m/s². This converter does both directions automatically.

What is ft/s² and when is it used?

Feet per second squared (ft/s²) is the imperial unit of acceleration, equal to 0.3048 m/s². It is used in US aerospace, automotive, and engineering contexts. Standard gravity in imperial units is approximately 32.174 ft/s².

What does km/h·s mean as an acceleration unit?

Kilometres per hour per second (km/h·s) is an everyday unit describing how many km/h a vehicle gains or loses each second. A car accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds has an average acceleration of 10 km/h·s, which equals approximately 2.78 m/s².

What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?

Velocity is the rate of change of position (how fast an object is moving and in what direction). Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity (how fast the velocity is changing). A car moving at a constant 100 km/h has zero acceleration; a car pressing the throttle at 60 km/h has positive acceleration. Use the [Speed Converter](/speed-converter/) for velocity unit conversions.

Where is acceleration measurement used in engineering?

Acceleration measurement appears in: structural engineering (seismic analysis, earthquake accelerometers measure ground acceleration in Gal), automotive engineering (crash testing, vehicle dynamics), aerospace (pilot g-force ratings, rocket staging), inertial navigation systems, vibration analysis, and geophysical surveys.

What is negative acceleration?

Negative acceleration (deceleration) means the object is slowing down, velocity is decreasing over time. In physics, acceleration is a vector and can point in any direction. A braking car has acceleration opposite to its direction of motion. The unit and conversion factors are the same regardless of sign.

Is my data sent to a server when I use this converter?

No. All conversions run entirely in your browser, nothing is sent to a server or stored. The conversion uses fixed multiplication factors applied client-side.
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