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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.

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.

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.

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
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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