Updated · Built and checked by the PlinzoTools team, formulas tested against published sources
Convert distance and time into pace per mile and per kilometer.
This tool converts a distance and total time into a pace -- minutes per mile and minutes per kilometer -- pure arithmetic, no estimation involved.
Enter the distance you ran (in miles) and the total time it took (in minutes). Your pace in both min/mile and min/km appears instantly.
Pace (min/mile) = Total Minutes / Distance (miles)
Pace (min/km) = Pace (min/mile) / 1.609344
Use pace to plan race splits, compare training runs over time, or set interval targets. For the inverse (speed in mph/km-h instead of pace), see the Running Speed Calculator.
The tool starts with 3.1 miles (a 5K) in 30 minutes. Pace per mile is 30 / 3.1 = 9.677 minutes, which the tool displays as roughly 9:41 because 0.677 of a minute is about 41 seconds. Pace per kilometer is 9.677 / 1.609344 = 6.013 minutes, displayed as about 6:01. So a 30 minute 5K works out to a little over 6 minutes per kilometer, which is a handy number for a race that uses kilometer markers.
Pace per mile = 30 / 3.1 = 9.677 min, about 9:41. Per km = 9.677 / 1.609344 = 6.013 min, about 6:01.
The time field is total minutes, and it accepts decimals. It does not read a format like 28:30. If your run took 28 minutes and 30 seconds, enter 28.5. To convert seconds to a decimal, divide the seconds by 60. So 45 seconds is 0.75 minutes, and 1 hour 5 minutes is 65 minutes. The most common mistake is typing 28.30 for 28 minutes 30 seconds, which the tool treats as 28.3 minutes, or 28 minutes 18 seconds.
The distance field is in miles, so kilometers need converting first. Divide kilometers by 1.609344. A 10K is about 6.21 miles, and a half marathon is about 13.11 miles. Small differences in the decimals you type will move the pace a little. Also remember that GPS watches often read a bit differently from the official race distance, so use the official distance for a race result.
The tool calculates an average over the whole run. It cannot see hills, wind, stops at traffic lights, or a fast finish. Two runs with the same average pace can feel completely different. Pace is arithmetic, not a measure of fitness or effort, so pair it with how hard the run felt or with heart rate for a fuller picture. Pace numbers are displayed rounded to the nearest second.
Pace is time per unit distance (minutes per mile); speed is distance per unit time (miles per hour) -- they're mathematical inverses of each other, just expressed differently.
Multiply your target pace by the race distance to get your target finish time, or divide the race into segments and check your pace at each checkpoint against the target.
Race distances and course markers vary by country/event -- having both lets you plan consistently regardless of which unit a given race uses.
Convert it to decimal minutes: 24 + 45 / 60 = 24.75. Enter 24.75 in the time field.
The field is in miles. Divide kilometers by 1.609344 before entering, for example 5 km is about 3.107 miles.
The pace is shown as minutes and seconds rounded to the nearest whole second, so tiny differences do not appear.
The arithmetic is the same for any activity measured in miles and minutes, though cyclists usually prefer speed. The Running Speed Calculator gives that view.
Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention