Convert Feet per Minute to Feet per Second
Instantly convert Feet per Minute (ft/min) to Feet per Second (ft/s) with our free online calculator.
Formula: ft/min to ft/s — multiply by 0.0166667
Reference Table
| Feet per Minute (ft/min) | Feet per Second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0166667 |
| 5 | 0.0833333 |
| 10 | 0.166667 |
| 25 | 0.416667 |
| 50 | 0.833333 |
| 100 | 1.66667 |
How to Convert Feet per Minute to Feet per Second
Formula
To convert Feet per Minute (ft/min) to Feet per Second (ft/s): multiply by 0.0166667
Step-by-Step
- Start with your value in Feet per Minute (ft/min).
- Multiply by 0.0166667 to perform the conversion.
- The result is your value expressed in Feet per Second (ft/s).
Conversion Factor
1 ft/min = 0.0166667 ft/s
Reverse Factor
1 ft/s = 60 ft/min
Worked Example
Convert 25 Feet per Minute to Feet per Second: 25 ft/min = 0.416667 ft/s
About Foot per Minute (ft/min)
The dominant US machining unit of cutting speed — universally called 'surface feet per minute' (SFM) or 'sfpm' in US machinist parlance. 1 ft/min = 0.3048 m/min exactly per NIST SP 811. SFM is the input unit on every US-edition machining reference: Machinery's Handbook (Industrial Press, 31st edition 2020 still defaults to SFM), Niagara Cutter milling-tool catalogs, Kennametal Speed-and-Feed calculator app, Iscar's USA distributor cards, OSG cutting-tool data sheets US-customary editions, and the legacy 'Mid-Range SFM' values memorized by US machinists for shop-floor speed-feed calculations. Typical recommended SFM per Machinery's Handbook + Kennametal: mild-steel (1018, 1045) turning with HSS tool 80-110 SFM; carbide insert 400-800 SFM; coated carbide 600-1,200 SFM; aluminum 6061-T6 with HSS 500-700 SFM, with carbide 1,500-3,000 SFM, with PCD up to 10,000 SFM; cast-iron gray 100-300 SFM; stainless 304/316 with carbide 250-400 SFM; tool-steel hardened 50+ HRC 50-150 SFM. RPM derivation: n (RPM) = SFM × 12 / (π × D-in-inches) = SFM × 3.82 / D. Converting SFM to m/min (divide by 3.281) is routine in multinational machine shops with mixed US/metric tooling.
About Foot per Second (ft/s)
A US-customary cutting-speed unit equal to exactly 60 ft/min = 18.288 m/min (= 0.3048 m/s). ft/s appears occasionally in specialty US machining applications where m/s would be the equivalent metric unit: high-speed abrasive waterjet cutting (Flow Waterjet, OMAX, Jet Edge industrial waterjet machines specify pump-pressure and traverse rates with mixed units), high-speed CBN/diamond superabrasive grinding wheels (ANSI B7.1 maximum operating speed dual-listed in ft/s and m/s for safety guarding compliance — typical 16,500 ft/s = 5,000 m/min surface speed for vitrified-bond CBN), some legacy US military specifications for ammunition-case rotary machining and barrel-rifling operations per MIL-STD, and a handful of academic-research papers from US universities studying chip morphology at very high cutting speeds (where the units feel natural for dimensional-analysis purposes alongside ft/s flow velocities). Most US machining practice defaults to ft/min (SFM) rather than ft/s. Convert ft/s to m/min by multiplying by 18.288; to SFM by multiplying by 60; to m/s by multiplying by 0.3048.
Quick Facts
- 1 Foot per Minute equals 0.0166667 Feet per Second
- 1 Foot per Second equals 60 Feet per Minute
- Foot per Minute is a unit of cutting speed
- Foot per Second is a unit of cutting speed
- This conversion is commonly used in CNC machining, manufacturing processes, and tool selection
- The Foot per Minute belongs to the imperial system
Common Foot per Minute to Foot per Second Conversions
| Feet per Minute (ft/min) | Feet per Second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.000166667 |
| 0.1 | 0.00166667 |
| 0.25 | 0.00416667 |
| 0.5 | 0.00833333 |
| 1 | 0.0166667 |
| 2 | 0.0333333 |
| 3 | 0.05 |
| 5 | 0.0833333 |
| 10 | 0.166667 |
| 15 | 0.25 |
| 20 | 0.333333 |
| 25 | 0.416667 |
| 50 | 0.833333 |
| 75 | 1.25 |
| 100 | 1.66667 |
| 250 | 4.16667 |
| 500 | 8.33333 |
| 1000 | 16.6667 |
| 5000 | 83.3333 |
| 10000 | 166.667 |
Understanding Feet per Minute
The Foot per Minute (symbol: ft/min) is a unit of cutting speed. The dominant US machining unit of cutting speed — universally called 'surface feet per minute' (SFM) or 'sfpm' in US machinist parlance. 1 ft/min = 0.3048 m/min exactly per NIST SP 811. SFM is the input unit on every US-edition machining reference: Machinery's Handbook (Industrial Press, 31st edition 2020 still defaults to SFM), Niagara Cutter milling-tool catalogs, Kennametal Speed-and-Feed calculator app, Iscar's USA distributor cards, OSG cutting-tool data sheets US-customary editions, and the legacy 'Mid-Range SFM' values memorized by US machinists for shop-floor speed-feed calculations. Typical recommended SFM per Machinery's Handbook + Kennametal: mild-steel (1018, 1045) turning with HSS tool 80-110 SFM; carbide insert 400-800 SFM; coated carbide 600-1,200 SFM; aluminum 6061-T6 with HSS 500-700 SFM, with carbide 1,500-3,000 SFM, with PCD up to 10,000 SFM; cast-iron gray 100-300 SFM; stainless 304/316 with carbide 250-400 SFM; tool-steel hardened 50+ HRC 50-150 SFM. RPM derivation: n (RPM) = SFM × 12 / (π × D-in-inches) = SFM × 3.82 / D. Converting SFM to m/min (divide by 3.281) is routine in multinational machine shops with mixed US/metric tooling.
It belongs to the imperial measurement system.
Feet per Minute are commonly used in CNC machining, manufacturing processes, and tool selection.
Understanding Feet per Second
The Foot per Second (symbol: ft/s) is a unit of cutting speed. A US-customary cutting-speed unit equal to exactly 60 ft/min = 18.288 m/min (= 0.3048 m/s). ft/s appears occasionally in specialty US machining applications where m/s would be the equivalent metric unit: high-speed abrasive waterjet cutting (Flow Waterjet, OMAX, Jet Edge industrial waterjet machines specify pump-pressure and traverse rates with mixed units), high-speed CBN/diamond superabrasive grinding wheels (ANSI B7.1 maximum operating speed dual-listed in ft/s and m/s for safety guarding compliance — typical 16,500 ft/s = 5,000 m/min surface speed for vitrified-bond CBN), some legacy US military specifications for ammunition-case rotary machining and barrel-rifling operations per MIL-STD, and a handful of academic-research papers from US universities studying chip morphology at very high cutting speeds (where the units feel natural for dimensional-analysis purposes alongside ft/s flow velocities). Most US machining practice defaults to ft/min (SFM) rather than ft/s. Convert ft/s to m/min by multiplying by 18.288; to SFM by multiplying by 60; to m/s by multiplying by 0.3048.
It belongs to the imperial measurement system.
Feet per Second are commonly used in CNC machining, manufacturing processes, and tool selection.
Why Convert Feet per Minute to Feet per Second?
Converting between Feet per Minute and Feet per Second is a frequent requirement for engineers, scientists, and students working with cutting speed values. Different industries and regions favour different unit systems, so having a dependable conversion tool saves time and prevents errors in technical calculations. Whether you are verifying a specification sheet, cross-checking simulation results, or preparing a report for an international audience, accurate cutting speed conversion is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert Feet per Minute to Feet per Second?
The dominant US machining unit of cutting speed — universally called 'surface feet per minute' (SFM) or 'sfpm' in US machinist parlance. To convert Feet per Minute to Feet per Second, multiply by 0.0166667. For example, 25 ft/min equals 0.416667 ft/s.
How many Feet per Second are in 1 Foot per Minute?
There are 0.0166667 Feet per Second in 1 Foot per Minute.
How many Feet per Minute are in 1 Foot per Second?
There are 60 Feet per Minute in 1 Foot per Second.
What is the formula for Foot per Minute to Foot per Second conversion?
The formula is: multiply by 0.0166667. This means 1 ft/min = 0.0166667 ft/s.
Is a Foot per Minute bigger than a Foot per Second?
Yes. One Foot per Minute is larger than one Foot per Second because 1 ft/min equals 0.0166667 ft/s, which is less than 1.
When do you need to convert between Feet per Minute and Feet per Second?
A US-customary cutting-speed unit equal to exactly 60 ft/min = 18. Foot per Minute and Foot per Second are both cutting speed units, so conversion comes up whenever one source of information uses one unit and another uses the other — a classic cross-reference challenge in engineering, trade, travel, and everyday life.