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Vertical Speed Calculator

Calculate neutral ascent or descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time in meters and feet.

Content updated October 7, 2026 · Details

Published

Content updated

Recorded calculation check · Verification scope

Vertical speed

Inputs ↓
Per second
0.14 m/s
Ascent
Per minute (m)
8.3 m/min
Per minute (ft)
27.34 ft/min
Per hour (m)
500.00 m/h
Per hour (ft)
1,640.42 ft/h

Ascent over 60.00 min; conversion uses exactly 0.3048 m per ft.

Distance unit
Enter positive distance for ascent or negative distance for descent.

Results update as you type.

Result links include your inputs in the URL. Anyone with the link can read them; avoid sharing sensitive values.

Compare scenarios

Save a result, change your inputs, then compare. Up to three saved scenarios for this visit.

Worked example

unit: meters · distance: 500 · minutes: 60 · seconds: 0

Result: 0.14 m/s

Try it →

Calculate neutral ascent or descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.

Inputs and method

Enter signed vertical distance and elapsed minutes and seconds. The calculator converts distance exactly, divides by raw elapsed time, and reports neutral per-second, per-minute, and per-hour rates.

Interpreting the estimate

Use the result as a planning value and keep input precision consistent with the measurements or source data you have. Small displayed differences can come from final-place rounding; intermediate values are not rounded.

Assumptions and limits

Positive and negative values indicate direction only. Terrain, horizontal distance, pauses, measurement error, aircraft performance, and personal capability are outside the calculation.

Empty entries, invalid numbers, zero elapsed time, impossible relationships, and unsupported options trigger a validation message instead of a misleading result. A nonzero rate whose supported fixed-precision values would all round to zero is reported as too small to display rather than as an available zero result.

Method basis

The rates are publisher derivations from signed distance and elapsed time. NIST Special Publication 811 defines the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meter, so feet are multiplied by 0.3048 to obtain meters and meters are divided by 0.3048 to obtain feet. No aircraft, hiking, or personal-performance inference is made. For speed-unit conversions around these rates, see the speed converter, the feet per second to meters per second calculator, and the m/s to km/h converter.

Separate distance from elapsed-time formatting

Save the vertical distance, selected distance unit, minutes, and seconds as one measurement record. Check that the time fields describe the same interval as the distance. For another climb or descent, create a separate record rather than reusing the original duration for a different route segment.

Compare Vertical Speed Calculator with related tools

All comparisons →
Vertical Jump vs Vertical SpeedCompare two vertical-movement tools: measured jump height from standing reach and three jump-reach trials versus neutral ascent and descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.Shot Put vs Vertical SpeedCompare two sport-kinematics calculators: an ideal projectile-flight scenario from release speed, angle, and height versus ascent and descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.Swimming Speed vs Vertical Speed CalculatorCompare pool pace per 100 meters with equivalent lengths and projected times against neutral ascent or descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.Bicycle Power vs Vertical Speed CalculatorCompare bicycle power and vertical speed: one estimates the watts a cycling scenario needs, the other reports ascent or descent rate — effort versus outcome.Half Marathon Pace vs Vertical SpeedCompare two pace-planning calculators: even mile and kilometer splits for the standard 21.0975 km half marathon versus neutral ascent or descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.Stride Length vs Vertical SpeedCompare two movement-metrics calculators: step or stride length from a measured distance and counted-step trials versus neutral ascent or descent rates from signed vertical distance and elapsed time.

Frequently asked questions

How is vertical speed calculated?

Signed vertical distance is divided by raw elapsed time and reported as neutral per-second, per-minute, and per-hour rates. Positive and negative values indicate direction only; they do not imply aircraft, hiking, or personal performance.

Why are the unit conversions exact?

NIST Special Publication 811 defines the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meter, so feet are multiplied by 0.3048 to obtain meters and meters are divided by 0.3048 to obtain feet.

When is a result reported as too small to display?

A nonzero rate whose supported fixed-precision values would all round to zero is reported as too small to display rather than as a zero result. Zero elapsed time triggers a validation message.

Sources

  • NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 edition, Appendix B

    primary · Jul 10, 2026

    Supports: The international foot is exactly 0.3048 meter; feet convert to meters by multiplication by 0.3048 and meters convert to feet by division by 0.3048

    — National Institute of Standards and Technology, v2008 edition

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Vertical Speed Calculator updated at

Recorded calculation check

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