How the acceleration is calculated
Convert the target speed to metres per second by multiplying by 0.44704, then divide by the time. Sixty miles per hour is 26.82 m/s, so a run of 8.5 seconds averages 3.16 m/s squared.
Dividing by 9.80665 gives the figure in g, which is 0.32 for that run. Distance covered assumes constant acceleration from rest: half the final speed times the time, which gives 114 metres.
Worked example
A car that reaches 60 mph in 8.5 seconds averages 3.16 m/s squared, or 0.32 g, and covers about 114 metres, which is 374 feet.
These figures describe that run. Change the time and every output changes with it.
Average is not peak
The figure is an average over the whole run. Real acceleration is highest at low speed and falls away as the car runs out of revs or traction, so the peak at launch is well above this number.
A single 0-60 run also depends on surface, temperature, tyre condition, fuel load and how the car launches. Two runs in the same car can differ by several tenths.
Limits of this calculator
It assumes constant acceleration, which no car achieves. It does not model wheelspin, gear changes, a rolling start or a one-foot rollout, and it does not estimate a time from power or weight.
For the power-to-weight ratio behind a run, use the power to weight calculator.
For the ratio that usually predicts these runs, use the UK power to weight calculator.
Inputs for the 0-60 calculator
Time to reach the speed
The measured time from standstill, in seconds. Use a timed run rather than an estimate.
Target speed
60 mph for a standard 0 to 60 run, or the speed you actually timed.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
0-60 calculator UK questions
Is this the same as a manufacturer's 0-60 time?
No. Manufacturers often use a one-foot rollout and a prepared surface, which shortens the recorded time.
Why is the distance only approximate?
It assumes constant acceleration. Real cars accelerate hardest at the start, so the true distance is a little shorter.
Can I use 0 to 100 km/h?
Yes. Enter 62.14 mph as the target speed for 100 km/h.
Does weight matter?
It affects how quickly a car can accelerate, but this page measures the run rather than predicting it.