Revolutions per minute converted to hertz.
Revolutions per minute to Hertz Converter — rpm to Hz
Convert Revolutions per minute (rpm) to Hertz (Hz) using the exact conversion factor (1 revolutions per minute = 0.0166666667 hertz). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, unit comparison, history, and common uses.
Revolutions per minute to Hertz converter
Converter
Frequency Converter
Convert hertz, SI frequency prefixes, RPM, beats per minute, and angular frequency.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
The hertz is one cycle per second.
Result = input x 0.01666666667 / 1.
Frequency uses hertz as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Revolutions per minute to Hertz
Revolutions per minute and Hertz both describe how fast something cycles or rotates, and the conversion is a routine part of reading a car tachometer or motor spec sheet against a scientific frequency figure. Revolutions per minute is typically associated with used worldwide in automotive, mechanical, and industrial contexts, while Hertz is typically associated with standard scientific unit worldwide; also everyday (AC power frequency, radio, audio).
Formula
hertz = revolutions per minute × 0.0166666666667
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 revolutions per minute equals 0.0166666666667 base units, and 1 hertz equals 1 base unit, so dividing one by the other gives the direct revolutions per minute-to-hertz factor of 0.0166666666667.
Simple example
1 rpm × 0.01666666667 = 0.0166666667 Hz
1 revolutions per minute = 0.0166666667 hertz.
Real-world example
1,000 rpm × 0.01666666667 = 16.66666667 Hz
1,000 revolutions per minute = 16.66666667 hertz.
Conversion table
| Revolutions per minute (rpm) | Hertz (Hz) |
|---|---|
| 60 rpm | 1 Hz |
| 600 rpm | 10 Hz |
| 1,000 rpm | 16.66666667 Hz |
| 3,000 rpm | 50 Hz |
| 6,000 rpm | 100 Hz |
| 10,000 rpm | 166.6666667 Hz |
Reverse conversion: Hertz to Revolutions per minute
0.0166666667 Hz × 60 = 1.000000002 rpm
0.0166666667 hertz = 1.000000002 revolutions per minute.
revolutions per minute = hertz × 60
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Hertz to Revolutions per minute.
Revolutions per minute vs. Hertz
| Aspect | Revolutions per minute | Hertz |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Non-SI unit (mechanical/automotive) | SI derived unit |
| Typical use | Engine and motor speed specifications (car tachometers) | Electrical power frequency (50/60 Hz worldwide) |
| Where it's used | Used worldwide in automotive, mechanical, and industrial contexts | Standard scientific unit worldwide; also everyday (AC power frequency, radio, audio) |
Understanding the Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute (rpm) measures rotational speed. RPM (revolutions per minute) equals hertz divided by 60, since one revolution per minute is 1/60 of a cycle per second. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (mechanical/automotive).
Where it's used: Used worldwide in automotive, mechanical, and industrial contexts
Uses of the Revolutions per minute today
- Engine and motor speed specifications (car tachometers)
- Industrial machinery and turbine speed ratings
- Hard drive and disc rotational speed
History of the Revolutions per minute
RPM developed alongside rotating machinery in the 19th-century industrial era as a practical, directly-readable way to describe rotational speed (a tachometer counting revolutions per minute), rather than converting to the more abstract cycles-per-second used in physics.
Historical origin. Revolutions per minute was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Understanding the Hertz
Hertz (Hz) measures frequency. The hertz is the SI derived unit of frequency: one cycle per second. It is classified as a SI derived unit.
Where it's used: Standard scientific unit worldwide; also everyday (AC power frequency, radio, audio)
Uses of the Hertz today
- Electrical power frequency (50/60 Hz worldwide)
- Radio, audio, and signal processing
- Computer processor clock speeds (GHz)
History of the Hertz
The hertz is named after Heinrich Hertz, who in 1886-1889 was the first to conclusively demonstrate the existence of electromagnetic waves predicted by Maxwell's equations. The unit ('cycles per second') was renamed in his honor and adopted internationally in 1930, becoming the SI derived unit of frequency in 1960.
Historical origin. Hertz was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Revolutions per minute — sources
- NIST Special Publication 811 — General guide to non-SI unit conventions including rotational speed.
Hertz — sources
- BIPM SI Brochure — Coherent derived units — Defines the hertz as the SI unit of frequency.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many hertz are in 1 revolutions per minute?
1 revolutions per minute equals 0.0166666667 hertz, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert revolutions per minute to hertz?
Multiply the revolutions per minute value by 0.01666666667. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert hertz back to revolutions per minute?
Use the reverse factor: 1 hertz equals 60 revolutions per minute. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a revolutions per minute?
Revolutions per minute (rpm) measures rotational speed. RPM (revolutions per minute) equals hertz divided by 60, since one revolution per minute is 1/60 of a cycle per second. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (mechanical/automotive).
What is a hertz?
Hertz (Hz) measures frequency. The hertz is the SI derived unit of frequency: one cycle per second. It is classified as a SI derived unit.
Is the revolutions per minute to hertz conversion exact?
Yes. Both revolutions per minute and hertz are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 0.01666666667 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
Where is the revolutions per minute still used today?
Used worldwide in automotive, mechanical, and industrial contexts