Average Speed for a Multi-Leg Trip

Find your true average speed for a trip made up of several legs, each at a different speed and distance.

Total Distance-
Total Time-
True Average Speed-
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Why Simple Averaging Doesn't Work for Speed

Averaging speeds directly (like (60+40)/2 = 50) is wrong when the legs cover different amounts of time. The correct average is total distance divided by total time.

Formula

Average Speed = Total Distance ÷ Total Time, where each leg's time is calculated as Distance ÷ Speed.

How to Use This Calculator

Example

60 miles at 60 mph (1 hour) plus 40 miles at 40 mph (1 hour) covers 100 miles in 2 hours - a true average speed of 50 mph, which happens to match here only because the times were equal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is average speed calculated for a multi-leg trip?

It's total distance traveled divided by total time taken — not simply the average of each leg's speed.

Why isn't the average of my speeds the same as the true average speed?

Because legs of different distances or durations contribute unequally to the trip; a short fast leg and a long slow leg don't average out evenly if you just average the two speed values.

What units should I enter?

Use consistent distance units (all miles or all km) and consistent time units across every leg for an accurate total.

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