What this calculator does
Minutes to seconds is a straightforward conversion, but it comes up constantly: timing a task, reading a countdown timer, or checking how a duration quoted in one unit compares to a limit set in the other. There are 60 seconds in every minute, so the conversion is a single multiplication or division.
This calculator converts minutes to seconds or seconds to minutes, both directions, and shows the value in hours as well, useful when a duration is long enough that neither minutes nor seconds alone gives a clear sense of scale.
The formula
Because a minute is defined as exactly 60 seconds, converting minutes to seconds means multiplying by 60, and converting seconds to minutes means dividing by 60. There is no rounding or approximation involved; the factor is exact.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Minute | A unit of time equal to 60 seconds, itself 1/60 of an hour. |
| Second | The base SI unit of time; 60 seconds make one minute. |
| 60 | The exact, fixed number of seconds in a minute, used in both directions of this conversion. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Value | The value to convert, either a number of minutes or a number of seconds, depending on the direction chosen below. |
| Convert | Choose whether to convert minutes to seconds, or seconds to minutes. |
When to use it
Converting a timer or stopwatch reading
A duration quoted in seconds, such as on a stopwatch or a video length, converts to minutes for an easier sense of how long it actually is.
Checking a time limit given in the other unit
A task, exam or process with a limit quoted in minutes converts to seconds when the exact figure is needed, for example to program a countdown timer.
Comparing durations quoted inconsistently
Two durations, one given in minutes and one in seconds, convert to the same unit for a direct comparison.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
Minutes to seconds, for common durations
A range of minute values, each converted to seconds and hours.
| Minutes | Seconds | In hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60.00 s | 0.0167 hr |
| 5 | 300.00 s | 0.0833 hr |
| 10 | 600.00 s | 0.1667 hr |
| 30 | 1,800.00 s | 0.5000 hr |
| 60 | 3,600.00 s | 1.000 hr |
| 90 | 5,400.00 s | 1.500 hr |
Seconds to minutes, for common durations
A range of second values, each converted to minutes.
| Seconds | Minutes | In hours |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1.000 min | 0.0167 hr |
| 300 | 5.000 min | 0.0833 hr |
| 600 | 10.000 min | 0.1667 hr |
| 1000 | 16.667 min | 0.2778 hr |
| 1800 | 30.000 min | 0.5000 hr |
| 3600 | 60.000 min | 1.000 hr |
Questions
How many seconds are in 5 minutes?
Exactly 300 seconds, since 5 minutes × 60 seconds per minute = 300.
How many minutes is 1000 seconds?
About 16.667 minutes, from 1,000 ÷ 60.
How many seconds are in 10 minutes?
Exactly 600 seconds, from 10 × 60.
Is the conversion between minutes and seconds ever approximate?
No. A minute is defined as exactly 60 seconds, so converting in either direction is exact, with no rounding required in the underlying factor.
For durations measured against a whole day instead, see the minutes in a day calculator. For very long durations measured in years, see the minutes in a year calculator.