0-60 Calculator
Estimate how quickly your vehicle accelerates from a standstill to highway speed using horsepower, curb weight, and drivetrain efficiency.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the rated horsepower
Use the engine's advertised horsepower or wheel horsepower from a dynamometer test.
Add the curb weight
Include passengers or cargo if you want to estimate performance with real-world load.
Adjust drivetrain efficiency
Front-wheel-drive cars are typically 85–90%, all-wheel-drive systems can be closer to 80%.
Choose the target speed
The classic benchmark is 60 mph, but you can estimate any 0-to-speed sprint.
Formula
t = (½ × m × v²) ÷ P
Where: t is time in seconds, m is vehicle mass in kilograms, v is target speed (m/s), and P is wheel power in watts.
Example for a 3,500 lb car with 300 hp and 85% drivetrain efficiency:
m = 3,500 lb × 0.4536 = 1,588 kg
Wheel power = 300 hp × 0.85 × 745.70 = 190,629 W
t = (0.5 × 1,588 kg × 26.82²) ÷ 190,629 W = 6.01 seconds
About the 0-60 Calculator
The 0-60 calculator estimates straight-line acceleration by modeling the energy required to bring a stationary car up to a chosen speed. It accounts for horsepower losses in the drivetrain and gives an idealized best-case time.
When to Use This Calculator
- Shopping for a car: Compare potential vehicles based on weight-to-power ratios.
- Planning modifications: Estimate performance gains from horsepower upgrades.
- Benchmarking: Translate dynamometer results into real-world acceleration expectations.
- Motorsport prep: Evaluate gearing or weight reduction strategies for drag racing and track days.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Energy-based model: Uses fundamental physics instead of rules of thumb.
- ✅ Flexible inputs: Change target speed for 0-30, 0-100, or quarter-mile estimates.
- ✅ Instant insights: Get time and distance at the same time.
- ✅ No signup: Just enter values and calculate.
Common Applications
Performance planning: Assess how much power increase you need to reach a target 0-60 time.
Vehicle comparisons: Normalize cars with different curb weights to understand real differences in acceleration.
Data validation: Quickly check manufacturer claims with simple physics-based approximations.
Tips for Best Results
- Use wheel horsepower when possible for the most accurate results.
- Lower the efficiency percentage if the vehicle has larger drivetrain losses.
- Remember that traction, aerodynamics, and gearing are not modeled—actual times may be slower.
- Re-run the calculation as you experiment with weight reduction or engine upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this 0-60 estimate?
The calculator provides an idealized time based on available power and vehicle mass. Real-world results can be affected by traction, gearing, shifting strategy, tire compound, aerodynamics, and road surface.
What drivetrain efficiency should I use?
Manual and dual-clutch transmissions often deliver 85–90% of engine power to the wheels. Traditional automatics and all-wheel-drive systems can fall to 75–85%. If you know your wheel horsepower, set efficiency to 100%.
Can I estimate 0-100 mph or other speeds?
Yes. Enter any target speed in miles per hour to compute an acceleration time for that sprint using the same energy-based model.
Does this account for gear shifts?
The model assumes constant power delivery. Shift delays and gear changes will increase the actual time compared to the calculated value.