Speed of Sound Calculator
Calculate the speed of sound in air at any temperature, plus common media.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Estimate sound speed using an approximate temperature model for air and helium and fixed reference speeds for water, seawater, steel, wood and concrete. Real values vary with temperature, pressure, composition and material; speed alone does not determine how far sound carries.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Gas temperature 20 °C · Medium Air · Distance to travel 1,000 m Speed of sound 343.21 m/s · Speed of sound 1,235.57 km/h · Speed of sound 767.75 mph · Mach 1 in air at this temperature 343.21 m/s · Time to travel your distance 2.914 s · Medium air
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators give general conversion results. Rounding and the precision of the value you enter both affect the output, so treat displayed decimals as indicative rather than exact.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
c = 331.3 × √(1 + T ÷ 273.15)
- T
- Air temperature (°C)
- medium
- Medium (air/helium/water/…)
Air and helium use approximate temperature formulas; liquids and solids use fixed representative speeds. Actual values vary with conditions; travel time is distance divided by selected speed.
Frequently asked questions
Does sound travel the same speed in every material?
No. This tool uses a temperature-based approximation for air and helium and fixed reference speeds for the other selected materials. Actual speeds vary with conditions and material properties.