FPS

FPS (Feet Per Second) is a unit of projectile velocity used mainly in the airsoft community and for air rifles. It indicates how many feet a projectile travels in one second.

What is FPS

FPS measures the muzzle velocity of a projectile at the moment it leaves the barrel. One foot equals 0.3048 meters. FPS is the standard unit in English-speaking countries, and the airsoft community worldwide has adopted it as well.

Typical FPS values:

• Airsoft pistols: 280–350 FPS
• Airsoft AEG rifles: 350–400 FPS
• Airsoft sniper rifles: 450–550 FPS
• Air rifles: 500–1200 FPS

Converting FPS to m/s

To convert between FPS and meters per second, use these formulas:

m/s = FPS × 0.3048

FPS = m/s × 3.281

FPS vs Joules

FPS measures only velocity, not energy. Two guns with the same FPS can have different energy levels depending on projectile weight. That is why joule ratings are more important for determining power output.

Example: An airsoft gun firing a 0.20 g BB at 400 FPS has different energy than an air rifle firing a 0.50 g pellet at the same 400 FPS.

FPS limits at airsoft games

Airsoft fields set FPS limits for player safety:

• Indoor/CQB: max 350 FPS (with 0.20 g BB)
• Outdoor: max 400 FPS (with 0.20 g BB)
• DMR: max 450 FPS, minimum engagement distance 65 ft (20 m)
• Sniper: max 500 FPS, minimum engagement distance 100 ft (30 m)

Velocity is measured with a chronograph before each game. Exceeding the limit results in removal from play.

Related terms: joule, muzzle velocity, chronograph, AEG, airsoft