Estimate a car's 0-60 mph time from horsepower and weight, or the horsepower needed to hit a target time, by drivetrain.
Rough estimate only — ignores traction, gearing, aero and launch. A real car can be several tenths quicker or slower.
About this tool
0-60 mph Estimator is a free, in-browser tool that gives a quick estimate of a car's 0-60 mph acceleration from its power and weight, or works backwards to the horsepower needed for a target time. Enter weight in pounds or kilograms, the horsepower (or the target time), and choose the drivetrain, which sets how well the car puts power down. Everything is computed locally in your browser.
The estimate uses t = k × (weight ÷ hp)^0.75, where weight is in pounds, hp is at the flywheel and k is a drivetrain constant — 0.70 for all-wheel drive, 0.76 for rear-wheel drive and 0.80 for front-wheel drive, reflecting how much traction each layout has off the line. To find the power for a target time the formula inverts to hp = weight × (k ÷ t)^(1/0.75).
This is a rough estimate only. It ignores tires and traction, gearing and transmission type, aerodynamics, launch technique and real-world conditions, so a specific car can easily be a few tenths quicker or slower. Use it to compare configurations and get a ballpark, not to predict an exact figure.
Frequently asked questions
How rough is this estimate?
Fairly rough. The formula captures the big effect of power-to-weight and drivetrain but ignores tires and traction, gearing, aerodynamics and launch technique. Real 0-60 times can differ by several tenths of a second from the estimate.
What do the drivetrain constants mean?
They scale the result for how well each layout puts power down: all-wheel drive (0.70) launches hardest, rear-wheel drive (0.76) is in the middle, and front-wheel drive (0.80) tends to spin or lift the driven wheels, giving slightly slower times for the same power and weight.
Should I use flywheel or wheel horsepower?
Use flywheel (crank) horsepower, which is how cars are normally rated. Wheel horsepower from a dyno is lower because of drivetrain losses, so plugging it in would predict a slower time than the car actually runs.
Is any data uploaded?
No. The estimate is a single formula evaluated in your browser; weight and power figures never leave your device and the tool works offline.