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Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second Converter

Convert bpm to cps with our free online frequency converter.

Quick Answer

1 Beats per Minute = 0.016667 cps

Formula: Beats per Minute × conversion factor = Cycles per Second

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: December 2025Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second Calculator

How to Use the Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Beats per Minute).
  2. The converted value in Cycles per Second will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Frequency category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

cps = bpm × 0.0166667

Example Calculation:

1 bpm = 0.016667 cps

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other frequency units?

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📋 Unit Symbols

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What is a Beats per Minute and a Cycles per Second?

1 BPM = 1 beat per minute = 1/60 Hz ≈ 0.01667 Hz = 1 beat per 60 seconds

1 cps = 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second = 1 complete oscillation per second

Note: The Beats per Minute is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Cycles per Second belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Beats per Minute and Cycles per Second

Before 1960: "Cycles per second" was the standard term

  • Common abbreviations: c/s, c.p.s., cps, ~/s

1960: Renamed to "hertz" (Hz)

  • Honors Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894)
  • Adopted at 11th CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures)
  • Simplified terminology and standardized notation

Why the change?

  • Shorter, more convenient
  • Honors a pioneering physicist
  • Consistent with other SI units named after scientists (ampere, watt, volt, etc.)
  • International standardization

Common Uses and Applications: bpm vs cps

Explore the typical applications for both Beats per Minute (imperial/US) and Cycles per Second (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for bpm

Heart Rate: Resting 60-100 BPM, exercise up to 220-age BPM maximum. Music Tempo: Slow 40-80 BPM, moderate 80-120 BPM, fast 120-200 BPM. Exercise: Target heart rate zones for cardio training. Medical: Pulse measurement, cardiac monitoring, stress tests.

When to Use cps

(Historical & Current)

Historical Technical Documents: Pre-1960 radio, electronics, and acoustics literature. Some Fields Still Use "cycles": Audio engineering may say "cycles" colloquially. Education: Teaching frequency concepts before introducing Hz notation. Older Equipment: Vintage test equipment labeled in cps.

Additional Unit Information

About Beats per Minute (bpm)

How do I convert BPM to Hz?

Formula: Hz = BPM ÷ 60

Examples:

  • 60 BPM = 1 Hz
  • 120 BPM = 2 Hz
  • 180 BPM = 3 Hz

Reverse: BPM = Hz × 60

BPM to Hz converter →

What is a normal heart rate in BPM?

Resting heart rate (adults):

  • Excellent (athletes): 40-60 BPM
  • Good: 60-70 BPM
  • Average: 70-80 BPM
  • Below average: 80-90 BPM
  • Poor: 90-100 BPM
  • Concerning: >100 BPM (see doctor)

Factors affecting resting heart rate:

  • Fitness level (lower = better)
  • Age
  • Body size
  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Temperature

Check with your doctor if your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 BPM or below 40 BPM (unless you're an athlete).

What BPM is good for music?

Depends on the use:

Background/ambient: 60-90 BPM (relaxing) Work/study: 60-80 BPM (focus without distraction) Walking: 100-120 BPM (matches walking pace) Exercise: 120-140 BPM (motivating, energetic) Dancing: 120-130 BPM (house music) High intensity: 140-180 BPM (running, intense workouts)

Popular standards:

  • 120 BPM: EDM, house music
  • 140 BPM: Dubstep, drum & bass
  • 160+ BPM: Hardcore, speed metal

What is 120 BPM in Hz?

120 BPM = 2 Hz

Calculation: 120 ÷ 60 = 2 Hz

This is a common tempo for house and electronic dance music, and also represents 120 beats in one minute or 2 beats per second.

BPM to Hz converter →

How do I calculate my target heart rate?

Maximum heart rate: 220 - your age

Target zones:

  1. Calculate max: 220 - age
  2. Choose intensity:
    • Light (50-60%): max × 0.50 to max × 0.60
    • Moderate (60-70%): max × 0.60 to max × 0.70
    • Vigorous (70-85%): max × 0.70 to max × 0.85

Example (age 30):

  • Max HR: 220 - 30 = 190 BPM
  • Light: 95-114 BPM
  • Moderate: 114-133 BPM
  • Vigorous: 133-162 BPM

Note: This is an estimate. Fitness level, medications, and health conditions affect actual target rates.

Is BPM the same as RPM?

Similar concept, different applications:

BPM (Beats per Minute):

  • Heart rate
  • Music tempo
  • Any periodic "beat" or pulse

RPM (Revolutions per Minute):

  • Engine speed
  • Motor rotation
  • Wheel rotation
  • Any rotational speed

Mathematically: Both are "events per minute" Conversion to Hz: Both divide by 60

60 BPM = 60 RPM = 1 Hz (numerically)

BPM to RPM converter →

About Cycles per Second (cps)

Is cps the same as Hz?

Yes, exactly the same:

  • 1 cps = 1 Hz
  • 1 kilocycles per second (kcps or kc/s) = 1 kHz
  • 1 megacycles per second (Mcps or Mc/s) = 1 MHz

Only difference: Terminology and era

  • cps: Used before 1960
  • Hz: Used from 1960 onwards (current standard)

Example conversions:

  • 60 cps = 60 Hz (AC power)
  • 1000 cps = 1 kHz (audio frequency)
  • 100,000 cps = 100 kHz (AM radio range)

cps to Hz converter →

Why was cps changed to hertz?

Reasons for the 1960 change:

  1. Brevity: "Hz" is shorter than "cycles per second"
  2. Honor: Named after Heinrich Hertz who proved electromagnetic wave existence
  3. Standardization: Consistent with ampere, watt, volt, newton, pascal
  4. International: Single symbol understood globally
  5. Simplicity: Easier for metric prefixes (kHz, MHz, GHz vs kcps, Mcps, Gcps)

The change was purely nomenclature - the measurement itself remained identical.

When do I still see "cycles per second"?

Where you might encounter cps:

Historical documents:

  • Pre-1960 radio manuals
  • Vintage audio equipment
  • Old electrical engineering textbooks

Colloquial use:

  • Audio engineers may say "cycles" informally
  • Explaining frequency concepts to beginners
  • When emphasizing the cyclic nature

Vintage equipment:

  • Old oscilloscopes
  • Antique signal generators
  • Historical test equipment

Recommendation: Use Hz in all modern contexts. Only use cps when discussing historical equipment or documents.

How do I convert kc/s (kilocycles per second) to Hz?

Formula: Hz = kc/s × 1,000

Examples:

  • 1 kc/s = 1,000 Hz = 1 kHz
  • 10 kc/s = 10,000 Hz = 10 kHz
  • 1000 kc/s = 1,000,000 Hz = 1 MHz

Old radio terminology:

  • AM radio: 550-1600 kc/s = 550-1600 kHz
  • Shortwave: 3-30 Mc/s = 3-30 MHz

kHz to Hz converter →

What is Mc/s (megacycles per second)?

Mc/s = Megacycles per second (historical term)

Modern equivalent: MHz (megahertz)

Conversion: 1 Mc/s = 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz

Historical usage:

  • FM radio: 88-108 Mc/s → now 88-108 MHz
  • VHF TV: 54-216 Mc/s → now 54-216 MHz
  • Old radio communications

Old abbreviations:

  • Mc/s, Mc, Mcps all meant megacycles per second
  • Now standardized as MHz

MHz to Hz converter →

Conversion Table: Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second

Beats per Minute (bpm)Cycles per Second (cps)
0.50.008
10.017
1.50.025
20.033
50.083
100.167
250.417
500.833
1001.667
2504.167
5008.333
1,00016.667

People Also Ask

How do I convert Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second?

To convert Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second, enter the value in Beats per Minute in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our frequency converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more →

What is the conversion factor from Beats per Minute to Cycles per Second?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Beats per Minute and Cycles per Second. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Cycles per Second back to Beats per Minute?

Yes! You can easily convert Cycles per Second back to Beats per Minute by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Cycles per Second to Beats per Minute converter page. You can also explore other frequency conversions on our category page.

Learn more →

What are common uses for Beats per Minute and Cycles per Second?

Beats per Minute and Cycles per Second are both standard units used in frequency measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our frequency converter for more conversion options.

For more frequency conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: December 3, 2025