5K Pace Chart

Written by Noleen Arendse

Use our 5K pace chart to work out your ideal race pace, halfway times and splits to achieve your goal finishing time. 

We’ve created 5K pace charts in min/km and min/mile for finish times from 12:35 to 36:00. Use our table of contents to find the best chart for you or our quick links below:

5K pace chart min/km — sub 36:00

5K pace chart min/km — sub 30:00

5K pace chart min/km — sub 20:00

Table Contents

5K pace chart in km — sub 36:00

Running a 5K in less than 36 minutes is a reasonable goal to achieve for your first 5K race. The average 5K time by age for most beginner runners is between 36:00 to 30:00 mins.

To complete a 5K in less than 36 minutes, you need to hit a pace that’s faster than 7:12 min per km.

5K Finish Time Pace per km 1 km 2 km 3 km 4 km Halfway
36:00 7:12 7:12 14:24 21:36 28:48 18:00
35:45 7:09 7:09 14:18 21:27 28:36 17:53
35:30 7:06 7:06 14:12 21:18 28:24 17:45
35:15 7:03 7:03 14:06 21:09 28:12 17:38
35:00 7:00 7:00 14:00 21:00 28:00 17:30
34:45 6:57 6:57 13:54 20:51 27:48 17:23
34:30 6:54 6:54 13:48 20:42 27:36 17:15
34:15 6:51 6:51 13:42 20:33 27:24 17:08
34:00 6:48 6:48 13:36 20:24 27:12 17:00
33:45 6:45 6:45 13:30 20:15 27:00 16:53
33:30 6:42 6:42 13:24 20:06 26:48 16:45
33:15 6:39 6:39 13:18 19:57 26:36 16:38
33:00 6:36 6:36 13:12 19:48 26:24 16:30
32:45 6:33 6:33 13:06 19:39 26:12 16:23
32:30 6:30 6:30 13:00 19:30 26:00 16:15
32:15 6:27 6:27 12:54 19:21 25:48 16:08
32:00 6:24 6:24 12:48 19:12 25:36 16:00
31:45 6:21 6:21 12:42 19:03 25:24 15:53
31:30 6:18 6:18 12:36 18:54 25:12 15:45
31:15 6:15 6:15 12:30 18:45 25:00 15:38
31:00 6:12 6:12 12:24 18:36 24:48 15:30
30:45 6:09 6:09 12:18 18:27 24:36 15:23
30:30 6:06 6:06 12:12 18:18 24:24 15:15
30:15 6:03 6:03 12:06 18:09 24:12 15:08
30:00 6:00 6:00 12:00 18:00 24:00 15:00

Completing a 5K is less than 36 minutes is a good goal for a beginner runner. To finish a 5K in less than 36 minutes, you need to hit a pace that’s faster than 7:12 min per km.

Summary

5K pace chart in km — sub 30:00

A good average time to finish a 5K is about 24 minutes. This means a 5K pace of 4:48. 

The 5K pace chart below will help you pace yourself to achieve a finish time that’s 30:00 or less. 

5K finish time Pace per km 1 km 2 km 3 km 4 km Halfway
30:00 6:00 6:00 12:00 18:00 24:00 15:00
29:45 5:57 5:57 11:54 17:51 23:48 14:53
29:30 5:54 5:54 11:48 17:42 23:36 14:45
29:15 5:51 5:51 11:42 17:33 23:24 14:38
29:00 5:48 5:48 11:36 17:24 23:12 14:30
28:45 5:45 5:45 11:30 17:15 23:00 14:23
28:30 5:42 5:42 11:24 17:06 22:48 14:15
28:15 5:39 5:39 11:18 16:57 22:36 14:08
28:00 5:36 5:36 11:12 16:48 22:24 14:00
27:45 5:33 5:33 11:06 16:39 22:12 13:53
27:30 5:30 5:30 11:00 16:30 22:00 13:45
27:15 5:27 5:27 10:54 16:21 21:48 13:38
27:00 5:24 5:24 10:48 16:12 21:36 13:30
26:45 5:21 5:21 10:42 16:03 21:24 13:23
26:30 5:18 5:18 10:36 15:54 21:12 13:15
26:15 5:15 5:15 10:30 15:45 21:00 13:08
26:00 5:12 5:12 10:24 15:36 20:48 13:00
25:45 5:09 5:09 10:18 15:27 20:36 12:53
25:30 5:06 5:06 10:12 15:18 20:24 12:45
25:15 5:03 5:03 10:06 15:09 20:12 12:38
25:00 5:00 5:00 10:00 15:00 20:00 12:30
24:45 4:57 4:57 9:54 14:51 19:48 12:23
24:30 4:54 4:54 9:48 14:42 19:36 12:15
24:15 4:51 4:51 9:42 14:33 19:24 12:08
24:00 4:48 4:48 9:36 14:24 19:12 12:00
23:45 4:45 4:45 9:30 14:15 19:00 11:53
23:30 4:42 4:42 9:24 14:06 18:48 11:45
23:15 4:39 4:39 9:18 13:57 18:36 11:38
23:00 4:36 4:36 9:12 13:48 18:24 11:30
22:45 4:33 4:33 9:06 13:39 18:12 11:23
22:30 4:30 4:30 9:00 13:30 18:00 11:15
22:15 4:27 4:27 8:54 13:21 17:48 11:08
22:00 4:24 4:24 8:48 13:12 17:36 11:00
21:45 4:21 4:21 8:42 13:03 17:24 10:53
21:30 4:18 4:18 8:36 12:54 17:12 10:45
21:15 4:15 4:15 8:30 12:45 17:00 10:38
21:00 4:12 4:12 8:24 12:36 16:48 10:30
20:45 4:09 4:09 8:18 12:27 16:36 10:23
20:30 4:06 4:06 8:12 12:18 16:24 10:15
20:15 4:03 4:03 8:06 12:09 16:12 10:08
20:00 4:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 10:00

The average time to finish a 5K is about 24 minutes. This means a 5K pace of 4:48. 

Summary

5K pace chart in km — sub 20:00

Finishing a 5K in less than 20 minutes is a fast time. It requires a pace that’s faster than 4 minutes per km. 

5K Finish Time Pace per km 1 km 2 km 3 km 4 km Halfway
20:00 4:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 10:00
19:45 3:57 3:57 7:54 11:51 15:48 9:53
19:30 3:54 3:54 7:48 11:42 15:36 9:45
19:15 3:51 3:51 7:42 11:33 15:24 9:38
19:00 3:48 3:48 7:36 11:24 15:12 9:30
18:45 3:45 3:45 7:30 11:15 15:00 9:23
18:30 3:42 3:42 7:24 11:06 14:48 9:15
18:15 3:39 3:39 7:18 10:57 14:36 9:08
18:00 3:36 3:36 7:12 10:48 14:24 9:00
17:45 3:33 3:33 7:06 10:39 14:12 8:53
17:30 3:30 3:30 7:00 10:30 14:00 8:45
17:15 3:27 3:27 6:54 10:21 13:48 8:38
17:00 3:24 3:24 6:48 10:12 13:36 8:30
16:45 3:21 3:21 6:42 10:03 13:24 8:23
16:30 3:18 3:18 6:36 9:54 13:12 8:15
16:15 3:15 3:15 6:30 9:45 13:00 8:08
16:00 3:12 3:12 6:24 9:36 12:48 8:00
15:45 3:09 3:09 6:18 9:27 12:36 7:53
15:30 3:06 3:06 6:12 9:18 12:24 7:45
15:15 3:03 3:03 6:06 9:09 12:12 7:38
15:00 3:00 3:00 6:00 9:00 12:00 7:30
14:45 2:57 2:57 5:54 8:51 11:48 7:23
14:30 2:54 2:54 5:48 8:42 11:36 7:15
14:15 2:51 2:51 5:42 8:33 11:24 7:08
14:00 2:48 2:48 5:36 8:24 11:12 7:00
13:45 2:45 2:45 5:30 8:15 11:00 6:53
13:30 2:42 2:42 5:24 8:06 10:48 6:45
13:15 2:39 2:39 5:18 7:57 10:36 6:38
13:00 2:36 2:36 5:12 7:48 10:24 6:30
12:45 2:33 2:33 5:06 7:39 10:12 6:23
12:35 2:31 2:31 5:02 7:33 10:04 6:18

Finishing a 5K in less than 20 minutes requires a pace that’s faster than 4:00 min per km.

Summary

5K pace chart in miles — sub 36:00

To complete a 5K in less than 36:00, you’ll need run a min/mile pace that’s faster than 11:35.

5K finish time Pace per mile Mile 1 Mile 2 Mile 3 Halfway split
36:00 11:35 11:35 23:10 34:46 18:00
35:45 11:30 11:30 23:01 34:31 17:53
35:30 11:26 11:26 22:51 34:17 17:45
35:15 11:21 11:21 22:42 34:02 17:38
35:00 11:16 11:16 22:32 33:48 17:30
34:45 11:11 11:11 22:22 33:33 17:23
34:30 11:06 11:06 22:13 33:19 17:15
34:15 11:01 11:01 22:03 33:04 17:08
34:00 10:57 10:57 21:53 32:50 17:00
33:45 10:52 10:52 21:44 32:35 16:53
33:30 10:47 10:47 21:34 32:21 16:45
33:15 10:42 10:42 21:24 32:06 16:38
33:00 10:37 10:37 21:15 31:52 16:30
32:45 10:32 10:32 21:05 31:37 16:23
32:30 10:28 10:28 20:55 31:23 16:15
32:15 10:23 10:23 20:46 31:08 16:08
32:00 10:18 10:18 20:36 30:54 16:00
31:45 10:13 10:13 20:26 30:39 15:53
31:30 10:08 10:08 20:17 30:25 15:45
31:15 10:04 10:04 20:07 30:11 15:38
31:00 9:59 9:59 19:57 29:56 15:30
30:45 9:54 9:54 19:48 29:42 15:23
30:30 9:49 9:49 19:38 29:27 15:15
30:15 9:44 9:44 19:28 29:13 15:08
30:00 9:39 9:39 19:19 28:58 15:00

To finish a 5K in less than 36 minutes, you’ll need to run a min/mile pace that’s faster than 11:35.

Summary

5K pace chart in miles — sub 30:00

To run a 5K in less than 30 minutes, you’ll need to hit a pace of 9:39 min per mile. 

The finish in 24 minutes (the average 5K time), you’ll need to aim for a pace of 7:48 min/mile.

5K finish time Pace per mile Mile 1 Mile 2 Mile 3 Halfway split
30:00 9:39 9:39 19:19 28:58 15:00
29:45 9:35 9:35 19:09 28:44 14:53
29:30 9:30 9:30 18:59 28:29 14:45
29:15 9:25 9:25 18:50 28:15 14:38
29:00 9:20 9:20 18:40 28:00 14:30
28:45 9:15 9:15 18:30 27:46 14:23
28:30 9:10 9:10 18:21 27:31 14:15
28:15 9:06 9:06 18:11 27:17 14:08
28:00 9:01 9:01 18:01 27:02 14:00
27:45 8:56 8:56 17:52 26:48 13:53
27:30 8:51 8:51 17:42 26:33 13:45
27:15 8:46 8:46 17:33 26:19 13:38
27:00 8:41 8:41 17:23 26:04 13:30
26:45 8:37 8:37 17:13 25:50 13:23
26:30 8:32 8:32 17:04 25:35 13:15
26:15 8:27 8:27 16:54 25:21 13:08
26:00 8:22 8:22 16:44 25:06 13:00
25:45 8:17 8:17 16:35 24:52 12:53
25:30 8:12 8:12 16:25 24:37 12:45
25:15 8:08 8:08 16:15 24:23 12:38
25:00 8:03 8:03 16:06 24:08 12:30
24:45 7:58 7:58 15:56 23:54 12:23
24:30 7:53 7:53 15:46 23:39 12:15
24:15 7:48 7:48 15:37 23:25 12:08
24:00 7:43 7:43 15:27 23:10 12:00
23:45 7:39 7:39 15:17 22:56 11:53
23:30 7:34 7:34 15:08 22:42 11:45
23:15 7:29 7:29 14:58 22:27 11:38
23:00 7:24 7:24 14:48 22:13 11:30
22:45 7:19 7:19 14:39 21:58 11:23
22:30 7:15 7:15 14:29 21:44 11:15
22:15 7:10 7:10 14:19 21:29 11:08
22:00 7:05 7:05 14:10 21:15 11:00
21:45 7:00 7:00 14:00 21:00 10:53
21:30 6:55 6:55 13:50 20:46 10:45
21:15 6:50 6:50 13:41 20:31 10:38
21:00 6:46 6:46 13:31 20:17 10:30
20:45 6:41 6:41 13:21 20:02 10:23
20:30 6:36 6:36 13:12 19:48 10:15
20:15 6:31 6:31 13:02 19:33 10:08
20:00 6:26 6:26 12:52 19:19 10:00

To achieve the average 5K time of 24 minutes, aim for a pace of 7:43 min/mile.

Summary

5K pace chart in miles — sub 20:00

To complete a 5K in 20 minutes or less, you’ll need to aim for a min/mile pace of 6:26.

5K finish time Pace per mile Mile 1 Mile 2 Mile 3 Halfway split
20:00 6:26 6:26 12:52 19:19 10:00
19:45 6:21 6:21 12:43 19:04 9:53
19:30 6:17 6:17 12:33 18:50 9:45
19:15 6:12 6:12 12:24 18:35 9:38
19:00 6:07 6:07 12:14 18:21 9:30
18:45 6:02 6:02 12:04 18:06 9:23
18:30 5:57 5:57 11:55 17:52 9:15
18:15 5:52 5:52 11:45 17:37 9:08
18:00 5:48 5:48 11:35 17:23 9:00
17:45 5:43 5:43 11:26 17:08 8:53
17:30 5:38 5:38 11:16 16:54 8:45
17:15 5:33 5:33 11:06 16:39 8:38
17:00 5:28 5:28 10:57 16:25 8:30
16:45 5:23 5:23 10:47 16:10 8:23
16:30 5:19 5:19 10:37 15:56 8:15
16:15 5:14 5:14 10:28 15:41 8:08
16:00 5:09 5:09 10:18 15:27 8:00
15:45 5:04 5:04 10:08 15:12 7:53
15:30 4:59 4:59 9:59 14:58 7:45
15:15 4:55 4:55 9:49 14:44 7:38
15:00 4:50 4:50 9:39 14:29 7:30
14:45 4:45 4:45 9:30 14:15 7:23
14:30 4:40 4:40 9:20 14:00 7:15
14:15 4:35 4:35 9:10 13:46 7:08
14:00 4:30 4:30 9:01 13:31 7:00
13:45 4:26 4:26 8:51 13:17 6:53
13:30 4:21 4:21 8:41 13:02 6:45
13:15 4:16 4:16 8:32 12:48 6:38
13:00 4:11 4:11 8:22 12:33 6:30
12:45 4:06 4:06 8:12 12:19 6:23
12:35 4:03 4:03 8:06 12:09 6:18

To finish a sub 20 5K, aim for a pace of 6:26 minutes per mile.

Summary

What’s a pace chart?

A pace chart for running is a tool that can help you track your speed and pace during a race or training session. 

In it’s simplest form, a pace chart will give you the min/km or min/mile pace that you need to achieve per kilometer or mile to finish the distance in your goal time. Some pace charts (like ours), will also give you the splits per km as well as the half way time to help you stay on track. 

It can also help you set more realistic training goals and allow a gradual progression in time. 

A pace chart lists the min/km or min/mile time you need to achieve in order to complete a race in a certain time.

Summary

What is a good pace for 5K?

A good pace for 5K is subjective and will vary depending on your fitness, running experience and personal goals. 

Here are some general guidelines. 

Beginners | 6 to 7 minutes per km (9:40 to 11:15 min/mile)

Intermediate | Aim for 5 to 6 minutes per km (8:00 to 9:40 min/mile)

Advanced | 4 to 5 minutes per km (6:26 to 8:00 per mile)

A good pace for 5K for beginners is 6 – 7 min/km. For intermediate runners, 5 – 6 min/km and for advanced runners, 4 – 5 min/km.

Summary

How do you pace a 5K for beginners?

Most beginner runners will finish a 5K in 30 – 40 minutes. However, this can vary depending on your level of fitness and running experience. If you are running your first 5K race, aim to complete the distance rather than focus on times. Faster 5K times will come with training and experience. 

Here are some tips to pace a 5K for beginners.

Start at a comfortable pace

While it’s tempting to gun the first 100m, resist the temptation as it will lead to early fatigue. Begin the race at a comfortable pace so that you can find your rhythm and settle into a sustainable pace. 

Use negative splits

Negative splits means running the second half of the race faster than the first. Start slowly and gradually increase your pace. This will help you build confidence and energy as you progress. 

Find a steady pace

Finding a consistent pace will help you maintain your energy and prevent you from tiring out before the end of the race. 

Focus on breathing and effort level

A steady pace means that you should be able to carry on a conversation while running. If you’re gasping for breathing or struggling to talk, you may be pushing too hard. 

Keeping your perceived exertion in the green levels will help you complete the race.

Rating of perceived exertion

Monitor your splits

Most races have kilometer markers which can help you monitor your progress and time per kilometer. 

For example, if you’re aiming to run your first 5K in 34:00, you should hit the halfway mark by 17:00 mins.

Run with a buddy

If you’re running with friends, aim to pace each other. If you’re on your own, find another participant who’s running at a similar pace to help you stay on track. 

Finish strong

If you’ve paced yourself, you’ll have energy toward the end of the race to push yourself a little harder. Use the excitement and crowd support to finish strong!

If you’re a beginner, start the race conservatively at a steady comfortable pace. Aim to run the second half faster than the first, focus on your breathing and effort, monitor your splits and run with a buddy.

Summary

FAQs

To run a 5K in 14 mins, you’ll need to hit a pace of 2:48 min/km and halfway time of 7:00. Aim for the following splits: 1km – 2:48; 2km – 5:36; 3km – 8:24; 4km – 11:12. 

To break 16 minutes in a 5K, you’ll need to run at a min/km pace of 3:12 and a halfway time of 8:00. Aim for the following splits: 1km – 3:12; 2km – 6:24; 3km – 9:36; 4km – 12:48.

To break 17 minutes in a 5K, you need to hit a pace of 3:24 min/km and a halfway time of 8:30. Aim for the following splits: 1km – 3:24; 2km – 6:48; 3km – 10:12; 4km – 13:36.

Pace a 20 minute 5K at 4:00 min/km and aim for a halfway time of 10:00. Use the following splits: 1km – 4:00; 2km – 8:00; 3km – 12:00; 4km – 16:00.

To run a 5K in 26 minutes, you’ll need to hit a pace of 5:12 min/km and a halfway time of 13:00. Aim for the following splits: 1km – 5:12; 2km – 10:24; 3km – 15:36; 4km – 20:48.

To run a 5K in under 28 minutes, you need to run faster than 5:36 min/km. The following splits will help you achieve a finishing time of 27:45: 1km – 5:33; 2km – 11:06; 3km – 16:39; 4km – 22:12.

Aim for a pace of 6:00 min/km to run a 5K in 30 minutes. This will give you a halfway time of 15:00. Use the following splits: 1km – 6:00; 2km – 12:00; 3km – 18:00; 4km – 24:00. 

To finish a 5K in 34 minutes, aim for a pace of 6:48 min/km and a halfway time of 17:00. Use the following splits: 1km – 6:48; 2km – 13:36; 3km – 20:24; 4km – 27:12. 

Overall Summary

  • A 5K pace chart can help you achieve your goal finishing time for a 5K
  • 5K pace for beginners: 6 to 7 minutes per km (9:40 to 11:15 min/mile)

  • 5K pace for intermediate runners: Aim for 5 to 6 minutes per km (8:00 to 9:40 min/mile)
  • 5K pace for advanced runners: 4 to 5 minutes per km (6:26 to 8:00 per mile)