Rowing Watts from Split Calculator

About this calculator

Rowing ergometers, most commonly the Concept2 machines used in gyms and competitive erg racing, calculate power output from your pace using the formula watts = 2.80 / (seconds per meter)³, where seconds per meter is your 500-meter split time divided by 500. This cubic relationship reflects the physics of moving water resistance through the flywheel: because drag scales with the cube of speed, small improvements in split time correspond to large jumps in power output.

Competitive and recreational rowers, along with coaches programming erg workouts, convert between split time and watts constantly, since some training plans are written in target splits (easier to pace mentally over a piece) while others, especially power-based interval sets, are written in target watts.

Enter your 500-meter split time and this calculator converts it into the corresponding ergometer power output in watts using the standard Concept2 formula.