Home Back

How Velocity Is Calculated In Scrum

Velocity Formula:

\[ Velocity = \frac{Story\ Points\ Completed}{Sprint\ Duration} \]

points
sprints

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From: To:

1. What Is Scrum Velocity?

Scrum velocity is a metric that measures the amount of work a Scrum team completes during a sprint. It represents the team's rate of progress and is expressed in story points per sprint.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the velocity formula:

\[ Velocity = \frac{Story\ Points\ Completed}{Sprint\ Duration} \]

Where:

Explanation: Velocity helps teams predict how much work they can complete in future sprints based on their historical performance.

3. Importance Of Velocity Calculation

Details: Velocity is crucial for sprint planning, capacity forecasting, and identifying team performance trends over time. It helps teams set realistic commitments for future sprints.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter the total story points completed during the sprint and the sprint duration. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good velocity for a Scrum team?
A: There's no universal "good" velocity - it varies by team. The key is consistency and using velocity for relative comparison of the team's own performance over time.

Q2: Should velocity be used to compare different teams?
A: No, velocity should not be used to compare different teams. Story point estimation varies between teams, making cross-team velocity comparisons meaningless.

Q3: How many sprints are needed to establish a reliable velocity?
A: Most teams need 3-6 sprints to establish a reliable velocity range that can be used for planning purposes.

Q4: What factors can affect team velocity?
A: Team composition changes, technical debt, scope changes, team member availability, and external dependencies can all impact velocity.

Q5: Is higher velocity always better?
A: Not necessarily. Consistently increasing velocity might indicate better estimation or improved processes, but it could also signal cutting corners on quality.

How Velocity Is Calculated In Scrum© - All Rights Reserved 2025