How Fast Is Hyperspace in Star Wars? Answered

Wondering how fast is hyperspace in Star Wars? Well, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll answer that all-important question so you needn’t worry. Without further ado, then, let’s get started.

What’s the Speed of Hyperspace in Star Wars?

Firstly, let’s get this out of the way: hyperspace is actually an alternate dimension that can only be reached by travelling at the speed of light. The speed of light — well, in our universe, anyway — is 299 792 458 metres per second.

We know that interstellar space travel in Star Wars can take hours between nearby systems and even days between faraway sectors. In addition, we also know that the Millennium Falcon is one of the fastest ships in its class with a hyperdrive system that is allegedly one of the the fastest in the galaxy.

With that in mind, then, it’s fair to say that some Star Wars ships’ hyperdrive systems are faster than others. It seems that civilian ships are usually the slowest of the bunch, with Imperial Star Destroyers and the Millennium Falcon on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Here’s an interesting nugget of intel straight from the horse’s mouth, though. In an interview with IGN, the co-writer of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Gary Whitta, had this to say about traveling in hyperspace:

The way I heard it was hyperspace moves at the speed of plot, which is, whatever is the most dramatically interesting time it takes to get from somewhere to somewhere else, that’s how long it takes.

As you can see, this notion of the hyperspace moving, “at the speed of plot,” is also a surprisingly feasible one. Essentially, this idea puts the story above the science, which makes a lot of sense when you’re making a multi-million dollar movie aimed at entertaining a mainstream audience. In other words, the speed of the ships in Star Wars are reliant on the specific film’s plot, which explains why some hyperspace jumps are instant, while others are longer.

Ultimately, the speed in which ships travel through hyperspace still remains relatively unclear right now. The only major canonical Star Wars fact we currently know is that some ships can travel through hyperspace faster than others, with Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon nabbing the crown as one of the fastest in the entire galaxy.

So, there you have it. We hope this helped to clue you in on how fast hyperspace is in Star Wars. For more content centered on that galaxy far, far away, here’s our LEGO Star Wars: the Skywalker Saga review from earlier this year and 5 things we want to see in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. As always, feel free to peruse the relevant links below.

Featured Image Source: Disney via WGTC