Knots ↔ KPH
Convert between knots and kilometers per hour. Essential for aviation and maritime navigation.
kph = knots × 1.852
Quick Reference: common conversions
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 knot | 1.852 KPH |
| 5 knots | 9.26 KPH |
| 10 knots | 18.52 KPH |
| 15 knots | 27.78 KPH |
| 20 knots | 37.04 KPH |
| 25 knots | 46.3 KPH |
| 30 knots | 55.56 KPH |
| 40 knots | 74.08 KPH |
| 50 knots | 92.6 KPH |
| 60 knots | 111.12 KPH |
| 80 knots | 148.16 KPH |
| 100 knots | 185.2 KPH |
| 1 KPH | 0.54 knots |
| 10 KPH | 5.4 knots |
| 100 KPH | 53.996 knots |
A knot is one nautical mile per hour, and a nautical mile is exactly 1,852 metres, so 1 knot = 1.852 km/h. To convert knots to kph multiply by 1.852; to go back, divide by 1.852 (or multiply by 0.539957). Type a value above and the conversion updates as you type; the table below lists the common values.
Worked examples
- 10 knots × 1.852 = 18.52 km/h — a fresh breeze for sailing.
- 25 knots × 1.852 = 46.3 km/h — a strong wind, typical small-craft warning threshold.
- 60 knots × 1.852 = 111.12 km/h — light-aircraft approach speed.
- 100 km/h ÷ 1.852 = 54 knots.
Why aviation and shipping use knots
Nautical miles are tied to the Earth's geometry — one minute of latitude — so distance, speed and chart navigation line up neatly. Pilots read airspeed in knots (KIAS/KTAS), sailors log boat speed in knots, and meteorologists report wind in knots. The abbreviations kt, kts and kn all mean knots.
Knots vs mph vs kph
1 knot = 1.852 km/h = 1.15078 mph. A knot is therefore a little faster than a mile per hour and noticeably slower than a kilometre per hour. For road speeds use the KPH ↔ MPH converter; for supersonic speeds see Mach to KPH.