Knot to Kilometer per hour Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert knots to kilometers per hour with our free online speed converter.
Knot to Kilometer per hour Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Knot).
- The converted value in Kilometer per hour will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Speed category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Knot to Kilometer per hour
Converting Knot to Kilometer per hour involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Knot = 1.852 kilometers per hourExample Calculation:
Convert 60 knots: 60 × 1.852 = 111.12 kilometers per hour
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Knot and a Kilometer per hour?
The knot (kn) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, which is exactly 1.852 km/h (approximately 1.15078 mph or 0.514 m/s).
Kilometers per hour (km/h or kph) is a unit of speed expressing the number of kilometers traveled in one hour.
Note: The Knot is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Kilometer per hour belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Knot and Kilometer per hour
The term knot originates from the 17th century practice of measuring ship speed using a "chip log". This device consisted of a rope with knots tied at uniform intervals (47 feet 3 inches or 14.4018 m), attached to a piece of wood shaped like a sector of a circle. The log was thrown overboard, and sailors counted the number of knots that passed through their hands in a specific time (usually measured by a 28-second sandglass). The number of knots counted in that time directly corresponded to the ship's speed in nautical miles per hour.
Kilometers per hour became a common unit of speed with the widespread adoption of the metric system for distance (kilometer) and the standard use of hours for time measurement, particularly following the advent of automobiles and trains where measuring such speeds became practical and necessary.
Common Uses for knots and kilometers per hour
Explore the typical applications for both Knot (imperial/US) and Kilometer per hour (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for knots
- Maritime Navigation: The primary unit for measuring vessel speed in maritime contexts worldwide.
- Aviation: Standard unit for indicating airspeed for aircraft globally.
- Meteorology: Commonly used to report wind speeds, especially in forecasts for marine and aviation purposes.
Common Uses for kilometers per hour
- Road Traffic: The most common unit for speed limits and vehicle speeds (speedometers) worldwide, except in countries like the US and UK.
- Meteorology: Often used in public weather forecasts to report wind speeds, especially in metric countries.
- Navigation: Used alongside other units like knots in some aviation and maritime contexts, although less common than knots for primary navigation.
- Sports: Sometimes used to describe speeds in cycling, skiing, or running over longer distances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Knot (kn)
What is a knot based on?
A knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is based on the Earth's circumference (one minute of latitude).
Is the knot an SI unit?
No, the knot is not an SI unit, but it is accepted for use with the SI, especially in navigation.
Why are knots used instead of mph or km/h in navigation?
Knots are convenient because one knot is one nautical mile per hour, and a nautical mile directly relates to the lines of latitude and longitude on navigational charts (one nautical mile is approximately one minute of latitude).
How do you convert knots to mph?
Multiply the speed in knots by approximately 1.151. So, 20 knots is about 23 mph.
How do you convert knots to km/h?
Multiply the speed in knots by 1.852. So, 20 knots is exactly 37.04 km/h.
About Kilometer per hour (km/h)
Where is km/h primarily used?
Kilometers per hour is the standard unit for road speed in most countries around the world that use the metric system.
Is km/h an SI unit?
While it uses SI units (kilometer and hour derived from second), the official SI unit for speed is meters per second (m/s). However, km/h is accepted for use with SI.
How do you convert km/h to mph?
To approximate, divide the speed in km/h by 1.609. So, 100 km/h is roughly 62 mph. (1 km/h ≈ 0.621371 mph).
How do you convert km/h to m/s?
Divide the speed in km/h by 3.6. So, 100 km/h is approximately 27.78 m/s.
Conversion Table: Knot to Kilometer per hour
| Knot (kn) | Kilometer per hour (km/h) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.852 |
| 5 | 9.26 |
| 10 | 18.52 |
| 25 | 46.3 |
| 50 | 92.6 |
| 100 | 185.2 |
| 500 | 926 |
| 1,000 | 1,852 |
All Speed Conversions
Conversion Formula
1 kn = 1.852 km/h
Where 1 Knot (kn) equals the calculated value in kilometers per hour (km/h).