KM/H to Knots Converter
Convert kilometres per hour to knots — 1.852 km/h to the knot. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One kilometre per hour is 0.54 knots — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the km/h to knots converter works
Speeds convert through metres per second. 1 km/h is 1000/3600 m/s; 1 mph is 1609.344/3600 m/s; a knot is one nautical mile (1,852 m) per hour. Mach is shown against the standard sea-level speed of sound of 340.29 m/s and varies with altitude and temperature.
Australia is fully metric under the National Measurement Act 1960; imperial units appear only in trade with the US and in older documents.
Common speed conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.54 kn | kilometre per hour to knots |
| 5 km/h | 2.6998 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 10 km/h | 5.3996 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 20 km/h | 10.7991 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 30 km/h | 16.1987 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 40 km/h | 21.5983 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 50 km/h | 26.9978 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 60 km/h | 32.3974 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 80 km/h | 43.1965 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 100 km/h | 53.9957 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 150 km/h | 80.9935 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
| 200 km/h | 107.9914 kn | kilometres per hour to knots |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in metre per seconds |
|---|---|---|
| metre per second | m/s | 1 metre per second |
| kilometre per hour | km/h | 0.2777777778 metre per second |
| mile per hour | mph | 0.44704 metre per second |
| knot | kn | 0.5144444444 metre per second |
| foot per second | ft/s | 0.3048 metre per second |
| Mach (sea level, 15 °C) | Ma | 340.29 metre per second |
FAQFrequently asked questions about speed conversion
How many km/h in a knot?
Exactly 1.852.
What is 50 km/h in knots?
27 knots.
Why is the conversion exact?
Because the nautical mile was defined as exactly 1,852 metres in 1929.
What wind speed is a gale?
From 34 knots, which is 63 km/h.
Do weather forecasts use knots?
Marine and aviation forecasts do; land forecasts use km/h or mph.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Measurement Institute (NMI) — Australia's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.