Knots to MPH Converter
Convert knots to miles per hour — one knot is 1.151 mph. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One knot is 1.1508 miles per hour — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the knots to mph 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 kn | 1.1508 mph | knot to miles per hour |
| 5 kn | 5.7539 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 10 kn | 11.5078 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 15 kn | 17.2617 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 20 kn | 23.0156 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 25 kn | 28.7695 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 30 kn | 34.5234 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 40 kn | 46.0312 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 50 kn | 57.539 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 60 kn | 69.0468 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 100 kn | 115.0779 mph | knots to miles per hour |
| 500 kn | 575.3897 mph | knots to miles per hour |
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
What is a knot in mph?
1.15078 mph.
Why do ships use knots?
Because a nautical mile is one minute of latitude, so speed maps straight onto a chart.
What is 20 knots in mph?
23 mph.
Do hurricanes use knots?
Meteorologists often do; public forecasts usually convert to mph or km/h.
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.