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.
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
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 Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.