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.
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 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 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.