Knots to Metres per Second Converter
Convert knots to metres per second — multiply by 0.5144. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One knot is 0.5144 metres per second — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the knots to metres per second 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 | 0.5144 m/s | knot to metres per second |
| 5 kn | 2.5722 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 10 kn | 5.1444 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 15 kn | 7.7167 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 20 kn | 10.2889 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 25 kn | 12.8611 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 30 kn | 15.4333 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 40 kn | 20.5778 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 50 kn | 25.7222 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 60 kn | 30.8667 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 80 kn | 41.1556 m/s | knots to metres per second |
| 100 kn | 51.4444 m/s | knots to metres per second |
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 m/s is a knot?
0.5144 m/s.
What is 20 knots in m/s?
10.29 m/s.
What is a knot in km/h?
1.852 km/h exactly.
What wind speed is a gale?
Force 8 on the Beaufort scale, 34 to 40 knots, which is about 17 to 21 m/s.
Is "knots per hour" correct?
No — a knot is already a speed. "Twenty knots", never "twenty knots per hour".
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.