Knots to Meters per Second Converter
Convert knots to meters per second — multiply by 0.5144. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One knot is 0.5144 meter per second — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the knots to meters per second converter works
Speeds convert through meters 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 US uses customary units (US gallon, short ton, °F) in daily life; NIST SP 811 gives the exact SI factors.
Common speed conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kn | 0.5144 m/s | knot to meter per second |
| 5 kn | 2.5722 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 10 kn | 5.1444 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 15 kn | 7.7167 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 20 kn | 10.2889 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 25 kn | 12.8611 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 30 kn | 15.4333 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 40 kn | 20.5778 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 50 kn | 25.7222 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 60 kn | 30.8667 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 80 kn | 41.1556 m/s | knots to meter per second |
| 100 kn | 51.4444 m/s | knots to meter per second |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in meter per seconds |
|---|---|---|
| meter per second | m/s | 1 meter per second |
| kilometer per hour | km/h | 0.2777777778 meter per second |
| mile per hour | mph | 0.44704 meter per second |
| knot | kn | 0.5144444444 meter per second |
| foot per second | ft/s | 0.3048 meter per second |
| Mach (sea level, 15 °C) | Ma | 340.29 meter 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 Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — United States's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.