Convert Kilometers per Hour to Knots (km/h to kn)
1 kilometer per hour (km/h) = 0.5399568035 knots (kn). 1 kn = 1.852 km/h. Example: 15 km/h = 15 × 0.5399568035 = 8.099352052 kn.
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1 km/h = 0.5399568035 kn
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk kilometer per hour to knot converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Kilometer per Hour to Knot
- 1 km/h = 0.5399568035 kn
- 1 kn = 1.852 km/h
- Example: convert 15 km/h to kn: 15 km/h = 15 × 0.5399568035 kn = 8.099352052 kn
Formula
kn = km/h × 0.5399568034557
or kn = km/h ÷ 1.852
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 km/h = 1000 m ÷ 3600 s = 1/3.6 m/s exactly.
- 1 knot = 1 nautical mile (1852 m) per hour = 0.514444… m/s.
- 1 km/h = 0.2777777777778 m/s ÷ 0.5144444444444 m/s per kn = 0.5399568034557 kn
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Kilometer per Hour definition: kilometer per hour; Knot definition: knot.
Worked examples
- A reading of 50 km/h converts to 26.99784017 kn.
50 km/h × 0.5399568035 = 26.99784017 kn - A value of 100 km/h is 53.99568035 kn.
100 km/h × 0.5399568035 = 53.99568035 kn
Kilometer per Hour to Knot conversion table
| Kilometers per Hour (km/h) | Knots (kn) |
|---|---|
| 10 km/h | 5.399568035 kn |
| 30 km/h | 16.1987041 kn |
| 40 km/h | 21.59827214 kn |
| 50 km/h | 26.99784017 kn |
| 60 km/h | 32.39740821 kn |
| 80 km/h | 43.19654428 kn |
| 90 km/h | 48.59611231 kn |
| 100 km/h | 53.99568035 kn |
| 110 km/h | 59.39524838 kn |
| 120 km/h | 64.79481641 kn |
| 130 km/h | 70.19438445 kn |
Where it's used
Kilometers per Hour are used for road speed limits and car speedometers, while knots appear in aviation and marine navigation. Both measure speed (distance per time), so the conversion is a fixed factor.
Kilometer per Hour to other speed units
| Conversion | 1 km/h equals |
|---|---|
| kilometer per hour to knot | 0.5399568035 kn |
| kilometer per hour to meter per second | 0.2777777778 m/s |
| kilometer per hour to mile per hour | 0.6213711922 mph |
| kilometer per hour to foot per second | 0.9113444153 ft/s |
Frequently asked questions
How many knots are in 1 kilometer per hour?
1 km/h = 0.5399568035 kn.
How do I convert kilometers per hour to knots?
Multiply the value in km/h by 0.5399568035, or divide it by 1.852. For example, 15 km/h × 0.5399568035 = 8.099352052 kn.
Is the km/h to kn conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, so the ratio is exact; its decimal form does not terminate and is shown here to 10 significant figures (more with the precision selector).
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Table 4 (radian) and Table 8 (non-SI units accepted for use with the SI).
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Convert Kilometers per Hour to Knots (km/h to kn). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/speed/kilometers-per-hour-to-knots/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Kilometers per Hour to Knots (km/h to kn)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/speed/kilometers-per-hour-to-knots/