Convert Knots to Kilometers per Hour (kn to km/h)
1 knot (kn) = 1.852 kilometers per hour (km/h). 1 km/h = 0.5399568035 kn. Example: 20 kn = 20 × 1.852 = 37.04 km/h.
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1 kn = 1.852 km/h
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk knot to kilometer per hour converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Knot to Kilometer per Hour
- 1 kn = 1.852 km/h
- 1 km/h = 0.5399568035 kn
- Example: convert 20 kn to km/h: 20 kn = 20 × 1.852 km/h = 37.04 km/h
Formula
km/h = kn × 1.852
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 knot = 1 nautical mile (1852 m) per hour = 0.514444… m/s.
- 1 km/h = 1000 m ÷ 3600 s = 1/3.6 m/s exactly.
- 1 kn = 0.5144444444444 m/s ÷ 0.2777777777778 m/s per km/h = 1.852 km/h
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Knot definition: knot; Kilometer per Hour definition: kilometer per hour.
Worked examples
- A boat at 20 kn travels 37.04 km/h.
20 kn × 1.852 = 37.04 km/h - An aircraft at 250 kn flies 463 km/h.
250 kn × 1.852 = 463 km/h
Knot to Kilometer per Hour conversion table
| Knots (kn) | Kilometers per Hour (km/h) |
|---|---|
| 1 kn | 1.852 km/h |
| 5 kn | 9.26 km/h |
| 10 kn | 18.52 km/h |
| 15 kn | 27.78 km/h |
| 20 kn | 37.04 km/h |
| 25 kn | 46.3 km/h |
| 30 kn | 55.56 km/h |
| 50 kn | 92.6 km/h |
| 100 kn | 185.2 km/h |
| 250 kn | 463 km/h |
| 500 kn | 926 km/h |
Where it's used
Speeds in knots from marine charts, aviation and marine forecasts are converted to km/h for comparison with road and weather speeds. Multiply by 1.852.
Knot to other speed units
| Conversion | 1 kn equals |
|---|---|
| knot to kilometer per hour | 1.852 km/h |
| knot to meter per second | 0.5144444444 m/s |
| knot to mile per hour | 1.150779448 mph |
| knot to foot per second | 1.687809857 ft/s |
Frequently asked questions
How many km/h is one knot?
Exactly 1.852 km/h, because a nautical mile is defined as 1852 m.
How many kilometers per hour are in 1 knot?
1 kn = 1.852 km/h.
How do I convert knots to kilometers per hour?
Multiply the value in kn by 1.852. For example, 20 kn × 1.852 = 37.04 km/h.
Is the kn to km/h conversion exact?
Yes. Both units are defined exactly, and 1 kn is exactly 1.852 km/h.
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 Knots to Kilometers per Hour (kn to km/h). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/speed/knots-to-kilometers-per-hour/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Knots to Kilometers per Hour (kn to km/h)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/speed/knots-to-kilometers-per-hour/