Convert Knots to Miles per Hour (kn to mph)
1 knot (kn) = 1.150779448 miles per hour (mph). 1 mph = 0.8689762419 kn. Example: 20 kn = 20 × 1.150779448 = 23.01558896 mph.
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1 kn = 1.150779448 mph
Type in either box. Scientific notation works: 1.5e-3.
Converting a list? Use the bulk knot to mile per hour converter to paste a column from Excel.
How to Convert Knot to Mile per Hour
- 1 kn = 1.150779448 mph
- 1 mph = 0.8689762419 kn
- Example: convert 20 kn to mph: 20 kn = 20 × 1.150779448 mph = 23.01558896 mph
Formula
mph = kn × 1.150779448024
Derivation from SI units:
- 1 knot = 1 nautical mile (1852 m) per hour = 0.514444… m/s.
- 1 mph = 1609.344 m ÷ 3600 s = 0.44704 m/s exactly.
- 1 kn = 0.5144444444444 m/s ÷ 0.44704 m/s per mph = 1.150779448024 mph
Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Knot definition: knot; Mile per Hour definition: mile per hour.
Worked examples
- A boat at 20 kn travels 23.01558896 mph.
20 kn × 1.150779448 = 23.01558896 mph - A wind gust of 100 kn is 115.0779448 mph.
100 kn × 1.150779448 = 115.0779448 mph
Knot to Mile per Hour conversion table
| Knots (kn) | Miles per Hour (mph) |
|---|---|
| 1 kn | 1.150779448 mph |
| 5 kn | 5.75389724 mph |
| 10 kn | 11.50779448 mph |
| 15 kn | 17.26169172 mph |
| 20 kn | 23.01558896 mph |
| 25 kn | 28.7694862 mph |
| 30 kn | 34.52338344 mph |
| 50 kn | 57.5389724 mph |
| 100 kn | 115.0779448 mph |
| 250 kn | 287.694862 mph |
| 500 kn | 575.389724 mph |
Where it's used
Speeds in knots from boating, aviation and hurricane advisories are converted to miles per hour for US and UK audiences. Multiply by about 1.15078.
Knot to other speed units
| Conversion | 1 kn equals |
|---|---|
| knot to mile per hour | 1.150779448 mph |
| knot to meter per second | 0.5144444444 m/s |
| knot to kilometer per hour | 1.852 km/h |
| knot to foot per second | 1.687809857 ft/s |
Frequently asked questions
Why is a knot faster than a mile per hour?
A nautical mile (1852 m) is longer than a statute mile (1609.344 m), so 1 knot = 1.150779448 mph.
How many miles per hour are in 1 knot?
1 kn = 1.150779448 mph.
How do I convert knots to miles per hour?
Multiply the value in kn by 1.150779448. For example, 20 kn × 1.150779448 = 23.01558896 mph.
Is the kn to mph 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).
- Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "mile per hour".
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 Miles per Hour (kn to mph). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/speed/knots-to-miles-per-hour/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Convert Knots to Miles per Hour (kn to mph)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/speed/knots-to-miles-per-hour/