Knots to kilometers per hour
1 knot = 1.852 kilometers per hour
Type a value in knots (kn) to get kilometers per hour (km/h) straight away. A knot is larger than a kilometer per hour, so the number goes up. Both units belong to speed, measured here against the meter per second.
1 kn = 1.852 km/h
Formula
km/h = kn × 1.852
One knot is 1.852 kilometers per hour, so multiply the knot value by that factor. Here kn is the value in knots and km/h is the result in kilometers per hour.
Worked example: 20 knots × 1.852 = 37.04 kilometers per hour.
Knots to kilometers per hour table
| knots (kn) | kilometers per hour (km/h) |
|---|---|
| 1 kn | 1.852 km/h |
| 2 kn | 3.704 km/h |
| 3 kn | 5.556 km/h |
| 4 kn | 7.408 km/h |
| 5 kn | 9.26 km/h |
| 6 kn | 11.112 km/h |
| 7 kn | 12.964 km/h |
| 8 kn | 14.816 km/h |
| 9 kn | 16.668 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 |
| 40 kn | 74.08 km/h |
| 50 kn | 92.6 km/h |
| 60 kn | 111.12 km/h |
| 75 kn | 138.9 km/h |
| 100 kn | 185.2 km/h |
Everyday knots in kilometers per hour
| What it is | kn | km/h |
|---|---|---|
| a sailing dinghy | 5 kn | 9.26 km/h |
| a cargo ship (slow steaming) | 12 kn | 22.224 km/h |
| a container ship | 20 kn | 37.04 km/h |
| a fast ferry | 30 kn | 55.56 km/h |
| hurricane force | 64 kn | 118.528 km/h |
Quick estimate in your head
Multiply by about 1.9. For 20 kn that gives 38 km/h against an exact 37.04 km/h, an error of 2.6%.
Watch out for
- Knots are nautical miles per hour, so 1 knot is 1.852 km/h, not 1.609 km/h.
About the units
Knot (kn). One nautical mile per hour, about 1.852 km/h. Used at sea and in aviation.
Kilometer per hour (km/h). Used for road speed limits and car speedometers in most countries.
Going the other way, 1 kilometer per hour is 0.539957 knots.
Questions
How many kilometers per hour are in 1 knot?
1 knot is 1.852 kilometers per hour, and 1 kilometer per hour is 0.539957 knots.
How do I convert knots to kilometers per hour?
Use km/h = kn × 1.852. For example, 20 knots × 1.852 = 37.04 kilometers per hour.
Is the knot to kilometer per hour factor exact?
The factor comes from the unit definitions. Results here are rounded to 6 significant digits for display.
How much is hurricane force in kilometers per hour?
64 kn is 118.528 km/h.
Source for the conversion factor: NIST SP 811, Appendix B (conversion factors).
Related conversions
- kilometers per hour to knots
- kilometers per hour to miles per hour
- miles per hour to kilometers per hour
- kilometers per hour to meters per second
- meters per second to kilometers per hour
- knots to miles per hour