Knots to miles per hour
1 knot = 1.15078 miles per hour
Type a value in knots (kn) to get miles per hour (mph) straight away. A knot is larger than a mile per hour, so the number goes up. Both units belong to speed, measured here against the meter per second.
1 kn = 1.1507794 mph
Formula
mph = kn × 1.1507794
One knot is 1.1507794 miles per hour, so multiply the knot value by that factor. Here kn is the value in knots and mph is the result in miles per hour.
Worked example: 20 knots × 1.1507794 = 23.0156 miles per hour.
Knots to miles per hour table
| knots (kn) | miles per hour (mph) |
|---|---|
| 1 kn | 1.15078 mph |
| 2 kn | 2.30156 mph |
| 3 kn | 3.45234 mph |
| 4 kn | 4.60312 mph |
| 5 kn | 5.7539 mph |
| 6 kn | 6.90468 mph |
| 7 kn | 8.05546 mph |
| 8 kn | 9.20624 mph |
| 9 kn | 10.357 mph |
| 10 kn | 11.5078 mph |
| 15 kn | 17.2617 mph |
| 20 kn | 23.0156 mph |
| 25 kn | 28.7695 mph |
| 30 kn | 34.5234 mph |
| 40 kn | 46.0312 mph |
| 50 kn | 57.539 mph |
| 60 kn | 69.0468 mph |
| 75 kn | 86.3085 mph |
| 100 kn | 115.078 mph |
Everyday knots in miles per hour
| What it is | kn | mph |
|---|---|---|
| a sailing dinghy | 5 kn | 5.7539 mph |
| a cargo ship (slow steaming) | 12 kn | 13.8094 mph |
| a container ship | 20 kn | 23.0156 mph |
| a fast ferry | 30 kn | 34.5234 mph |
| hurricane force | 64 kn | 73.6499 mph |
Quick estimate in your head
Multiply by about 1.2. For 20 kn that gives 24 mph against an exact 23.0156 mph, an error of 4.3%.
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.
Mile per hour (mph). Exactly 0.44704 m/s. Used for road speeds in the US and UK.
Going the other way, 1 mile per hour is 0.868976 knots.
Questions
How many miles per hour are in 1 knot?
1 knot is 1.15078 miles per hour, and 1 mile per hour is 0.868976 knots.
How do I convert knots to miles per hour?
Use mph = kn × 1.1507794. For example, 20 knots × 1.1507794 = 23.0156 miles per hour.
Is the knot to mile 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 miles per hour?
64 kn is 73.6499 mph.
Source for the conversion factor: NIST SP 811, Appendix B (conversion factors).
Related conversions
- miles per hour to knots
- kilometers per hour to miles per hour
- miles per hour to kilometers per hour
- meters per second to miles per hour
- miles per hour to meters per second
- knots to kilometers per hour