Knots to kilometres per hour
Multiply knots by 1.852 to get kilometres per hour.
20 kn = 37.04 km/h
How to convert knots to kilometres per hour
The kilometre per hour is kilometres travelled per hour, the metric speed unit for vehicles. The knot is one nautical mile (exactly 1852 m) per hour, used in aviation and at sea.
Worked example — 20 kn: 20 × 1.852 = 37.04 km/h.
Knots to kilometres per hour table
| Knots | Kilometres per hour |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 30 kn | 55.56 km/h |
| 50 kn | 92.6 km/h |
| 100 kn | 185.2 km/h |
| 150 kn | 277.8 km/h |
Reverse and related
About knots and kilometres per hour
Knot (kn)
1 kn = 1.852 km/hDefinition. One nautical mile (exactly 1852 m) per hour, used in aviation and at sea
History and origin
The knot dates from sailing ships, where speed was measured by counting knots on a line let out over a set time. One knot is one nautical mile, exactly 1852 metres, per hour.
Current use
Knots are the standard speed unit in aviation and at sea, and are widely used for wind speed.
Source: NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (Tables of Equivalents — international nautical mile); speeds derived from the exact mile, foot and hour
Kilometre per hour (km/h)
1 km/h = 0.539957 knDefinition. Kilometres travelled per hour, the metric speed unit for vehicles
History and origin
The kilometre per hour combines the metric kilometre with the hour, and became the standard speed unit as countries adopted the metric system and built road networks. It equals exactly one thousand metres per hour.
Current use
Kilometres per hour is the speed unit on car speedometers and road signs across most of the world.
Source: NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (Tables of Equivalents — international nautical mile); speeds derived from the exact mile, foot and hour
Where people use this
Knots: aviation, sailing and shipping, wind speed. Kilometres per hour: vehicle speed outside the US, speed limits. 1 knot is exactly 1.852 km/h.
Every value is carried to full double precision; the display is rounded.
Both units are defined in NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (Tables of Equivalents — international nautical mile); speeds derived from the exact mile, foot and hour.
Questions people ask
How many km/h in a knot?
One knot is exactly 1.852 km/h.
How many km/h is 20 knots?
20 knots is about 37 km/h.
What is a knot?
A knot is one nautical mile (1852 m) per hour, used in aviation and at sea.