How to convert kilometers per hour to knots
- Take the value in kilometers per hour.
- Use the formula knots = kilometers per hour ÷ 1.852.
- For example, 20 km/h is 10.8 kn.
About kilometers per hour and knots
A knot is one nautical mile per hour, and a nautical mile is exactly 1,852 m. So divide km/h by 1.852 to get knots, or multiply by 0.539957. For a quick estimate halve the km/h figure and add 8%: 60 km/h gives 32.4 knots against the exact 32.4.
Weather services in Europe, Australia and Canada often give wind in km/h, while sailors, kitesurfers and pilots plan in knots. The same goes for speeds on a car or bike computer when you want to compare them with a boat or plane.
Examples
- 20 km/h (a light wind, an illustrative value) is 10.8 kn
- 62 km/h (the start of a gale (Beaufort force 8) in km/h tables) is 33.48 kn
- 100 km/h (a car at 100 km/h) is 54 kn
- 926 km/h (a typical jet cruising speed of 500 knots) is 500 kn
Kilometers per hour to knots chart
| Kilometers per hour (km/h) | Knots (kn) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.54 |
| 5 | 2.7 |
| 10 | 5.4 |
| 15 | 8.1 |
| 20 | 10.8 |
| 25 | 13.5 |
| 30 | 16.2 |
| 40 | 21.6 |
| 50 | 27 |
| 60 | 32.4 |
| 62 | 33.48 |
| 75 | 40.5 |
| 80 | 43.2 |
| Kilometers per hour (km/h) | Knots (kn) |
|---|---|
| 90 | 48.6 |
| 100 | 54 |
| 118 | 63.71 |
| 120 | 64.79 |
| 150 | 80.99 |
| 200 | 107.99 |
| 250 | 134.99 |
| 300 | 161.99 |
| 500 | 269.98 |
| 800 | 431.97 |
| 900 | 485.96 |
| 1,000 | 539.96 |