Convert Knots to Kilometers per Hour
Convert Knots to Kilometers per Hour instantly. 1 Knot (kn) equals 1.852 Kilometers per Hour (km/h).
Knots to Kilometers per Hour conversion 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 |
| 5 kn | 9.26 km/h |
| 10 kn | 18.52 km/h |
| 20 kn | 37.04 km/h |
| 50 kn | 92.6 km/h |
| 100 kn | 185.2 km/h |
| 500 kn | 926 km/h |
| 1,000 kn | 1,852 km/h |
1 Knot = 1.852 Kilometers per Hour · multiply Knots by 1.852
About converting Knots to Kilometers per Hour
Knots (kn) and Kilometers per Hour (km/h) are both units of speed, so converting between them is a single multiplication: multiply your Knots figure by 1.852. Ten Knots comes to 18.52 Kilometers per Hour, and a hundred works out at 185.2 Kilometers per Hour.
Rule of thumb: going from Knots to Kilometers per Hour multiplies, so the figure always grows — one Knot is already 1.852 Kilometers per Hour. If your answer came out smaller, you have the conversion the wrong way round.
What is a Knot?
The knot is one nautical mile per hour, and it is the speed unit of ships and aircraft worldwide no matter what the countries underneath use on their roads. The name is entirely literal: sailors measured speed with a chip log — a weighted board on a rope with knots tied at regular intervals, thrown over the stern and paid out for a fixed time while someone counted the knots running through their hands. It survives because it pairs with the nautical mile, which is one minute of latitude, so speed and chart distance share a ruler. One warning: "knots per hour" is simply wrong. The per-hour is already inside the word.
What is a Kilometer per Hour?
The kilometer per hour is the road-speed unit of nearly every country on Earth: the number on the speedometer, the number on the sign, the number in the ticket. It is a compound unit rather than a fundamental one — a distance divided by a time — and that is precisely why it took hold, because people already thought in kilometers and in hours and so needed no new idea to think in km/h. Its only real rivals are mph, which clings on in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the knot, which owns the sea and the sky.
To put both in perspective: a cruising airliner does around 470 knots, while a typical motorway limit is around 120 kilometers per hour.
The converter above updates as you type, and the table lists common values for quick reference. Need the opposite direction? Use the Kilometers per Hour to Knots converter, or browse all Speed converters.
Frequently asked questions
How many Kilometers per Hour are in one Knot?
There are 1.852 Kilometers per Hour in one Knot.
How do I convert Knots to Kilometers per Hour?
Multiply the number of Knots by 1.852. For example, 10 Knots = 18.52 Kilometers per Hour.
What is 100 Knots in Kilometers per Hour?
100 Knots is equal to 185.2 Kilometers per Hour.
How do I convert Kilometers per Hour to Knots?
Multiply the Kilometers per Hour value by 0.54 (or divide by 1.852).
Is this Knots to Kilometers per Hour conversion exact?
The definition is exact — Knots and Kilometers per Hour are both fixed against the same base by international agreement — but the decimal shown here is rounded for readability, because the true ratio does not terminate. For engineering or scientific work, carry more decimal places than this page displays.
What is a Knot?
The knot is one nautical mile per hour, and it is the speed unit of ships and aircraft worldwide no matter what the countries underneath use on their roads. The name is entirely literal: sailors measured speed with a chip log — a weighted board on a rope with knots tied at regular intervals, thrown over the stern and paid out for a fixed time while someone counted the knots running through their hands. It survives because it pairs with the nautical mile, which is one minute of latitude, so speed and chart distance share a ruler. One warning: "knots per hour" is simply wrong. The per-hour is already inside the word.
What is a Kilometer per Hour?
The kilometer per hour is the road-speed unit of nearly every country on Earth: the number on the speedometer, the number on the sign, the number in the ticket. It is a compound unit rather than a fundamental one — a distance divided by a time — and that is precisely why it took hold, because people already thought in kilometers and in hours and so needed no new idea to think in km/h. Its only real rivals are mph, which clings on in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the knot, which owns the sea and the sky.