Kilometres per hour to knots
Multiply kilometres per hour by 0.539957 to get knots.
50 km/h = 26.9978 kn
How to convert kilometres per hour to knots
The knot is one nautical mile (exactly 1852 m) per hour, used in aviation and at sea. The kilometre per hour is kilometres travelled per hour, the metric speed unit for vehicles.
Worked example — 50 km/h: 50 × 0.539957 = 26.9978 kn.
Kilometres per hour to knots table
| Kilometres per hour | Knots |
|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.539957 kn |
| 10 km/h | 5.3996 kn |
| 20 km/h | 10.7991 kn |
| 30 km/h | 16.1987 kn |
| 50 km/h | 26.9978 kn |
| 74 km/h | 39.9568 kn |
| 100 km/h | 53.9957 kn |
| 120 km/h | 64.7948 kn |
| 150 km/h | 80.9935 kn |
Reverse and related
About kilometres per hour and knots
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
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
Where people use this
Kilometres per hour: vehicle speed outside the US, speed limits. Knots: aviation, sailing and shipping, wind speed. A 100 km/h wind is about 54 knots.
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 knots is 100 km/h?
100 km/h is about 54 knots.
How many knots in a km/h?
One kilometre per hour is about 0.54 knots.
How many km/h is 20 knots?
20 knots is about 37 km/h.