Speed / km/h → kn
Convert Kilometers per hour to Knots
Convert linear speeds in metric, customary, and nautical units. Convert Kilometers per hour (km/h) to Knots (kn). Find the formula, worked examples, unit definitions, and practical guidance below.
Reverse: Knots to Kilometers per hour →
How to convert kilometers per hour to knots
A knot is one international nautical mile (1852 meters) per hour. Mach is excluded because the speed of sound depends on the medium and conditions.
Use x for the value in km/h, b for the intermediate value in m/s, and y for the result in kn.
kn = km/h × 0.2777777777777778 ÷ 0.5144444444444445
Worked examples
10 km/h ≈ 5.39956803456 kn
Step 1: (10 × 0.277777777778) ≈ 2.77777777778 m/s.
Step 2: 2.77777777778 ÷ 0.514444444444 ≈ 5.39956803456 kn.20 km/h ≈ 10.7991360691 kn
Step 1: (20 × 0.277777777778) ≈ 5.55555555556 m/s.
Step 2: 5.55555555556 ÷ 0.514444444444 ≈ 10.7991360691 kn.
Results are rounded to 12 significant digits. Converting units does not increase the precision of the original measurement. Very large or small values outside JavaScript’s finite numeric range are rejected.
About Kilometers per hour
Kilometers per hour (km/h) measures speed under the conventions above. The base value in m/s is (x × 0.277777777778), where x is the numerical value in km/h. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
About Knots
Knots (kn) measures speed under the conventions above. The base value in m/s is (x × 0.514444444444), where x is the numerical value in kn. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
Definitions and sources
Carry the same physical assumptions into subsequent physics calculations.
Kilometers per hour to knots reference table
| Kilometers per hour (km/h) | Knots (kn) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.539956803456 |
| 5 | 2.69978401728 |
| 10 | 5.39956803456 |
| 25 | 13.4989200864 |
| 50 | 26.9978401728 |
| 100 | 53.9956803456 |
| 1000 | 539.956803456 |
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