Kilometers per Hour to Knots Converter

About the km/h to kn calculation

One kilometer per hour is exactly 0.539957 knots, so converting between them is a single multiplication. Enter any value above and the result updates as you type. The speed-limit unit across most of the world. One nautical mile per hour — the standard at sea and in aviation.

Formula

kn = km/h × 0.539957

1 km/h = 0.539957 kn
1 kn = 1.852 km/h

Worked example

To convert 100 km/h, multiply by 0.539957: 100 × 0.539957 = 53.9957 kn.

Frequently asked questions

How many knots are in a kilometer per hour?

There are 0.539957 knots in one kilometer per hour. To convert any amount, multiply the number of kilometers per hour by 0.539957.

How do I convert knots back to kilometers per hour?

Divide instead of multiplying, or equivalently multiply by 1.852. One knot is 1.852 kilometers per hour.

Is this conversion exact?

Yes. Since the international agreement of 1959, the relationship between kilometers per hour and knots is defined exactly rather than measured, so the only rounding here is in how many decimal places we show.

Where is each of these units used?

Kilometers per Hour: the speed-limit unit across most of the world. Knots: one nautical mile per hour — the standard at sea and in aviation.

Sources

• NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units