Miles per Hour to Knots Converter

About the mph to kn calculation

One mile per hour is exactly 0.868976 knots, so converting between them is a single multiplication. Enter any value above and the result updates as you type. Speed limits and vehicle speedometers in the US and UK. Exactly 1.609344 km/h. One nautical mile per hour — the standard at sea and in aviation.

Formula

kn = mph × 0.868976

1 mph = 0.868976 kn
1 kn = 1.1508 mph

Worked example

To convert 60 mph, multiply by 0.868976: 60 × 0.868976 = 52.1386 kn.

Frequently asked questions

How many knots are in a mile per hour?

There are 0.868976 knots in one mile per hour. To convert any amount, multiply the number of miles per hour by 0.868976.

How do I convert knots back to miles per hour?

Divide instead of multiplying, or equivalently multiply by 1.1508. One knot is 1.1508 miles per hour.

Is this conversion exact?

Yes. Since the international agreement of 1959, the relationship between miles 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?

Miles per Hour: speed limits and vehicle speedometers in the US and UK. Exactly 1.609344 km/h. 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