Knots to Miles Per Hour
One knot equals 1.150779 miles per hour.
Miles Per Hour = knots × 1.150779448
Speed Conversion
Common Speeds
Speed Reference Guide
Common Speed Units
Meters per Second (m/s): SI base unit for speed
Kilometers per Hour (km/h): Common metric unit
Miles per Hour (mph): Imperial unit used in US/UK
Feet per Second (ft/s): Imperial unit for technical use
Knots: Nautical speed (1 knot = 1 nautical mile/hour)
Mach: Speed relative to sound (343 m/s at sea level)
Speed Comparisons
Human walking: ~5 km/h (3.1 mph)
Bicycle: ~20 km/h (12.4 mph)
Car (city): ~50 km/h (31 mph)
Car (highway): ~120 km/h (75 mph)
Commercial jet: ~900 km/h (560 mph)
Sound: 1,235 km/h (767 mph)
Knots to Miles Per Hour Conversion Table
| kn | mph |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1508 |
| 5 | 5.7539 |
| 10 | 11.5078 |
| 15 | 17.2617 |
| 20 | 23.0156 |
| 25 | 28.7695 |
| 30 | 34.5234 |
| 35 | 40.2773 |
| 40 | 46.0312 |
| 50 | 57.539 |
| 60 | 69.0468 |
| 74 | 85.1577 |
| 100 | 115.0779 |
| 150 | 172.6169 |
| 200 | 230.1559 |
About This Conversion
Knots to miles per hour converts marine and aviation speeds into road units. A knot is one nautical mile per hour, and since a nautical mile is 1,852 m, one knot is 1.15078 mph.
Hurricane categories are defined in knots and then reported in mph, which is why the thresholds look arbitrary. Category 1 begins at 64 knots, which is 74 mph; Category 5 begins at 137 knots, which is 157 mph. The round numbers are in the knots, not the miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mph is a knot?
One knot is 1.15078 mph.
How fast is 20 knots in mph?
20 knots is 23.02 mph.
Why do ships and aircraft use knots?
A nautical mile is one minute of latitude, so speed in knots maps directly onto position on a chart.
What wind speed is a Category 1 hurricane?
64 knots, which is 74 mph or 119 km/h.
Worth Knowing
Nautical Mile vs Mile
A nautical mile is 1,852 metres, about 15 percent longer than the statute mile of 1,609.344 metres, and equals one minute of latitude.