UnitConKnots to MPH Converter
Convert knots to miles per hour for aviation weather reports, marine navigation, and general audience speed communication. Knots are the standard in maritime and aviation contexts but are unfamiliar to most land-based audiences.
Formula
Multiply knots by 1.15078 to get miles per hour. To reverse, divide miles per hour by 1.15078 to get knots.
Quick reference
| Knot (kn) | Mile per Hour (mph) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 5.753897 |
| 10 | 11.50779 |
| 15 | 17.26169 |
| 20 | 23.01559 |
| 30 | 34.52338 |
| 50 | 57.53897 |
| 100 | 115.0779 |
| 200 | 230.1559 |
| 400 | 460.3118 |
| 500 | 575.3897 |
About these units
Knot
The knot (one nautical mile per hour) was originally measured by throwing a knotted rope (chip log) overboard and counting how many knots passed through a sailor's hands in 30 seconds. Standardized after the nautical mile was fixed at 1852 m in 1929.
Mile per Hour
Miles per hour is the everyday speed unit in the US and UK, used for land vehicles, weather, and casual speed references. It is based on the statute mile of 1609.344 meters.
Frequently asked questions
20 × 1.15078 ≈ 23.02 mph.
Aviation adopted knots because nautical miles align with degrees of latitude on charts, simplifying navigation. One degree of latitude = 60 nautical miles, so speeds in knots directly relate to navigation calculations.
500 × 1.15078 ≈ 575.4 mph — roughly the cruising speed of a commercial airliner.