Convert Kilometres per Hour to Knots

Convert Kilometres per Hour (km/h) to Knots (kn) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

kn = km/h × 0.5399568035

About Kilometres per Hour

A kilometre per hour (km/h) = 1/3.6 m/s - the universal road speed unit across most of the world. Walking pace ~5-6 km/h; jogging 9-12 km/h; elite marathon runners average 20-21 km/h. High-speed rail (TGV, Shinkansen, ICE) 250-350 km/h; TGV record 574.8 km/h. Category 5 hurricane ≥252 km/h; Thrust SSC land speed record 1,228 km/h (Mach 1.02). 1 km/h = 0.2778 m/s = 0.6214 mph = 0.5400 kn.

About Knots

A knot (kn) = 1 nautical mile per hour = 1,852/3,600 m/s ≈ 0.51444 m/s - the universal speed unit for aviation and maritime navigation (ICAO and IMO standard). GA aircraft cruise 100-140 kn; commercial airliners 450-480 kn; Concorde 1,176 kn (Mach 2). Container ships 18-22 kn; QM2 exceeds 30 kn. Beaufort Force 12 hurricane begins at 64 kn. Gulf Stream surface current 2-4 kn. 1 kn = 1.852 km/h = 1.15078 mph.

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