Speed limits, weather reports, and vehicle specs use different units depending on the country and context. This converter handles the four most common speed units using meters per second as the internal reference point.
Conversion factors used
| Unit | Meters/second equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 km/h | 0.277778 m/s |
| 1 mph | 0.44704 m/s |
| 1 knot | 0.514444 m/s |
Worked examples
| From | To | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 100 km/h | mph | 62.14 mph |
| 60 mph | km/h | 96.56 km/h |
| 20 knots | km/h | 37.04 km/h |
Where each unit is commonly used
- km/h: most countries' road speed limits and vehicle speedometers.
- mph: road speed limits in the United States and United Kingdom.
- m/s: scientific and engineering contexts, including wind speed in some meteorological contexts.
- Knots: maritime and aviation navigation, based on nautical miles per hour.
References
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — official unit definitions
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert km/h to mph?
Multiply the km/h value by approximately 0.62137 to get mph.
What is a knot?
A knot is one nautical mile per hour, equal to about 1.852 km/h, used primarily in maritime and aviation navigation.
How do I convert m/s to km/h?
Multiply the m/s value by 3.6 to get km/h.