Knot to Foot per Hour

A knot is one nautical mile per hour, where a nautical mile equals exactly 1,852 meters. It's the standard speed unit in maritime and aviation contexts.

1 knot = 1 nautical mile/hour = 1,852 m/h = 1.852 km/h = 0.514 m/s. One nautical mile = 1,852 meters exactly.

To km/h: × 1.852. To mph: × 1.151. To m/s: × 0.514. To ft/s: × 1.688.

Ship cruising speeds (cruise ships: 20–25 knots), aircraft speeds (Boeing 747: 490 knots cruise), wind speed in aviation weather reports (METAR), and sailing.

Fastest ship: 60+ knots (naval vessels). Blue whale swim: 5–20 knots. Jet stream winds: 80–140 knots. Hurricane-force winds: 64+ knots.

Saying 'knots per hour' — incorrect! A knot already includes 'per hour.' Just say 'knots.' Also, confusing nautical and statute miles.

1 knot ≈ 1.85 km/h. Roughly: 10 knots ≈ 20 km/h. Remember: knots are for sea and sky, km/h and mph are for land.

Foot per hour measures distance in feet traveled over one hour. Used for very slow movements in imperial units.

1 ft/h = 0.000085 m/s = 0.0003048 km/h = 0.3048 m/h.

To ft/s: ÷ 3,600. To mph: ÷ 5,280. To m/s: × 0.000085.

Glacier movement in US studies, very slow industrial processes, and some geological measurements.

Some glaciers move at 50–500 ft/h. Very slow conveyor systems might use this unit.

Confusing with ft/min (60× faster) or ft/s (3,600× faster).

5,280 ft/h = 1 mph. Extremely slow. Rarely used outside specialized contexts.