How to Convert Feet per second to Knots (ft/s to kn)
Speed conversions come up with expressway limits in km/h, foreign car specs in mph and wind speeds reported in knots by the Meteorological Service. This guide shows how to convert feet per second into knots by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert feet per second to knots, multiply the value by 0.5924843132. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 1.687808399). For a quick estimate, multiply by about 0.59.
Knots = feet per second × 0.5924843132
Worked examples
- 3 ft/s = 1.7775 kn
- 12.5 ft/s = 7.4061 kn
- 75 ft/s = 44.4363 kn
Feet per second to Knots table
| Feet per second | Knots |
|---|---|
| 1 ft/s | 0.592484 kn |
| 2 ft/s | 1.185 kn |
| 5 ft/s | 2.9624 kn |
| 10 ft/s | 5.9248 kn |
| 20 ft/s | 11.8497 kn |
| 25 ft/s | 14.8121 kn |
| 50 ft/s | 29.6242 kn |
| 100 ft/s | 59.2484 kn |
| 250 ft/s | 148.1211 kn |
| 500 ft/s | 296.2422 kn |
| 1,000 ft/s | 592.4843 kn |
Common questions
Is ft/s to kn exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the Knots to Feet per second converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Dropping the units
A bare number without a unit is easy to misread later. Always write the unit with the result.
Mixing similar-sounding units
US and imperial gallons, pints and tons are different sizes, and decimal kilobytes differ from binary kibibytes.
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Background
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
A conversion table is handy for common values, but a calculator is faster and avoids interpolation errors for anything in between.
For everyday use, three or four significant figures are usually enough. Engineering, science and trade documents may need more, and rounding should happen only at the end of a calculation.
For any value, use the Feet per second to Knots Converter or browse all speed converters.
Run your own numbers: Feet per second to Knots Converter