Feet per second to knots (ft/s to knots) converter

What is a feet per second to knots converter?

A feet per second to knots converter is an online tool that turns a speed expressed in feet per second (ft/s) into its equivalent in knots, and back again. Feet per second is a common unit in physics, ballistics, and engineering, where motion is often described in customary units. The knot, equal to one nautical mile per hour, is the standard speed unit in marine navigation, aviation, and meteorology. Because these two worlds rarely use the same units, a quick converter saves you from juggling several intermediate steps by hand.

How it works

A knot is defined as one nautical mile (1,852 meters) per hour. One foot equals 0.3048 meters, so one foot per second covers 0.3048 meters every second, or 1,097.28 meters every hour. Dividing that distance by the length of a nautical mile gives the number of knots:

• 1 ft/s = 1,097.28 m/h ÷ 1,852 m = 0.5924838 knots
• 1 knot = 1,852 m/h ÷ 1,097.28 m/h ≈ 1.6878098 ft/s

The converter applies these ratios automatically. Type a value into either field and the other side updates instantly, so you can move from ft/s to knots or from knots to ft/s without choosing a direction first.

Formula

To convert feet per second to knots, multiply by the conversion factor:

$\text{knots} = \text{ft/s} \times 0.5924838$

To convert knots back to feet per second, multiply by the inverse factor:

$\text{ft/s} = \text{knots} \times 1.6878098$

Feet per second to knots conversion table

The table below lists common speeds in feet per second and their equivalents in knots, rounded to four decimal places.

Examples

Example 1: Converting 10 ft/s to knots

A current meter reads 10 feet per second. Multiply by the conversion factor:

$10 \text{ ft/s} \times 0.5924838 = 5.924838 \text{ knots}$

So 10 ft/s is about 5.92 knots.

Example 2: Converting 20 knots to feet per second

A weather report gives a wind speed of 20 knots and you need it in feet per second for a structural calculation:

$20 \text{ knots} \times 1.6878098 = 33.756197 \text{ ft/s}$

That is roughly 33.76 ft/s.

Example 3: A single foot per second

To see the base ratio, convert 1 ft/s:

$1 \text{ ft/s} \times 0.5924838 = 0.5924838 \text{ knots}$

Example 4: A fast object at 100 ft/s

A projectile traveling at 100 feet per second works out to:

$100 \text{ ft/s} \times 0.5924838 = 59.24838 \text{ knots}$

Notes

• A knot is one nautical mile per hour, where a nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters. This makes the knot a “speed” unit tied directly to distance over the Earth’s surface.
• The factors used here (0.5924838 and 1.6878098) are reciprocals of each other, so converting one way and then back returns your original value.
• Knots are written without an “s” abbreviation collision: 20 knots is correct, while “20 kn” is the formal symbol used on charts.
• Feet per second and knots are both speeds, so the conversion is purely a unit change and does not depend on the direction of travel.

Frequently asked questions

How many knots is 1 foot per second?

One foot per second equals about 0.5924838 knots. Multiply any ft/s value by 0.5924838 to get knots.

How many feet per second is 1 knot?

One knot equals about 1.6878098 feet per second. Multiply any knot value by 1.6878098 to get ft/s.

Why is a knot based on nautical miles instead of statute miles?

A nautical mile corresponds to one minute of latitude along a meridian, which makes knots especially convenient for navigation at sea and in the air. That is why marine and aviation charts use knots rather than miles per hour.

Is the conversion the same for wind speed and water current?

Yes. Both wind speed and water current are speeds, so the same factor applies. If you need a different speed unit, our speed converter handles ft/s, knots, km/h, and more in one place.

How do I convert knots directly to miles per hour?

A knot is about 1.15078 mph. For a dedicated tool, use our knots to mph converter.

Does the converter handle decimals and zero?

Yes. You can enter any decimal value, and entering 0 returns 0 on the other side. Clearing both fields shows no result.