How many knots is 1 foot per second?

1 foot per second equals approximately 0.5925 knots. The exact factor is (0.3048 / 1852) × 3600 ≈ 0.5924838.

A knot (symbol: kn or kt) is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour. One nautical mile is defined as exactly 1852 meters, slightly longer than a statute mile (1609.344 m).

Why convert fps to knots?

Aviation and marine navigation use knots as the standard speed unit. Many US instruments report in fps or mph, so converting to knots is required for flight plans, ATC, and nautical charts.

How do I convert fps to knots manually?

Multiply the fps value by 0.5924838. For example, 100 fps × 0.5924838 = 59.25 kn. The factor is (0.3048 × 3600) / 1852.

Is this converter accurate for aviation use?

Yes. The factor 0.5924838 is accurate to 7 significant figures, sufficient for flight planning and aerodynamic calculations.

Feet per Second to Knots Converter

Enter a speed in feet per second to instantly convert it to knots and other common speed units.

Speed Input

ft/s

Quick presets

Factor: 1 ft/s = 0.59248 kn • 1 nautical mile = 6076.12 ft

Knots

—

Miles per Hour

—

mph

Kilometers per Hour

—

km/h

Copied!

Summary

This feet-per-second to knots converter applies the factor 0.5924838 (exactly 0.3048 / 1852 × 3600) to translate fps into nautical knots. One knot is one nautical mile (1852 m) per hour; one foot is 0.3048 m. Results also include mph and km/h so you can cross-check across common speed systems in a single step.

How it works

Enter a speed value in feet per second (ft/s) in the input field.
The converter multiplies ft/s by 0.5924838 to get knots.
mph is shown by multiplying ft/s by 0.6818182 (exact: 1/1.4667).
km/h is shown by multiplying ft/s by 1.09728 (0.3048 × 3600 / 1000).
Use the Copy button next to any result to copy it to the clipboard.
Switch direction with the reverse toggle to convert knots back to fps.

Use cases

Convert aircraft airspeed from fps to knots for ATC communication.
Translate ballistics muzzle velocity from fps to nautical knots for range tables.
Check wind speed in knots from anemometer readings in fps.
Convert ship speed data from fps measurements to knots for navigation logs.
Physics problems requiring knot equivalents of fps-based velocity.
Cross-reference speedometer readings across US and nautical unit systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-15 · Reviewed by Nham Vu