Plain English Meaning

Knots and miles per hour are two ways of measuring speed. To change knots into miles per hour, multiply the knots figure by about 1.15. So 100 knots is roughly 115 mph.

Full Definition

A simple unit conversion used to translate aircraft or wind speed from knots (nautical miles per hour) to statute miles per hour (mph). One knot equals approximately 1.15 mph, so multiplying a speed in knots by 1.15 gives the equivalent speed in mph. The reverse conversion (mph to knots) uses a factor of approximately 0.87.

Context Anchor

Seen when comparing aviation speeds, winds, or aircraft performance figures with speeds written in everyday miles per hour.

Derivation

A knot is one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile (about 6,076 feet) is longer than a statute mile (5,280 feet), which is why one knot is slightly faster than one mph. The conversion factor 1.15 simply reflects that between the two types of mile.