Convert Knots to Feet per Second
1 kn = 1.6878 ft/s
Conversion Table
| knots (kn) | feet per second (ft/s) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.843904 |
| 1 | 1.6878 |
| 2 | 3.3756 |
| 5 | 8.439 |
| 10 | 16.8781 |
| 25 | 42.1952 |
| 50 | 84.3904 |
| 100 | 168.78 |
| 250 | 421.95 |
| 500 | 843.9 |
| 1000 | 1687.81 |
How to Convert knots to feet per second
To convert knots to feet per second, multiply the value by the conversion factor:
For example: 10 kn = 16.8781 ft/s
About knots and feet per second
The Conversion Formula
To convert knots to feet per second, multiply the value by the conversion factor: 1 kn = 1.6878 ft/s. For a worked example, suppose you need to convert 25 kn to feet per second: 25 × 1.6878 = 42.1952 ft/s. To convert in the opposite direction, divide by 1.6878, or equivalently multiply by 0.592484.
About knots
The knot is a unit with a literal history: sailors used to measure speed by throwing a log overboard attached to a rope with knots tied at specific intervals. They counted the knots that slipped through their hands in a set time. One knot equals one nautical mile per hour. It remains the global standard for maritime and aviation operations. knots are commonly used in Ship speed, Aircraft airspeed, Cruise missile velocity, and Wind speed (Marine), Naval operations.
A large cruise ship travels at about 20-25 knots.
About feet per second
Feet per second (fps) is the imperial cousin to meters per second. It is widely used in ballistics to measure the muzzle velocity of firearms and arrows. It is also common in US engineering for fluid flow rates. One fps is exactly 0.3048 m/s. feet per second are commonly used in Bullet muzzle velocity, Archery arrow speed, Paintball marker speed, and Fluid dynamics (US), Crash test impact speed.
A paintball marker fires at about 300 fps.
When Would You Convert knots to feet per second?
Converting between knots and feet per second is one of the most common speed conversions. You might need this conversion when working with international specifications, following instructions written for a different measurement system, or comparing values across different standards. Having the conversion factor (1 kn = 1.6878 ft/s) memorized or bookmarked can save time in professional and everyday contexts alike.