Nautical Speed Converter
Convert between knots, mph, km/h and the Beaufort wind scale for marine navigation
Conversion Result
20 Knots (kn) = 23.02 Miles per hour (mph)
All Speed Conversions
Knots
20 kn
Miles per hour
23.02 mph
Kilometers per hour
37.04 km/h
Meters per second
10.29 m/s
Beaufort Wind Scale
Current conditions at 20 knots:
Force 5: Fresh breeze
Moderate waves
| Force | Knots | Description | Sea State | Wave Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0-1 | Calm | Sea like mirror | 0 m |
| 1 | 1-3 | Light air | Ripples | 0-0.1 m |
| 2 | 4-6 | Light breeze | Small wavelets | 0.1-0.3 m |
| 3 | 7-10 | Gentle breeze | Large wavelets | 0.3-1 m |
| 4 | 11-16 | Moderate breeze | Small waves | 1-1.5 m |
| 5 | 17-21 | Fresh breeze | Moderate waves | 1.5-2.5 m |
| 6 | 22-27 | Strong breeze | Large waves | 2.5-4 m |
| 7 | 28-33 | Near gale | Sea heaps up | 4-5.5 m |
| 8 | 34-40 | Gale | Moderately high waves | 5.5-7.5 m |
| 9 | 41-47 | Strong gale | High waves | 7-10 m |
| 10 | 48-55 | Storm | Very high waves | 9-12.5 m |
| 11 | 56-63 | Violent storm | Exceptionally high waves | 11.5-16 m |
| 12 | 64+ | Hurricane | Air filled with spray | 14+ m |
Navigation Reference
Time to travel 1 nautical mile
3 minutes
Distance in 1 hour
20 NM / 37.04 km
About Nautical Units
Knot: 1 nautical mile per hour. Used for ships and aircraft.
Nautical Mile: 1,852 meters or 1.15078 statute miles. Based on one minute of latitude.
Beaufort Scale: Developed in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort, originally based on sail conditions.