Convert kilometers to nautical miles

Precise decimal and fraction answers

The conversion in nautical miles rounded to six significant decimal places is 1 km = 0.539957 nmi. The precise fraction answer is ²⁵⁰/₄₆₃ nmi.

How many nautical miles are in a kilometer?

There are 0.54 nautical miles in one kilometer. A kilometer is 54.00% of a nautical mile. A nautical mile is 85.2% longer than one kilometer.

Kilometers to nautical miles conversion factor and formulas

The conversion factor between kilometers and nautical miles is 1.852. This represents the ratio of kilometers per one nautical mile. To calculate the value in nautical miles, we can either divide by the conversion factor or multiply by its inverse.

Division

To convert from kilometers to nautical miles, divide kilometers by 1.852.
The formula is expressed as:
km ÷ 1.852 = nmi

Multiplication

Alternatively we can multiply by the inverse conversion factor to get the same result.
The inverse of 1.852 is 1/1.852 or 0.54. To convert from kilometers to nautical miles, multiply kilometers by 0.54.
The formula is expressed as:
km × 0.54 = nmi

About this conversion

Converting kilometers to nautical miles is a conversion between units from separate unit systems - kilometers are metric (SI) defined units while nautical miles are International Hydrographic .

About Kilometers

Within the SI (metric) system of measurement, the kilometer is officially defined as being equal to 1,000 meters. It is commonly used as measurement for geographic distances in similar circumstances where a mile would be used in the U.S. Internationally it is spelled 'kilometre' whereas the U.S. spells it 'kilometer'. The symbol for a kilometer is km however k is sometimes used.

About Nautical miles

The nautical mile is a distance measurement, usually between two geographic points. It is officially defined as being equal to 1,852 meters. The nautical mile, or international nautical mile can be found abbreviated as either M, NM, nmi or nm. Historically the nautical mile was defined as 1/16th of a degree of the earth's latitude. Given this correlation with latitude and longitude, the nautical mile has closely been associated with measurements for navigation. This tradition continues to this day as it remains the unit used to measure distance by the maritime and aviation industries. The prevalent unit of speed over water and air is the knot (nautical miles per hour).

Reverse this conversion

Convert from nautical miles to kilometers instead.

References and Citations

1. International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) The International System of Units (SI)
2. International Hydrographic Organization Resolutions of the International Hydrographic Organization