Kilometres to Nautical miles Converter

This converter changes a distance in kilometres into nautical miles, the unit used in aviation, shipping and marine navigation. Kilometres are the standard metric unit for measuring distance on land, but pilots, sailors and chart-makers work in nautical miles because one nautical mile equals one minute of latitude, which makes plotting a course on a nautical chart or calculating flight distance more straightforward. Enter any value in kilometres into the single field and the tool instantly returns the equivalent in nautical miles, using the precise factor of 0.539956803 nautical miles per kilometre. The result updates as you type, so you can quickly check a figure or test several distances one after another. Below the calculator you will find the formula in full, a worked example showing how 10 kilometres becomes 5.39956803 nautical miles, and a quick-reference table covering common distances from 1 km to 100 km so you can look up a figure without doing the maths yourself. The reverse conversion is shown too, since one nautical mile equals 1.852 kilometres, letting you work in whichever direction you need. This tool suits students learning navigation, boaties and pilots planning a passage, and anyone converting distances for study, travel or trade where nautical miles are the expected unit.

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Value in kilometres (km)

0.539956803 nmi

1 km =0.539956803 nmi

1 nmi =1.852 km

The formula

Multiply kilometres by 0.539956803 to get nautical miles. In symbols, nmi = km × 0.539956803. To go the other way, multiply nautical miles by 1.852 to get kilometres.

Worked example

Convert 10 kilometres to nautical miles: 10 × 0.539956803 = 5.39956803 nautical miles.

Quick reference

Kilometres	Nautical miles
1 km	0.539956803 nmi
2 km	1.07991361 nmi
5 km	2.69978402 nmi
10 km	5.39956803 nmi
25 km	13.4989201 nmi
50 km	26.9978402 nmi
100 km	53.9956803 nmi

Frequently asked questions

How many nautical miles are in one kilometre?

One kilometre equals 0.539956803 nautical miles. Multiply the number of kilometres by 0.539956803 to convert.

What is the formula to convert kilometres to nautical miles?

Kilometres times 0.539956803 equals nautical miles. To reverse it, multiply nautical miles by 1.852 to get kilometres.

Is the km to nmi conversion exact?

The factor comes from the standard definitions of the metre and the international inch (0.0254 m exactly), so the underlying conversion is exact. Displayed results are rounded for readability.

Who this converter is for

This converter is for students, tradespeople, travellers and anyone who needs to change kilometres into nautical miles quickly and accurately.