Easily convert nautical miles, knots, and other maritime units with our free Nautical Measure Converter. Perfect for sailors, pilots, and marine navigation.
Nautical Measure Converter
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FAQs – Nautical Measure Converter
Q1. What is a nautical mile?
A nautical mile is a unit of distance used in marine, aviation, and air navigation. It’s defined exactly as 1,852 meters roughly equivalent to one minute of latitude on Earth.
Q2. Why use nautical miles instead of ordinary (statute) miles or kilometers?
Because they align directly with the Earth’s latitude-longitude coordinate system, making navigation and mapping more intuitive.
Q3. What is a knot?
A knot is a measure of speed specifically, one nautical mile per hour.
Q4. How does a nautical mile compare to a statute mile?
One nautical mile equals approximately 1.15078 statute miles (~6,076 ft). A statute mile is 5,280 feet, while a nautical mile is 6,076 feet, making the difference about 796 feet.
Q5. How do I convert between nautical miles and kilometers or miles?
- To kilometers: multiply nautical miles by 1.852
- To statute miles: multiply by about 1.15078
Q6. Where did the nautical mile originate?
It was historically tied to the Earth’s meridian system: one minute of latitude equals one nautical mile. It was internationally standardized in 1929 to exactly 1,852 meters.