Unit Converter
Convert From Nautical Miles to Kilometers and Vice Versa
Nautical Miles ↔ Kilometers
Type in either nautical miles or kilometers — it’ll convert to the other automatically!
🎯 Interactive Converter
10 nmi = 18.52 km
🌊 What is a Nautical Mile?
A nautical mile is a unit of distance used in aviation, maritime, and navigation. It is based on the Earth's circumference and equals exactly 1,852 meters or 1.852 kilometers. It's designed so that 1 minute of latitude equals 1 nautical mile.
📏 What is a Kilometer?
A kilometer is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 1,000 meters. It's used worldwide for measuring distances on land, such as road signs and map scales.
🧠 Quick Comparison
| Unit | Equivalent | Used In |
|---|---|---|
| 1 nautical mile | 1.852 kilometers | Maritime, aviation, navigation |
| 1 kilometer | 0.53996 nautical miles | Road travel, mapping, science |
🧮 How to Convert
Nautical Miles to Kilometers: km = nmi × 1.852
Kilometers to Nautical Miles: nmi = km ÷ 1.852
Example:
10 nautical miles × 1.852 = 18.52 km
💡 Pro Tip
When flying or sailing internationally, distances and speeds are always given in nautical miles and knots (1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour). Use this converter when planning ocean travel or interpreting pilot navigation logs.
🎉 Did You Know?
The nautical mile was officially adopted by the U.S. and U.K. in the 20th century and is based on the Earth's geometry: one minute of latitude = one nautical mile.
🛫 Real-World Distance Examples
- 1 nautical mile – Slightly longer than 1 land mile
- 5 nmi – Range of a small coastal ferry
- 500 nmi – Distance from Dubai to Mumbai by sea
- 2,700 nmi – Transatlantic flight distance
📊 Nautical Miles to Kilometers Conversion Chart
| Nautical Miles (nmi) | Kilometers (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.852 |
| 5 | 9.26 |
| 10 | 18.52 |
| 50 | 92.6 |
| 100 | 185.2 |
| 500 | 926 |
| 1000 | 1852 |
📜 Timeline: Evolution of the Nautical Mile
- 1600s: Mariners start using minutes of latitude to measure sea distance
- 1929: International nautical mile standardized at 1,852 meters
- 1954: U.S. adopts international nautical mile standard
🌍 When to Use Nautical Miles vs Kilometers
- 🛳️ Nautical Miles: Used in aviation, shipping, maritime navigation, and by the military
- 🚗 Kilometers: Used in land travel, car speedometers, and international road systems
- 📏 Tip: Multiply by 1.852 or divide by 1.852 to switch quickly