Kilometers to Nautical Miles

About Km to Nautical Miles Conversion

Converting kilometers to nautical miles helps travelers understand flight distances, cruise routes, and aviation communications. While booking sites show km, pilots and maritime professionals think in nautical miles.

When You Need This

• Flight planning — Understanding distances in aviation terms
• Cruise itineraries — Converting port-to-port distances
• Aviation enthusiasts — Following flight tracking data
• Yacht charters — Planning sailing routes from km-based maps

The Conversion

One kilometer equals approximately 0.54 nautical miles (exactly 1/1.852). Think of it as roughly half — 1000 km ≈ 540 nmi.

Flight Context

Airline pilots file flight plans in nautical miles. A transatlantic flight of 5,500 km equates to about 2,970 nautical miles — a typical cruise time of 7-8 hours at 400 knots.

How to Convert Km to Nautical Miles

Using This Tool

1. Enter kilometers in the top field
2. Read nautical miles appearing below
3. Copy the result for flight planning or logs

Flight Distances

Popular routes converted:

• London to New York (5,570 km) = 3,007 nmi
• Sydney to Los Angeles (12,050 km) = 6,507 nmi
• Dubai to Singapore (5,840 km) = 3,153 nmi
• Paris to Tokyo (9,730 km) = 5,254 nmi

Cruise Distances

Sea voyage distances:

• Caribbean island hopping (200 km) = 108 nmi per day
• Mediterranean crossing (500 km) = 270 nmi
• Transatlantic cruise (5,500 km) = 2,970 nmi

The Formula

Nautical miles = km ÷ 1.852. For quick estimates, divide km by 2 and add 10% (gives ~0.55).

Features

Aviation-Focused Reference

The quick reference shows popular flight routes converted. Compare booking site distances with actual nautical miles.

Precise Results

Calculations accurate to 8 decimal places for flight planning applications.

Bidirectional

Convert nautical miles to km by entering in the bottom field. Useful when crew logs are in nmi but you want km.

Travel Companion

• Use anywhere — Check distances at the airport or on the ship
• No sign-up — Immediate access
• Offline capable — Works after initial page load

Easy Copy

Copy values for flight logs, travel journals, or navigation apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nautical miles is 1000 km?

1000 km equals 539.96 nautical miles — essentially 540 nmi for practical purposes.

Are "air miles" the same as nautical miles?

No. Airline loyalty "miles" are a marketing term that may not reflect actual distance. Real flight distances are measured in nautical miles or kilometers. Some programs award points based on fare class, not distance.

Why do airlines show distances in km but pilots use nautical miles?

Marketing teams use km because passengers understand metric distances. Pilots use nautical miles because aviation navigation, charts, and air traffic control are all based on nautical miles worldwide.

How fast is a typical cruise ship?

Cruise ships typically travel 20-25 knots (37-46 km/h). At 20 knots, a ship covers 480 nmi (889 km) per day.

What's the longest flight in nautical miles?

Singapore to New York (SQ22) covers about 9,534 nmi (17,660 km), taking roughly 18-19 hours. This is currently the world's longest commercial flight.