Nautical Mile Converter
The international nautical mile is exactly 1,852 metres, the standard distance unit at sea and in the air. Enter a distance in nautical miles to convert it to statute miles, kilometres, metres, feet, and yards. Because one nautical mile is about one minute of latitude, it ties directly to the latitude scale on a chart, which is why it remains the unit of choice for navigation.
Nautical mile conversions
1 nautical mile = 1,852 metres (exact)
= 1.852 kilometres
= 1.150779448 statute miles
= 6,076.115486 feet
= 2,025.371829 yards
Statute miles use 1 mile = 1,609.344 m, feet use 1 ft = 0.3048 m, and yards use 1 yd = 0.9144 m.
Quick reference
- 1 nautical mile is about 1.15 statute miles.
- 1 nautical mile is exactly 1.852 kilometres.
- One knot equals one nautical mile per hour.
- One nautical mile is about one minute of latitude.
Nautical mile: frequently asked questions
How long is a nautical mile?
The international nautical mile is exactly 1,852 metres by definition. That is about 1.15078 statute (land) miles, 1.852 kilometres, or 6,076.12 feet. It was originally defined as one minute of latitude along a meridian.
Why do mariners use nautical miles?
Because one nautical mile equals about one minute of arc of latitude, distances on a chart relate directly to the latitude scale on the chart's side. It also makes speed simple: one knot is one nautical mile per hour, so distance divided by speed gives time directly.
What is the difference between a nautical mile and a statute mile?
A statute mile, the land mile, is 1,609.344 metres. A nautical mile is 1,852 metres, about 15 percent longer. One nautical mile equals roughly 1.15078 statute miles, and one statute mile equals about 0.868976 nautical miles.
Is the nautical mile the same everywhere?
The international nautical mile of exactly 1,852 metres has been the standard since 1929 and is used internationally. A few older national definitions differed slightly, but the 1,852 metre value is the one used in modern navigation and in this converter.
Official sources
- NOAA Office of Coast Survey: nautical charts and units.
- NIST: unit conversions (nautical mile, mile, foot, yard).
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.