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Nautical Mile (nmi)

Also called: nmi, NM, sea mile

Definition: The international nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters, about 1.1508 statute miles, and is used in aviation and at sea; one knot is one nautical mile per hour.

Updated November 3, 2026 · How we check facts

The nautical mile is a unit of distance for navigation by sea and air. NIST lists it as exactly 1,852 meters, which is 1.852 kilometers. That makes it longer than the statute mile of 1,609.344 m. The two should not be confused in distance tables.

Formula

statute miles = nautical miles × 1.150779
kilometers = nautical miles × 1.852

Example

A 10-nautical-mile leg is 10 × 1.852 = 18.52 km, or 11.51 statute miles. A speed of 20 knots covers 20 nautical miles per hour, which is 23.02 statute miles per hour. Use the nautical miles to miles converter for other values.

Calculate it

Free toolPace CalculatorRunning pace, time and distance, in miles or km.

Related terms

Mile (mi)The statute mile is a unit of length equal to 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards; NIST lists it as exactly 1,609.344 meters.Knot (kn)A knot is a speed of one nautical mile per hour, which is exactly 1.852 km/h and about 0.5144 meters per second or 1.1508 mph.Meter (m)The meter is the SI base unit of length; exactly 100 centimeters, about 3.2808 feet, 39.37 inches or 1.0936 yards; the international foot is defined from it.Acre (ac)The acre is a US customary unit of area equal to exactly 43,560 square feet, 4,840 square yards or 160 square rods; NIST gives it as 4,046.8564224 square meters.BarThe bar is a metric unit of pressure defined as exactly 100,000 pascals (100 kPa), a little less than standard atmospheric pressure; one bar is 14.50377 psi.Centimeter (cm)The centimeter is a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter (0.01 m); exactly 2.54 centimeters make one inch.Cubic Foot (ft³)The cubic foot is a volume unit equal to a cube 1 foot on each side: 1,728 cubic inches, 0.02831685 cubic meters, about 28.317 liters or 7.48 US gallons.Cubic Meter (m³)The cubic meter is the SI unit of volume: a cube 1 meter on each side, equal to 1,000 liters, 1,000,000 cubic centimeters, 35.315 cubic feet or 1.308 cubic yards.

Sources

  1. NIST Guide to the SI (SP 811), Appendix B.8 — Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically