Wind speed converter
Knots, m/s, km/h, mph and Beaufort, side by side.
Wind speed converter
Type a wind speed in any unit. Get all the others, the Beaufort number, and what it means for a kite session.
Knots
18
m/s
9.3
km/h
33
mph
21
On the water
Beaufort 5 · Fresh breeze
Prime kiting wind for most riders and weights.
Why kiters need this
Forecast sites mix units freely: Windguru defaults to knots, many European forecasts use m/s, weather apps love km/h, and US sources report mph. One number in the wrong unit is the difference between a perfect session and a wasted drive. This converter shows all four at once, plus the Beaufort number and an honest read of what that wind means on the water.
Learning to read forecasts properly? Start with how to read a wind forecast and what wind speed you need, then feed the number into the kite size calculator.
FAQ
How do I convert knots to m/s?
Multiply knots by 0.514. So 18 knots is about 9.3 m/s. Going the other way, multiply m/s by 1.94 to get knots: 10 m/s is about 19.4 knots.
How many km/h or mph is one knot?
One knot is exactly 1.852 km/h and about 1.151 mph. A 20-knot forecast is therefore about 37 km/h or 23 mph.
What wind speed is good for kitesurfing?
Most riders are comfortable between about 12 and 25 knots (22-46 km/h). Below about 7 knots regular kites will not fly usefully; 15-20 knots is the sweet spot for most weights; above 30 knots is for experienced riders on their smallest kites.
What is the Beaufort scale in knots?
Beaufort 4 (moderate breeze) is 11-16 knots, Beaufort 5 (fresh breeze) 17-21 knots, Beaufort 6 (strong breeze) 22-27 knots and Beaufort 7 (near gale) 28-33 knots. Kiters mostly live between Beaufort 4 and 6.