Feet Per Minute to Knots
An instant feet per minute-to-knots converter, with the formula and a reference table below.
| Feet Per Minute | Knots |
|---|---|
| 1 ft/min | 0.009875 kn |
| 2 ft/min | 0.019749 kn |
| 3 ft/min | 0.029624 kn |
| 5 ft/min | 0.049374 kn |
| 10 ft/min | 0.098747 kn |
| 25 ft/min | 0.246868 kn |
| 50 ft/min | 0.493737 kn |
| 100 ft/min | 0.987473 kn |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Feet Per Minute field.
- The Knots figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Knots field converts back to Feet Per Minute the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Feet Per Minute to Knots formula
To convert feet per minute to knots, multiply by 0.00987473002.
kn = ft/min × 0.00987473002
Why this factor: the foot per minute and the knot are both defined against the meter per second, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.00987473002 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.00987473002 — or use the Knots to Feet Per Minute converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Given 30 ft/min, multiplying by 0.00987473002 yields 0.296242 kn.
30 ft/min × 0.00987473002 = 0.296242 kn
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a foot per minute?
Feet per minute is the conventional speed unit for slow, steady industrial motion.
Definition: Exactly 0.00508 meter per second — one sixtieth of a foot per second.
Where it is used: HVAC air velocity, lift and hoist speeds, and machining surface speeds in the US.
What is a knot?
A knot is one nautical mile per hour, the speed unit of ships and aircraft.
Definition: Exactly 1,852 meters per 3,600 seconds, so about 0.514444 m/s.
Where it is used: Marine and aviation speeds, and wind speed in forecasts for sailors and pilots.
Worth knowing: Say 'knots', never 'knots per hour' — the 'per hour' is already inside the unit.
Feet Per Minute vs Knots
The foot per minute is an imperial unit while the knot is a specialized unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many knots are in a foot per minute?
One foot per minute equals 0.00987473002 knots.
What is the formula to convert feet per minute to knots?
Multiply the number of feet per minute by 0.00987473002. To reverse it, divide by 0.00987473002 instead.
How do I convert knots back to feet per minute?
Divide by 0.00987473002, which is the same as multiplying by 101.268591.
How many knots are in 10 feet per minute?
10 ft/min works out to 0.098747 kn.
Is there anything to watch out for with knots?
Say 'knots', never 'knots per hour' — the 'per hour' is already inside the unit.
How is the foot per minute defined?
Exactly 0.00508 meter per second — one sixtieth of a foot per second.