💨 Wind Speed Converter
Convert a wind speed between knots, mph, km/h, and m/s, read off the Beaufort force, and see at a glance whether it is light-wind, sport-kite, or too-strong weather for flying.
💨 Converted wind speed
🧭 Beaufort scale
On land: Raises dust and loose paper; small branches move.
🪁 Can I fly?
Steady, powerful wind that flies dual-line sport and stunt kites well; single-line kites pull firmly.
General guidance only. Gusts, terrain, and your kite and skill all matter — kite flying and kiteboarding are wind sports with real risks, so get proper instruction and use your own judgement before flying.
Read the wind like a flyer
Forecasts, wind meters, and kite specs rarely agree on units — one gives knots, another mph, a third m/s. Converting them to a single scale, and to a Beaufort force, makes it easy to compare the forecast against what a kite actually wants.
Pair this with the Beaufort Scale Guide for the full force-by-force reference, and with the kite size calculator once you know the wind you will be riding in.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do you convert between knots, mph, km/h, and m/s?
Every unit is anchored to the knot using the exact factors 1 knot = 1.15078 mph = 1.852 km/h = 0.514444 m/s. The tool converts your input to knots first, then out to each unit, so all four figures are always consistent. For example, 15 knots is about 17.3 mph, 27.8 km/h, and 7.7 m/s.
What is the Beaufort scale and how is the force worked out?
The Beaufort scale rates wind from force 0 (calm, under 1 knot) to force 12 (hurricane force, 64+ knots) with named steps in between — light breeze (force 2, 4–6 kt), fresh breeze (force 5, 17–21 kt), near gale (force 7, 28–33 kt), and so on. We map your wind speed to a force using the standard WMO knot thresholds and show the matching description.
What wind is best for flying a kite?
As rough guidance: under ~5 knots is usually too light; ~5–12 knots suits light-wind and single-line kites; ~12–18 knots is a great sport- and stunt-kite window; ~18–28 knots is strong wind for experienced flyers and sturdy kites; and above ~28 knots (near gale) it is too strong and dangerous. Gusts, terrain, and your kite all matter, so treat these as starting points.
Is this a substitute for a real wind reading and instruction?
No. Figures here are general estimates. Kite flying and kiteboarding are wind sports with real risks — get proper instruction, check a real anemometer or forecast on the day, and use your own judgement before you fly.