Wind Speed Unit Converter
Convert wind speed between m/s, km/h, mph, knots, and Beaufort scale.
Includes Beaufort description and wind turbine cut-in reference.
Wind Speed Conversion
Wind speed is measured in different units depending on the context. Meteorologists use m/s and km/h, sailors use knots, and forecasts often use the Beaufort scale.
Conversion factors:
- 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h = 1.944 knots = 2.237 mph
- 1 knot = 1.852 km/h = 0.514 m/s
- 1 mph = 1.609 km/h = 0.447 m/s
Beaufort Scale:
| Force | Speed (m/s) | Description | Sea state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0–0.2 | Calm | Glassy |
| 1 | 0.3–1.5 | Light air | Ripples |
| 2 | 1.6–3.3 | Light breeze | Small wavelets |
| 3 | 3.4–5.4 | Gentle breeze | Large wavelets |
| 4 | 5.5–7.9 | Moderate breeze | Small waves |
| 5 | 8.0–10.7 | Fresh breeze | Moderate waves |
| 6 | 10.8–13.8 | Strong breeze | Large waves |
| 7 | 13.9–17.1 | Near gale | Sea heaps up |
| 8 | 17.2–20.7 | Gale | High waves |
| 9 | 20.8–24.4 | Strong gale | Very high waves |
| 10 | 24.5–28.4 | Storm | Exceptionally high waves |
| 11 | 28.5–32.6 | Violent storm | Phenomenal |
| 12 | 32.7+ | Hurricane force | Air filled with foam |
Wind turbine operating range:
- Cut-in speed: 3–4 m/s (turbine starts generating)
- Rated speed: 10–14 m/s (full rated power)
- Cut-out speed: 20–25 m/s (turbine shuts down to protect itself)
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This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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