What is a chain in length measurement?

A chain is a traditional surveying unit equal to 66 feet or 20.1168 meters, often used historically in land measurement and surveying.

Why should I convert chains to meters?

Converting chains to meters allows integration of historical surveying measurements into modern systems that use the metric SI unit for length.

Is the conversion from chain to meter always exact?

Conversions are based on the common definition of the chain, but because historical chain lengths have varied, exactness depends on the original measurement's definition.

How to Convert from Chain [ch] to Meter [m]

Convert length measurements from the traditional surveying unit chain [ch] to the SI base unit meter [m] easily and accurately using this online conversion tool.

Chain [ch]

Meter [m]

Please check your input. It must be a valid numeric value.

Chain [ch] to Meter [m] Conversion Table

Chain [ch]	Meter [m]

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

Enter the ending number (positive decimal or integer > Start Value). Example: 10, 50, 100.

Interval

Enter the step size (positive decimal > 0 and < End Value – Start Value). Example: 1.0, 2.5.

Chain [ch] to Meter [m] Conversion Table
Chain [ch]	Meter [m]

Explore More Length Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This converter allows you to transform length values expressed in chains, a traditional unit used primarily in surveying and land measurement, to meters, the modern standard SI unit for length.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value in chains [ch] you want to convert.
Select 'chain [ch]' as the source unit and 'meter [m]' as the target unit.
Click the convert button to see the equivalent length in meters [m].

Key Features

Converts lengths from chain [ch] to meter [m] instantly.
Browser-based and user-friendly interface.
Supports updating historical surveying data to modern units.
Facilitates integration of traditional land measurements into GIS and engineering applications.

Examples

3 chains equal 60.3504 meters (3 × 20.1168 m).
0.5 chains equal 10.0584 meters (0.5 × 20.1168 m).

Common Use Cases

Interpreting and converting historical cadastral survey data to modern units for land registration.
Translating older engineering and railway survey records that use imperial units.
Converting land measurements from legacy documents into equivalent metric values for GIS projects.

Tips & Best Practices

Verify the definition of the chain unit used in your source data before converting.
Use the tool for approximate conversions when fractional link precision is not critical.
Apply conversions carefully when integrating with modern mapping or engineering data to maintain consistency.

Limitations

Chain definitions have varied historically and regionally; ensure source measurements use the common Gunter's chain definition for accuracy.
Conversion precision may be affected if the chain units in your data include fractional links or other variants not covered by the standard formula.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chain in length measurement?: A chain is a traditional surveying unit equal to 66 feet or 20.1168 meters, often used historically in land measurement and surveying.
Why should I convert chains to meters?: Converting chains to meters allows integration of historical surveying measurements into modern systems that use the metric SI unit for length.
Is the conversion from chain to meter always exact?: Conversions are based on the common definition of the chain, but because historical chain lengths have varied, exactness depends on the original measurement's definition.

Key Terminology

Chain [ch]: A traditional unit of length equal to 66 feet or 20.1168 meters, used historically in surveying and land measurement.
Meter [m]: The SI base unit of length defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum during 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Gunter's Chain: A specific form of the chain divided into 100 links, typically equal to 4 rods of 16.5 feet each.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the length of 1 chain in meters?

16.5 meters

20.1168 meters

66 meters

What traditional use does the chain unit have?

Measuring temperature

Land surveying and cadastral measurements

Weighing agricultural produce

Why must care be taken when converting chains from historical data?

Because chains measure time, not length

Because chain definitions have varied historically

Because meters are not standard units

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