What is a chain in length measurement?

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

What is a mil and where is it used?

A mil (or thou) is a unit equal to one thousandth of an inch, used mainly in U.S. manufacturing and engineering for specifying very small lengths.

Why convert from chain to mil?

Conversion is useful to interpret historic surveying data in terms of very small measurements needed for precision manufacturing, electronics design, and mechanical fabrication.

How to Convert from Chain [ch] to Mil [mil, thou]

Learn how to convert length measurements from chain, a traditional surveying unit, to mil (thou), a unit used for precise small lengths in manufacturing and engineering. This guide covers the use, features, and limitations of converting chain to mil.

Chain [ch]

Mil [mil, thou]

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

Chain [ch] to Mil [mil, thou] Conversion Table

Chain [ch]	Mil [mil, thou]

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 Mil [mil, thou] Conversion Table
Chain [ch]	Mil [mil, thou]

Explore More Length Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This unit converter transforms length values between chain, a historical surveying unit, and mil, a small length unit used in manufacturing and engineering. It helps integrate measurements from land surveying into high-precision applications.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value measured in chain.
Select 'chain [ch]' as the from-unit and 'mil [mil, thou]' as the to-unit.
Click the convert button to get the equivalent length in mil.
Review the result which shows the length converted per the defined formula.

Key Features

Converts length from chain [ch] to mil [mil, thou] based on defined conversion rates.
Supports understanding and usage in cadastral surveying, precision manufacturing, and electronics design.
Browser-based tool requiring no installation with easy-to-use interface.
Allows interpreting historical land survey records into fine manufacturing dimensions.

Examples

1 chain converts to 792,000 mil.
0.5 chain converts to 396,000 mil.

Common Use Cases

Converting cadastral surveying data to specifications used in modern electronics and fabrication.
Interpreting historical property deeds and survey plans for land registration involving fine measurements.
Specifying small mechanical tolerances, such as film thickness or PCB layout, from large survey distances.

Tips & Best Practices

Validate the source of measurement as chain is mostly a historical unit.
Be cautious when converting large values due to potentially huge numbers in mil units.
Cross-check converted results to avoid precision loss or overflow in software systems.

Limitations

The large scale difference between chain and mil can result in extremely large converted values, possibly unsuitable for some practical uses without further normalization.
Chains are largely historical and may not fit modern surveying standards, so conversions should be verified carefully.
Numerical rounding or overflow might affect precision when handling conversions of very large measurements.

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, commonly used historically for land measurement.
What is a mil and where is it used?: A mil (or thou) is a unit equal to one thousandth of an inch, used mainly in U.S. manufacturing and engineering for specifying very small lengths.
Why convert from chain to mil?: Conversion is useful to interpret historic surveying data in terms of very small measurements needed for precision manufacturing, electronics design, and mechanical fabrication.

Key Terminology

Chain [ch]: A traditional surveying length unit equal to 66 feet, historically used for land measurement.
Mil [mil, thou]: A small length unit equal to 0.001 inch, used mainly for specifying thicknesses and tolerances in manufacturing.
Cadastral Surveying: Surveying that defines land boundaries and parcels, often using units like chains.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the length of one chain in feet?

50 feet

66 feet

100 feet

A mil is equal to what fraction of an inch?

One thousandth

One hundredth

One tenth

Which field commonly uses the mil unit?

Land surveying

Manufacturing and engineering

Agriculture

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