What is a chain in surveying terms?

A chain is a traditional surveying length unit equal to 66 feet, commonly known as Gunter's chain, and is subdivided into 100 links.

How many rods are in one chain?

One chain is nearly equal to 4 rods, specifically 3.999992 rods (US survey).

Why is the US survey foot important in this conversion?

This conversion assumes use of the US survey foot, which differs slightly from the international foot and affects measurement accuracy.

How to Convert from Chain [ch] to Rod (US survey) [rd]

Convert length measurements from chains to rods (US survey) using our easy online tool. Ideal for interpreting historical land surveys and property boundaries.

Chain [ch]

Rod (US survey) [rd]

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

Chain [ch] to Rod (US survey) [rd] Conversion Table

Chain [ch]	Rod (US survey) [rd]

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 Rod (US survey) [rd] Conversion Table
Chain [ch]	Rod (US survey) [rd]

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What Is This Tool?

This tool allows you to convert length measurements from the traditional surveying unit called chain (ch) to the rod (US survey) (rd). It is designed for use in cadastral surveying, historical land measurement, and legal property description applications.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value in chains you want to convert
Select chain [ch] as the from-unit
Choose rod (US survey) [rd] as the to-unit
Click convert to see the equivalent measurement in rods

Key Features

Converts from chain, a surveying unit equal to 66 feet, to rod (US survey), which equals 16.5 feet
Supports conversions used in land management, historical deed interpretation, and GIS mapping
Provides accurate unit translation based on US survey foot standards
Includes practical examples for quick reference

Examples

2 Chains [ch] equals 7.999984 Rods [rd]
0.5 Chain [ch] equals 1.999996 Rods [rd]

Common Use Cases

Updating historical land measurements and property boundaries initially recorded using chains
Interpreting and converting old cadastral and deed descriptions in US surveys
Converting distances found on legacy survey plats or maps to rods for modern use
Land surveying and marking property boundaries using traditional imperial units

Tips & Best Practices

Always verify which foot standard is being used to avoid discrepancies
Be cautious of slight rounding differences due to conversion factors not being exact
Use the tool to assist with historical land records requiring unit translations
Cross-check converted values with known measurements when possible

Limitations

Conversion approximates 1 chain as 3.999992 rods, which is near but not exactly 4 rods
Results depend on using the US survey foot, not the international foot
Legacy records may vary due to differing unit definitions over time, so interpret carefully

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chain in surveying terms?: A chain is a traditional surveying length unit equal to 66 feet, commonly known as Gunter's chain, and is subdivided into 100 links.
How many rods are in one chain?: One chain is nearly equal to 4 rods, specifically 3.999992 rods (US survey).
Why is the US survey foot important in this conversion?: This conversion assumes use of the US survey foot, which differs slightly from the international foot and affects measurement accuracy.

Key Terminology

Chain [ch]: A surveying unit of length equal to 66 feet, commonly used in land measurement and subdivided into 100 links.
Rod (US survey) [rd]: A unit of length equal to 16.5 US survey feet, commonly used in land surveying and legal property descriptions.
US Survey Foot: A foot measurement standard used for surveying in the United States, slightly different from the international foot.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the length of one chain in feet?

50 feet

66 feet

100 feet

How many rods are approximately equal to one chain?

2 rods

4 rods

6 rods

Which foot standard does this conversion rely on?

International foot

US survey foot

Metric foot

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