What is a cubit (UK)?

The cubit (UK) is an old unit of length originally measured as the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, commonly treated as about 18 inches.

Where is the rod (US survey) used?

The rod (US survey), also called a pole or perch, is traditionally employed in US land surveying and legal property descriptions.

Is the conversion between cubit and rod exact?

No, due to historical variations in cubit length and slight differences in the US survey foot, the conversion is approximate.

How to Convert from Cubit (UK) to Rod (US survey) [rd]

Easily convert length measurements from cubit (UK), an ancient British unit, to rod (US survey) [rd], a traditional surveying unit used in American land measurement. Perfect for historical and archaeological research.

Cubit (UK)

Rod (US survey) [rd]

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Cubit (UK) to Rod (US survey) [rd] Conversion Table

Cubit (UK)	Rod (US survey) [rd]

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Start Value

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End Value

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Cubit (UK) to Rod (US survey) [rd] Conversion Table
Cubit (UK)	Rod (US survey) [rd]

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What Is This Tool?

This converter transforms length measurements from the historical British cubit unit to the US survey rod, a traditional unit utilized in land surveying and legal property descriptions in the United States.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value measured in cubit (UK).
Select cubit (UK) as the starting unit and rod (US survey) [rd] as the target unit.
Click the convert button to see the equivalent length expressed in rods (US survey).
Use the converted results to analyze historical or surveying data effectively.

Key Features

Converts from cubit (UK), an ancient, non-standard unit of length based on the human body.
Outputs measurements in rod (US survey) [rd], used mainly for historical land surveying tasks.
Browser-based and easy to use for translating between historical British and American measuring systems.
Helps interpret old maps, cadastral documents, and archaeological measurements accurately.
Applies a precise conversion rate between cubit (UK) and rod (US survey) for consistent results.

Examples

10 cubits (UK) convert to approximately 0.9091 rod (US survey) [rd].
50 cubits (UK) equal about 4.5454 rod (US survey) [rd].

Common Use Cases

Translating historical building measurements or archaeological dimensions originally recorded in cubits.
Interpreting old US land deeds and cadastral records that use rods for property boundaries.
Converting ancient measurements for museum displays or academic research involving biblical or historical texts.
Adapting measurements on legacy maps to modern surveying units for land management.

Tips & Best Practices

Always verify the historical context of the cubit value, as its actual length can vary.
Use this conversion for approximate comparisons rather than precise engineering measurements.
Cross-check converted lengths when working internationally due to minor differences in survey foot definitions.
Leverage this tool as a support aid in historical, legal, or archaeological documentation referencing.

Limitations

Cubit lengths vary historically, so conversions based on a fixed value are approximate.
The rod is based on the US survey foot, which slightly differs from the international foot, causing minor discrepancies.
Both cubit and rod are largely obsolete in modern measurement, used mainly in specialized historical or legal contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cubit (UK)?: The cubit (UK) is an old unit of length originally measured as the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, commonly treated as about 18 inches.
Where is the rod (US survey) used?: The rod (US survey), also called a pole or perch, is traditionally employed in US land surveying and legal property descriptions.
Is the conversion between cubit and rod exact?: No, due to historical variations in cubit length and slight differences in the US survey foot, the conversion is approximate.

Key Terminology

Cubit (UK): An ancient British unit of length based on the distance from the elbow to the middle finger, roughly equivalent to 18 inches.
Rod (US survey) [rd]: A traditional US surveying unit equal to exactly 16.5 US survey feet, used in land measurement and legal property records.
US survey foot: A measurement foot standard used in US surveying, slightly different in length from the international foot.
Cadastral mapping: The process of mapping land ownership and property boundaries for legal and survey purposes.

Quick Knowledge Check

The cubit (UK) is historically based on which anatomical measurement?

Distance from wrist to fingertip

Distance from elbow to the tip of the middle finger

Distance from shoulder to fingertip

What is the rod (US survey) primarily used for?

Marine navigation

Land surveying and property descriptions

Measuring building heights

Which unit is tied to the US survey foot, differing slightly from the international foot?

Cubit (UK)

Rod (US survey)

Meter

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