What is a pole in length measurement?

A pole, also called a rod or perch, is a traditional English unit equal to 16.5 feet or 5.0292 metres used in surveying and land measurement.

How many poles make up a chain?

One chain equals 4 poles, since a chain is 66 feet and a pole is 16.5 feet.

Why convert poles to chains?

Converting poles to chains helps modernize and interpret historical land and property measurements within cadastral and surveying records.

How to Convert from Pole to Chain [ch]

Learn how to convert length measurements from the traditional English unit 'pole' to 'chain [ch]' with this straightforward unit converter. Ideal for historical land measurement and surveying contexts.

Pole

Chain [ch]

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

Pole to Chain [ch] Conversion Table

Pole	Chain [ch]

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.

Pole to Chain [ch] Conversion Table
Pole	Chain [ch]

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What Is This Tool?

This tool helps you convert length values from poles (also known as rods or perches) into chains, both of which are traditional surveying units used in land measurement and property records. It supports interpreting historical measurements and updating them into compatible units.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value measured in poles that you want to convert
Select 'pole' as the input unit and 'chain [ch]' as the output unit
Click the convert button to see the equivalent length in chains
Use the result to understand or update historical land or survey records

Key Features

Converts poles to chains using the exact conversion factor 1 Pole = 0.25 Chain
Supports traditional British imperial units relevant to cadastral and agricultural surveying
Ideal for reconciling historical land measurement data with modern units
Browser-based and easy to use with generic input and conversion steps

Examples

4 Poles equals 4 times 0.25, which is 1 Chain [ch]
10 Poles equals 10 times 0.25, resulting in 2.5 Chains [ch]

Common Use Cases

Interpreting distances and boundaries in old British and colonial property deeds or tithe maps
Converting survey measurements from poles to chains to modernize cadastral records
Understanding agricultural or civil engineering documents using legacy imperial units
Reconciling historical land measurement data for GIS and land registration purposes

Tips & Best Practices

Use this converter to update older imperial units to compatible formats for analysis
Double-check historical context to ensure the correct unit definitions are applied
Be aware of regional and historical variations in these traditional units when interpreting data
Use conversion consistently across datasets when modernizing land and survey measurements

Limitations

Both pole and chain are traditional units largely replaced by the metric system
Variations in historical standards may affect measurement accuracy
These units are British Imperial and not commonly recognized in other measurement systems

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pole in length measurement?: A pole, also called a rod or perch, is a traditional English unit equal to 16.5 feet or 5.0292 metres used in surveying and land measurement.
How many poles make up a chain?: One chain equals 4 poles, since a chain is 66 feet and a pole is 16.5 feet.
Why convert poles to chains?: Converting poles to chains helps modernize and interpret historical land and property measurements within cadastral and surveying records.

Key Terminology

Pole: A traditional English unit of length equal to 16.5 feet, used historically in surveying and land measurement.
Chain [ch]: A surveying unit of length equal to 66 feet, consisting of 4 poles, commonly Gunter's chain divided into 100 links.
Cadastral surveying: The process of measuring and recording property boundaries and land ownership.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the length of one pole?

16.5 feet

20.1168 metres

66 feet

How many chains are equivalent to 4 poles?

1 chain

2 chains

0.25 chain

Which is a use case for converting poles to chains?

Modern metric system engineering

Interpreting historical land records

International length standards

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