What is a pole in surveying?

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

How long is one chain (US survey)?

One US survey chain equals 66 US survey feet, approximately 20.1168 metres, and is subdivided into 100 links.

Why convert poles to chains (US survey)?

Converting poles to chains helps interpret and compare historic British and American land survey data for property mapping and cadastral updates.

How to Convert from Pole to Chain (US survey) [ch]?

Convert length measurements from the traditional British surveying unit 'pole' to the historical American surveying unit 'chain (US survey) [ch]' using this easy-to-use online converter tool.

Pole

Chain (US survey) [ch]

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

Pole to Chain (US survey) [ch] Conversion Table

Pole	Chain (US survey) [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 (US survey) [ch] Conversion Table
Pole	Chain (US survey) [ch]

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What Is This Tool?

This converter enables you to translate measurements from poles to chains (US survey). Poles and chains are traditional units used historically in British and American land surveying. This tool supports accurate interpretation and comparison of legacy cadastral and surveying data.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the value in poles that you want to convert
Select the target unit as chain (US survey) [ch]
Click the convert button to get the equivalent measurement
Use the result for surveying, cadastral mapping, or property analysis

Key Features

Converts length from pole to chain (US survey) with a known conversion factor
Supports interpretation of historical surveying and cadastral measurements
Browser-based and easy to use for land surveying and agricultural purposes
Facilitates updating and reconciling property boundaries across measurement systems

Examples

4 poles equals 4 × 0.2499995 = 0.999998 chains (US survey)
10 poles equals 10 × 0.2499995 = 2.499995 chains (US survey)

Common Use Cases

Interpreting distances and boundaries in historical British and American land deeds
Converting traditional survey measurements into modern units for cadastral updates
Understanding land dimensions in historical agricultural and civil engineering documents
Mapping and geographic information system (GIS) applications involving legacy data

Tips & Best Practices

Verify the measurement system used in original documents before conversion
Use the exact conversion factor 1 pole = 0.2499995 chain (US survey) for accuracy
Account for differences between imperial and US survey feet when interpreting results
Consult multiple sources when dealing with historical measurements to ensure consistency

Limitations

Small variations exist due to differences between imperial and US survey foot definitions
These units are mostly historical and replaced by metric units in current practice
Rounding errors may occur because of fractional conversion factors
Not suitable for high precision modern engineering without additional context

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pole in surveying?: A pole, also known as a rod or perch, is a traditional English unit of length equal to 16.5 feet or 5.0292 metres, used historically in surveying and land measurement.
How long is one chain (US survey)?: One US survey chain equals 66 US survey feet, approximately 20.1168 metres, and is subdivided into 100 links.
Why convert poles to chains (US survey)?: Converting poles to chains helps interpret and compare historic British and American land survey data for property mapping and cadastral updates.

Key Terminology

Pole: A traditional English unit of length equal to 16.5 feet or 5.0292 metres, often used in historical land surveying.
Chain (US survey) [ch]: A US survey unit of length equal to 66 US survey feet, used historically in land surveying and cadastral work, approximately 20.1168 metres.
Cadastral Mapping: The process of creating maps that show property boundaries and land ownership details.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is the exact conversion factor from poles to chains (US survey)?

1 pole = 1 chain (US survey)

1 pole = 0.2499995 chain (US survey)

1 pole = 4 chains (US survey)

Which unit is approximately 20.1168 metres in length?

Pole

Chain (US survey)

Foot (imperial)

For what purpose is this converter mainly used?

Modern engineering design

Converting historic land survey measurements

Calculating metric distances directly

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