What is a rod (US survey)?

A rod (US survey) is a traditional surveying length equal to exactly 16.5 US survey feet, commonly used in historical land measurements and property descriptions.

What does span (cloth) represent?

Span (cloth) is a traditional, non-SI unit based on the distance between the thumb and little finger of an outstretched hand, typically about 9 inches, used historically in textiles.

Can I use this conversion for precise engineering?

No, this conversion is approximate and mainly intended for historical interpretation or estimating measurements rather than high-precision engineering tasks.

How to Convert from Rod (US survey) [rd] to Span (cloth)?

Easily convert length measurements from rod (US survey) to span (cloth) using this simple online unit converter, ideal for historical, surveying, and textile contexts.

Rod (US survey) [rd]

Span (cloth)

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

Rod (US survey) [rd] to Span (cloth) Conversion Table

Rod (US survey) [rd]	Span (cloth)

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.

Rod (US survey) [rd] to Span (cloth) Conversion Table
Rod (US survey) [rd]	Span (cloth)

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What Is This Tool?

This tool converts lengths from rod (US survey), a traditional American surveying unit, to span (cloth), an informal measurement used historically in textiles. It supports users working with historical land records and textile measurements by providing a convenient way to translate between these unique length units.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value in rod (US survey) [rd] unit into the input field.
Select rod (US survey) as the starting unit and span (cloth) as the target unit.
Click the convert button to view the equivalent length in span (cloth).
Use the results to interpret historical measurements or fabric widths.

Key Features

Converts rod (US survey) lengths to span (cloth) accurately based on defined conversion rates.
Supports measurement interpretation in historical land surveying and textile trades.
Browser-based and easy to use with no installation required.
Includes example conversions for quick reference.
Ideal for archival research and tailoring contexts.

Examples

2 Rods (US survey) [rd] equals 44.000088 Span (cloth).
0.5 Rod (US survey) [rd] equals 11.000022 Span (cloth).

Common Use Cases

Interpreting distances in historical US land documents and cadastral records.
Converting survey measurements on old maps into textile-related units.
Describing small fabric widths or trims in historic textile trade contexts.
Informal measurements for tailoring tasks like straps or small pattern pieces.

Tips & Best Practices

Use this tool mainly for historical interpretation or estimation purposes.
Remember the non-standard nature of the span (cloth) unit which may vary by hand size.
Consider slight differences between the US survey foot and international foot when precision is critical.
Refer to example conversions to verify your understanding.

Limitations

Span (cloth) is an informal, non-SI unit and can differ based on individual hand size or regional practices.
Rod (US survey) uses a survey foot slightly different from the international foot, affecting exact precision.
Conversions provided are approximate and best suited for general estimation rather than exact engineering calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a rod (US survey)?: A rod (US survey) is a traditional surveying length equal to exactly 16.5 US survey feet, commonly used in historical land measurements and property descriptions.
What does span (cloth) represent?: Span (cloth) is a traditional, non-SI unit based on the distance between the thumb and little finger of an outstretched hand, typically about 9 inches, used historically in textiles.
Can I use this conversion for precise engineering?: No, this conversion is approximate and mainly intended for historical interpretation or estimating measurements rather than high-precision engineering tasks.

Key Terminology

Rod (US survey): A traditional unit of length equal to exactly 16.5 US survey feet, used in historical land surveys and property boundary descriptions.
Span (cloth): An informal, non-SI unit measuring the distance between the thumb and little finger of an outstretched hand, used historically in textiles.
US survey foot: A foot unit used in US surveying that slightly differs from the international foot, affecting some land measurement conversions.

Quick Knowledge Check

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

Measuring fabric widths in tailoring

Land surveying and legal property descriptions

Measuring small distances in textiles

What is a span (cloth) based on?

Length of a standard ruler

Distance between thumb and little finger of an outstretched hand

One quarter of a survey chain

Why should conversions between rod (US survey) and span (cloth) be used with caution?

Because span (cloth) varies with hand size and rod uses a survey foot slightly different from international foot

Because both are SI units and very precise

Because both units are metric units

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