Convert Barleycorn to Caliber
Convert barleycorns to calibers instantly. 1 barleycorn = 33.3333334646 caliber — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Caliber to Barleycorn converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Barleycorn
A barleycorn is an Imperial unit of length equal to one third of an inch (about 8.47 mm). It is the basis of UK shoe sizing and is one of the oldest English length units still in use.
The barleycorn derives from the average length of a grain of barley as a natural reference. Standardised at exactly 1/3 inch by the Statute of Edward II in 1324, which used three barleycorns to define an inch.
Barleycorns are the foundation of UK and US children's shoe sizing — each whole size differs by one barleycorn. Also occasionally referenced in horse-handling and historical English literature.
Standardised in 1324 by the Statute of Edward II at 1/3 inch; the value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm.
Caliber
In length-measurement context, a caliber is a unit equal to one hundredth of an inch (2.54×10⁻⁴ m). The same word also refers to a firearm's bore diameter; in that context the value depends on the specific cartridge.
The caliber as a length unit derives from the inch by hundredth subdivision. Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Calibers appear in ballistics literature (alongside the more common usage as bore diameter), historical small-arms specifications, and a few precision-engineering contexts. Often confused with the cartridge-naming caliber, which is a different concept.
Length-unit usage standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; the bore-diameter usage long predates this.
Barleycorn to Caliber conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and calibers:
To convert barleycorns to calibers, multiply the value in barleycorns by 33.3333334646. To reverse, multiply calibers by 0.0299999999.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in calibers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Caliber to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to calibers
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 33.3333334646.
- The product is the equivalent value in calibers (cl).
- To reverse, multiply the caliber value by 0.0299999999.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to cl:
1 × 33.3333334646 = 33.3333334646 cl
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to cl:
100 × 33.3333334646 = 3333.3333464567 cl
Real-world example — Adjacent metric sub-units
One barleycorn equals 1,000 calibers. Engineers move between these scales constantly: PCB feature sizes in the larger unit, wire-bond diameters in the smaller.
1 barleycorn × 33.3333334646 = 33.3333334646 cl
Real-world example — Adjacent small-scale precision
One barleycorn equals 1,000 calibers — the standard sub-millimeter precision conversion that materials engineers use whenever they switch between bulk material thickness specs (larger unit) and surface-finish characteristics (smaller unit).
1 barleycorn × 33.3333334646 = 33.3333334646 cl
Barleycorn to Caliber conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to calibers:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Caliber [cl] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.3333333346 |
| 0.1 | 3.3333333465 |
| 1 | 33.3333334646 |
| 2 | 66.6666669291 |
| 3 | 100.0000003937 |
| 4 | 133.3333338583 |
| 5 | 166.6666673228 |
| 10 | 333.3333346457 |
| 20 | 666.6666692913 |
| 30 | 1000.000003937 |
| 40 | 1333.3333385827 |
| 50 | 1666.6666732283 |
| 100 | 3333.3333464567 |
| 500 | 16666.6667322835 |
| 1000 | 33333.3334645669 |
Frequently asked questions
How many calibers is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to calibers?
How do I convert calibers back to barleycorns?
How many calibers is 100 barleycorns?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 33.3333334646 cl) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.