Convert Barleycorn to Cubit
Convert barleycorns to cubits instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.0185185186 cubit — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Cubit 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.
Cubit
The UK cubit is an Imperial unit of length equal to 18 inches (457.2 mm). It represents the historical distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
Cubits derive from ancient body-measure traditions found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the eastern Mediterranean. The English customary cubit was standardised at 18 inches in medieval times.
UK cubits are rare in modern commerce but appear in historical English texts, biblical references, and historical reconstructions. Different cultures used cubits of different lengths.
Ancient origin; standardised at 18 inches in English customary practice; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Cubit conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and cubits:
To convert barleycorns to cubits, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.0185185186. To reverse, multiply cubits by 53.9999997874.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in cubits updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Cubit to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to cubits
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0185185186.
- The product is the equivalent value in cubits (cubit).
- To reverse, multiply the cubit value by 53.9999997874.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to cubit:
1 × 0.0185185186 = 0.0185185186 cubit
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to cubit:
100 × 0.0185185186 = 1.8518518591 cubit
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-barleycorn-tall child measures a value in cubits that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 barleycorn × 0.0185185186 = 2.7777777887 cubit
Real-world example — Body height conversion
You enter your height as 180 barleycorns into an international job or visa application. The form then asks for the same value in cubits — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 barleycorn × 0.0185185186 = 3.3333333465 cubit
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-barleycorn piece of furniture converts to a value in cubits that's easier to mentally compare with room dimensions. This is the typical workflow when shopping internationally and product specs use a different unit than your room measurements.
72 barleycorn × 0.0185185186 = 1.3333333386 cubit
Barleycorn to Cubit conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to cubits:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Cubit [cubit] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0001851852 |
| 0.1 | 0.0018518519 |
| 1 | 0.0185185186 |
| 2 | 0.0370370372 |
| 3 | 0.0555555558 |
| 4 | 0.0740740744 |
| 5 | 0.092592593 |
| 10 | 0.1851851859 |
| 20 | 0.3703703718 |
| 30 | 0.5555555577 |
| 40 | 0.7407407437 |
| 50 | 0.9259259296 |
| 100 | 1.8518518591 |
| 500 | 9.2592592957 |
| 1000 | 18.5185185914 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cubits is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to cubits?
How do I convert cubits back to barleycorns?
How many cubits is 100 barleycorns?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Barleycorn to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 0.0185185186 cubit) 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.