Convert Barleycorn to Kilometer
Convert barleycorns to kilometers instantly. 1 barleycorn = 8.466667e-6 kilometer — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Kilometer 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.
Kilometer
A kilometer is a metric unit of length equal to one thousand meters. It is the standard unit for measuring road distances, geographic distances, and other large-scale measurements in metric countries.
The kilometer was defined alongside the meter in 1795 using the standard SI prefix kilo- (from Greek chilioi, "thousand"), denoting one thousand units.
Kilometers are used worldwide (except the United States and a few others) for road signage, geographic distance, athletic events, and scientific distances at planetary scale. Speed limits in most countries are given in km/h.
Adopted 1795 in France as part of the original metric system; the kilometer became the global standard for road and geographic distance through the 19th and 20th century metric adoption.
Barleycorn to Kilometer conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and kilometers:
To convert barleycorns to kilometers, multiply the value in barleycorns by 8.466667e-6. To reverse, multiply kilometers by 118110.2357554715.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in kilometers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Kilometer to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to kilometers
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 8.466667e-6.
- The product is the equivalent value in kilometers (km).
- To reverse, multiply the kilometer value by 118110.2357554715.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to km:
1 × 8.466667e-6 = 8.466667e-6 km
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to km:
100 × 8.466667e-6 = 0.0008466667 km
Real-world example — Architectural to geographic scale
A 100,000-barleycorn measurement equals one kilometer. The five-order-of-magnitude scale change comes up in mapping work where architectural site plans must be related to road-network maps.
100000 barleycorn × 8.466667e-6 = 0.84666667 km
Real-world example — Small to geographic-scale
100,000 barleycorns equals one kilometer — a useful conversion when small-scale survey diagrams must be related to road-network distances on a different map.
100000 barleycorn × 8.466667e-6 = 0.84666667 km
Barleycorn to Kilometer conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to kilometers:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Kilometer [km] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 8.466667e-8 |
| 0.1 | 8.466667e-7 |
| 1 | 8.466667e-6 |
| 2 | 1.693333e-5 |
| 3 | 2.54e-5 |
| 4 | 3.386667e-5 |
| 5 | 4.233333e-5 |
| 10 | 8.466667e-5 |
| 20 | 0.0001693333 |
| 30 | 0.000254 |
| 40 | 0.0003386667 |
| 50 | 0.0004233333 |
| 100 | 0.0008466667 |
| 500 | 0.0042333334 |
| 1000 | 0.0084666667 |
Frequently asked questions
How many kilometers is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to kilometers?
How do I convert kilometers back to barleycorns?
How many kilometers is 100 barleycorns?
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 8.466667e-6 km) 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 Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.