Convert Barleycorn to League
Convert barleycorns to leagues instantly. 1 barleycorn = 1.753648e-6 league — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the League 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.
League
A league is an Imperial unit of length equal to 3 miles (about 4.83 km). It is one of the oldest distance units in English usage, historically representing the distance a person could walk in one hour.
The English league derives from the ancient Roman leuga via medieval English customary practice. Standardised at 3 statute miles in English law.
Leagues appear in historical English literature ('seven-league boots'), maritime navigation (a nautical league is 3 nautical miles), and traditional distance descriptions. Modern usage is largely literary.
Medieval English customary origin; standardised at 3 miles; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to League conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and leagues:
To convert barleycorns to leagues, multiply the value in barleycorns by 1.753648e-6. To reverse, multiply leagues by 570239.9977549607.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in leagues updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the League to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to leagues
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 1.753648e-6.
- The product is the equivalent value in leagues (lea).
- To reverse, multiply the league value by 570239.9977549607.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to lea:
1 × 1.753648e-6 = 1.753648e-6 lea
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to lea:
100 × 1.753648e-6 = 0.0001753648 lea
Real-world example — Architectural to geographic scale
A 100,000-barleycorn measurement equals one league. 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 × 1.753648e-6 = 0.1753647594 lea
Real-world example — Small to geographic-scale
100,000 barleycorns equals one league — a useful conversion when small-scale survey diagrams must be related to road-network distances on a different map.
100000 barleycorn × 1.753648e-6 = 0.1753647594 lea
Barleycorn to League conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to leagues:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | League [lea] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.753648e-8 |
| 0.1 | 1.753648e-7 |
| 1 | 1.753648e-6 |
| 2 | 3.507295e-6 |
| 3 | 5.260943e-6 |
| 4 | 7.01459e-6 |
| 5 | 8.768238e-6 |
| 10 | 1.753648e-5 |
| 20 | 3.507295e-5 |
| 30 | 5.260943e-5 |
| 40 | 7.01459e-5 |
| 50 | 8.768238e-5 |
| 100 | 0.0001753648 |
| 500 | 0.0008768238 |
| 1000 | 0.0017536476 |
Frequently asked questions
How many leagues is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to leagues?
How do I convert leagues back to barleycorns?
How many leagues 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 = 1.753648e-6 lea) 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.