Convert Barleycorn to Link
Convert barleycorns to links instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.0420875423 link — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Link 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.
Link
A link is an Imperial unit of length equal to 7.92 inches (201.168 mm) — exactly 1/100 of a surveyor's chain. It is the smallest unit in the chain-based survey measurement system.
The link was defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 as part of his 22-yard surveying chain. He divided the chain into 100 links specifically to enable easy decimal arithmetic when computing parcel areas.
Links appear in historical US and UK land survey documents (especially pre-1900). Modern surveyors generally use feet or meters but legacy deed records and government land surveys still cite acreage in chains and links.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620; standardised as 7.92 inches via the chain definition; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Link conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and links:
To convert barleycorns to links, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.0420875423. To reverse, multiply links by 23.7599999065.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in links updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Link to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to links
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0420875423.
- The product is the equivalent value in links (lk).
- To reverse, multiply the link value by 23.7599999065.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to lk:
1 × 0.0420875423 = 0.0420875423 lk
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to lk:
100 × 0.0420875423 = 4.2087542253 lk
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-barleycorn-tall child measures a value in links that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 barleycorn × 0.0420875423 = 6.313131338 lk
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 links — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 barleycorn × 0.0420875423 = 7.5757576056 lk
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-barleycorn piece of furniture converts to a value in links 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 × 0.0420875423 = 3.0303030422 lk
Barleycorn to Link conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to links:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Link [lk] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0004208754 |
| 0.1 | 0.0042087542 |
| 1 | 0.0420875423 |
| 2 | 0.0841750845 |
| 3 | 0.1262626268 |
| 4 | 0.168350169 |
| 5 | 0.2104377113 |
| 10 | 0.4208754225 |
| 20 | 0.8417508451 |
| 30 | 1.2626262676 |
| 40 | 1.6835016901 |
| 50 | 2.1043771127 |
| 100 | 4.2087542253 |
| 500 | 21.0437711266 |
| 1000 | 42.0875422532 |
Frequently asked questions
How many links is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to links?
How do I convert links back to barleycorns?
How many links is 100 barleycorns?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Barleycorn to other length units
Show all Barleycorn conversions
Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 0.0420875423 lk) 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.