Convert Barleycorn to Nail
Convert barleycorns to nails instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.1481481487 nail — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Nail 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.
Nail
A nail is an Imperial unit of length equal to 2.25 inches (about 57.15 mm). It was historically used in the English cloth trade.
The nail derives from an English cloth-measure tradition dating to medieval times. Standardised at 2.25 inches (or 1/16 of a yard) through English customary practice and ratified by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Nails were historically used to measure cloth, particularly small pieces and ribbons. Rare in modern commerce but appears in historical textile literature and reproduction crafts.
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 1/16 yard; fixed exactly at 0.05715 m via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Nail conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and nails:
To convert barleycorns to nails, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.1481481487. To reverse, multiply nails by 6.7499999734.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in nails updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Nail to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to nails
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.1481481487.
- The product is the equivalent value in nails (nail).
- To reverse, multiply the nail value by 6.7499999734.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to nail:
1 × 0.1481481487 = 0.1481481487 nail
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to nail:
100 × 0.1481481487 = 14.8148148731 nail
Real-world example — Postcard and small-object dimensions
A postcard is about 5 barleycorns wide. Converting to nails is essential for international postal addressing forms that ask for dimensions in different units across countries.
5 barleycorn × 0.1481481487 = 0.7407407437 nail
Real-world example — Ruler-scale measurements
A 30-barleycorn school ruler converts cleanly to nails — useful when buying a desk accessory from a retailer whose product specs use a different unit.
30 barleycorn × 0.1481481487 = 4.4444444619 nail
Real-world example — Hardware-scale dimensions
A 10-barleycorn fastener or component is about as long as a thumbnail. Mechanics and DIY enthusiasts convert between barleycorns and nails daily when mixing metric and imperial tools.
10 barleycorn × 0.1481481487 = 1.4814814873 nail
Barleycorn to Nail conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to nails:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Nail [nail] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0014814815 |
| 0.1 | 0.0148148149 |
| 1 | 0.1481481487 |
| 2 | 0.2962962975 |
| 3 | 0.4444444462 |
| 4 | 0.5925925949 |
| 5 | 0.7407407437 |
| 10 | 1.4814814873 |
| 20 | 2.9629629746 |
| 30 | 4.4444444619 |
| 40 | 5.9259259493 |
| 50 | 7.4074074366 |
| 100 | 14.8148148731 |
| 500 | 74.0740743657 |
| 1000 | 148.1481487314 |
Frequently asked questions
How many nails is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to nails?
How do I convert nails back to barleycorns?
How many nails 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 = 0.1481481487 nail) 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.