Convert Barleycorn to Pole
Convert barleycorns to poles instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.0016835017 pole — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Pole 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.
Pole
A pole is an Imperial unit of length identical to the rod and perch — 16.5 feet (about 5.03 m). The names are regional and historical variants for the same measurement.
The pole derives from medieval English land-surveying. The name comes from the physical wooden pole used by surveyors to lay out the unit on the ground.
Poles appear in historical land records, particularly older US public-land surveys. Functionally identical to rod and perch in all calculations.
Medieval English surveying origin; identical to the rod since 1620; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Pole conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and poles:
To convert barleycorns to poles, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.0016835017. To reverse, multiply poles by 593.9999976614.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in poles updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Pole to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to poles
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0016835017.
- The product is the equivalent value in poles (pole).
- To reverse, multiply the pole value by 593.9999976614.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to pole:
1 × 0.0016835017 = 0.0016835017 pole
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to pole:
100 × 0.0016835017 = 0.168350169 pole
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 poles — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 barleycorn × 0.0016835017 = 0.3030303042 pole
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-barleycorn piece of furniture converts to a value in poles 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 × 0.0016835017 = 0.1212121217 pole
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-barleycorn-tall child measures a value in poles that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 barleycorn × 0.0016835017 = 0.2525252535 pole
Barleycorn to Pole conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to poles:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Pole [pole] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.683502e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0001683502 |
| 1 | 0.0016835017 |
| 2 | 0.0033670034 |
| 3 | 0.0050505051 |
| 4 | 0.0067340068 |
| 5 | 0.0084175085 |
| 10 | 0.0168350169 |
| 20 | 0.0336700338 |
| 30 | 0.0505050507 |
| 40 | 0.0673400676 |
| 50 | 0.0841750845 |
| 100 | 0.168350169 |
| 500 | 0.8417508451 |
| 1000 | 1.6835016901 |
Frequently asked questions
How many poles is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to poles?
How do I convert poles back to barleycorns?
How many poles 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 = 0.0016835017 pole) 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.