Convert Barleycorn to Rod
Convert barleycorns to rods instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.0016835017 rod — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Rod 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.
Rod
A rod is an Imperial unit of length equal to 16.5 feet (about 5.03 m). It is also called a perch or pole. Used historically in English and American land surveying.
The rod derives from medieval English land-surveying practice. Standardised at 16.5 feet (= 25 links of a surveyor's chain = 1/4 chain) by Edmund Gunter in 1620.
Rods are the standard unit in legacy US public-land-survey records, where lot dimensions are typically expressed in rods and chains. Modern surveyors generally use feet or meters but legacy deeds remain in rods.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 as 16.5 feet via the chain-based survey system; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Rod conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and rods:
To convert barleycorns to rods, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.0016835017. To reverse, multiply rods by 593.9999976614.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in rods updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Rod to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to rods
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0016835017.
- The product is the equivalent value in rods (rd).
- To reverse, multiply the rod value by 593.9999976614.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to rd:
1 × 0.0016835017 = 0.0016835017 rd
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to rd:
100 × 0.0016835017 = 0.168350169 rd
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 rods — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 barleycorn × 0.0016835017 = 0.3030303042 rd
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-barleycorn piece of furniture converts to a value in rods 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 rd
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-barleycorn-tall child measures a value in rods 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 rd
Barleycorn to Rod conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to rods:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Rod [rd] |
|---|---|
| 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 rods is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to rods?
How do I convert rods back to barleycorns?
How many rods is 100 barleycorns?
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 0.0016835017 rd) 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.