Convert Caliber to Barleycorn
Convert calibers to barleycorns instantly. 1 caliber = 0.0299999999 barleycorn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Barleycorn to Caliber converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Caliber
In length-measurement context, a caliber is a unit equal to one hundredth of an inch (2.54×10⁻⁴ m). The same word also refers to a firearm's bore diameter; in that context the value depends on the specific cartridge.
The caliber as a length unit derives from the inch by hundredth subdivision. Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Calibers appear in ballistics literature (alongside the more common usage as bore diameter), historical small-arms specifications, and a few precision-engineering contexts. Often confused with the cartridge-naming caliber, which is a different concept.
Length-unit usage standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; the bore-diameter usage long predates this.
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.
Caliber to Barleycorn conversion formula
The relationship between calibers and barleycorns:
To convert calibers to barleycorns, multiply the value in calibers by 0.0299999999. To reverse, multiply barleycorns by 33.3333334646.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in barleycorns updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Barleycorn to Caliber converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert calibers to barleycorns
- Write down the value in calibers (cl).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0299999999.
- The product is the equivalent value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- To reverse, multiply the barleycorn value by 33.3333334646.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 cl to barleycorn:
1 × 0.0299999999 = 0.0299999999 barleycorn
Example 2 — Convert 100 cl to barleycorn:
100 × 0.0299999999 = 2.9999999882 barleycorn
Real-world example — Plastic film and laminate thickness
A 500-caliber sheet is a typical spec for ID-card laminates and film overlays. Converting to barleycorns aligns the value with the unit most CAD systems and material datasheets prefer.
500 cl × 0.0299999999 = 14.9999999409 barleycorn
Real-world example — Packaging gauge
A 4-caliber plastic bag thickness is a common spec for grocery and freezer bags. Converting from calibers to barleycorns is what packaging buyers do whenever they bridge US and metric supplier quotes.
4 cl × 0.0299999999 = 0.1199999995 barleycorn
Caliber to Barleycorn conversion table
Standard reference values for converting calibers to barleycorns:
| Caliber [cl] | Barleycorn [barleycorn] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0003 |
| 0.1 | 0.003 |
| 1 | 0.0299999999 |
| 2 | 0.0599999998 |
| 3 | 0.0899999996 |
| 4 | 0.1199999995 |
| 5 | 0.1499999994 |
| 10 | 0.2999999988 |
| 20 | 0.5999999976 |
| 30 | 0.8999999965 |
| 40 | 1.1999999953 |
| 50 | 1.4999999941 |
| 100 | 2.9999999882 |
| 500 | 14.9999999409 |
| 1000 | 29.9999998819 |
Frequently asked questions
How many barleycorns is 1 caliber?
How do I convert calibers to barleycorns?
How do I convert barleycorns back to calibers?
How many barleycorns is 100 calibers?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 cl = 0.0299999999 barleycorn) 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.