Convert Chain to Barleycorn
Convert chains to barleycorns instantly. 1 chain = 2375.9999906457 barleycorn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Barleycorn to Chain converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Chain
A chain is an Imperial unit of length equal to 66 feet (20.1168 m), or exactly 4 rods or 100 links. It is the central unit in the Gunter chain-based land-survey system.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 specifically to make land-area arithmetic easy: 10 square chains = 1 acre exactly. The 66-foot length and 100-link subdivision were chosen so chain measurements could be added decimally.
Chains are the fundamental unit of legacy US public land surveys (the entire US township-and-range system uses chains). Modern survey work generally uses meters or feet, but legacy deeds remain in chains.
Invented by Edmund Gunter in 1620; standardised throughout English and American land survey; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
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.
Chain to Barleycorn conversion formula
The relationship between chains and barleycorns:
To convert chains to barleycorns, multiply the value in chains by 2375.9999906457. To reverse, multiply barleycorns by 0.0004208754.
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 Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to barleycorns
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 2375.9999906457.
- The product is the equivalent value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- To reverse, multiply the barleycorn value by 0.0004208754.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to barleycorn:
1 × 2375.9999906457 = 2375.9999906457 barleycorn
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to barleycorn:
100 × 2375.9999906457 = 237599.999064567 barleycorn
Chain to Barleycorn conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to barleycorns:
| Chain [ch] | Barleycorn [barleycorn] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 23.7599999065 |
| 0.1 | 237.5999990646 |
| 1 | 2375.9999906457 |
| 2 | 4751.9999812913 |
| 3 | 7127.999971937 |
| 4 | 9503.9999625827 |
| 5 | 11879.9999532283 |
| 10 | 23759.9999064567 |
| 20 | 47519.9998129134 |
| 30 | 71279.9997193701 |
| 40 | 95039.9996258268 |
| 50 | 118799.9995322835 |
| 100 | 237599.999064567 |
| 500 | 1187999.9953228349 |
| 1000 | 2375999.9906456699 |
Frequently asked questions
How many barleycorns is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to barleycorns?
How do I convert barleycorns back to chains?
How many barleycorns is 100 chains?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Chain to other length units
Show all Chain conversions
Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 ch = 2375.9999906457 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 Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.