Convert Chain to Caliber
Convert chains to calibers instantly. 1 chain = 79200 caliber — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Caliber 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.
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.
Chain to Caliber conversion formula
The relationship between chains and calibers:
To convert chains to calibers, multiply the value in chains by 79200. To reverse, multiply calibers by 1.262626e-5.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in calibers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Caliber to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to calibers
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 79200.
- The product is the equivalent value in calibers (cl).
- To reverse, multiply the caliber value by 1.262626e-5.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to cl:
1 × 79200 = 79200 cl
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to cl:
100 × 79200 = 7920000 cl
Chain to Caliber conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to calibers:
| Chain [ch] | Caliber [cl] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 792 |
| 0.1 | 7920 |
| 1 | 79200 |
| 2 | 158400 |
| 3 | 237600 |
| 4 | 316800 |
| 5 | 396000 |
| 10 | 792000 |
| 20 | 1584000 |
| 30 | 2376000 |
| 40 | 3168000 |
| 50 | 3960000 |
| 100 | 7920000 |
| 500 | 3.96e+7 |
| 1000 | 7.92e+7 |
Frequently asked questions
How many calibers is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to calibers?
How do I convert calibers back to chains?
How many calibers 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 = 79200 cl) 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.