Convert Chain to Cubit
Convert chains to cubits instantly. 1 chain = 44 cubit — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Cubit 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.
Cubit
The UK cubit is an Imperial unit of length equal to 18 inches (457.2 mm). It represents the historical distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
Cubits derive from ancient body-measure traditions found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the eastern Mediterranean. The English customary cubit was standardised at 18 inches in medieval times.
UK cubits are rare in modern commerce but appear in historical English texts, biblical references, and historical reconstructions. Different cultures used cubits of different lengths.
Ancient origin; standardised at 18 inches in English customary practice; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Chain to Cubit conversion formula
The relationship between chains and cubits:
To convert chains to cubits, multiply the value in chains by 44. To reverse, multiply cubits by 0.0227272727.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in cubits updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Cubit to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to cubits
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 44.
- The product is the equivalent value in cubits (cubit).
- To reverse, multiply the cubit value by 0.0227272727.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to cubit:
1 × 44 = 44 cubit
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to cubit:
100 × 44 = 4400 cubit
Chain to Cubit conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to cubits:
| Chain [ch] | Cubit [cubit] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.44 |
| 0.1 | 4.4 |
| 1 | 44 |
| 2 | 88 |
| 3 | 132 |
| 4 | 176 |
| 5 | 220 |
| 10 | 440 |
| 20 | 880 |
| 30 | 1320 |
| 40 | 1760 |
| 50 | 2200 |
| 100 | 4400 |
| 500 | 22000 |
| 1000 | 44000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cubits is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to cubits?
How do I convert cubits back to chains?
How many cubits 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 = 44 cubit) 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.