Convert Chain to Finger
Convert chains to fingers instantly. 1 chain = 176 finger — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Finger 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.
Finger
A finger is an Imperial unit of length equal to 4.5 inches (114.3 mm). It is one of the historical English cloth-measure units.
The finger derives from English cloth-trade tradition, where it was used as a small measure for ribbons and small fabric pieces. Standardised at 4.5 inches through English customary practice.
Fingers are rare in modern use; they appear primarily in historical English textile records and bartending (where 'a finger of whisky' is an informal usage roughly 1 inch, not 4.5).
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 4.5 inches; the value became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Chain to Finger conversion formula
The relationship between chains and fingers:
To convert chains to fingers, multiply the value in chains by 176. To reverse, multiply fingers by 0.0056818182.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in fingers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Finger to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to fingers
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 176.
- The product is the equivalent value in fingers (finger).
- To reverse, multiply the finger value by 0.0056818182.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to finger:
1 × 176 = 176 finger
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to finger:
100 × 176 = 17600 finger
Chain to Finger conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to fingers:
| Chain [ch] | Finger [finger] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.76 |
| 0.1 | 17.6 |
| 1 | 176 |
| 2 | 352 |
| 3 | 528 |
| 4 | 704 |
| 5 | 880 |
| 10 | 1760 |
| 20 | 3520 |
| 30 | 5280 |
| 40 | 7040 |
| 50 | 8800 |
| 100 | 17600 |
| 500 | 88000 |
| 1000 | 176000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many fingers is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to fingers?
How do I convert fingers back to chains?
How many fingers is 100 chains?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Chain to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 ch = 176 finger) 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.