Convert Chain to Hand
Convert chains to hands instantly. 1 chain = 198 hand — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Hand 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.
Hand
A hand is an Imperial unit of length equal to 4 inches (101.6 mm). It is used primarily to measure the height of horses at the withers.
The hand derives from the average breadth of a human hand and was standardised at exactly 4 inches by the Statute of Henry VIII in 1541.
Hands are used worldwide for horse height specification (the typical riding horse is 14–17 hh). Also used in some equestrian-adjacent contexts. The unit is now almost exclusively a horse-measurement convention.
Standardised at 4 inches by Henry VIII in 1541; value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm.
Chain to Hand conversion formula
The relationship between chains and hands:
To convert chains to hands, multiply the value in chains by 198. To reverse, multiply hands by 0.0050505051.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in hands updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Hand to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to hands
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 198.
- The product is the equivalent value in hands (hh).
- To reverse, multiply the hand value by 0.0050505051.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to hh:
1 × 198 = 198 hh
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to hh:
100 × 198 = 19800 hh
Chain to Hand conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to hands:
| Chain [ch] | Hand [hh] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.98 |
| 0.1 | 19.8 |
| 1 | 198 |
| 2 | 396 |
| 3 | 594 |
| 4 | 792 |
| 5 | 990 |
| 10 | 1980 |
| 20 | 3960 |
| 30 | 5940 |
| 40 | 7920 |
| 50 | 9900 |
| 100 | 19800 |
| 500 | 99000 |
| 1000 | 198000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many hands is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to hands?
How do I convert hands back to chains?
How many hands 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 = 198 hh) 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.