Convert Chain to Kilometer
Convert chains to kilometers instantly. 1 chain = 0.0201168 kilometer — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Kilometer 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.
Kilometer
A kilometer is a metric unit of length equal to one thousand meters. It is the standard unit for measuring road distances, geographic distances, and other large-scale measurements in metric countries.
The kilometer was defined alongside the meter in 1795 using the standard SI prefix kilo- (from Greek chilioi, "thousand"), denoting one thousand units.
Kilometers are used worldwide (except the United States and a few others) for road signage, geographic distance, athletic events, and scientific distances at planetary scale. Speed limits in most countries are given in km/h.
Adopted 1795 in France as part of the original metric system; the kilometer became the global standard for road and geographic distance through the 19th and 20th century metric adoption.
Chain to Kilometer conversion formula
The relationship between chains and kilometers:
To convert chains to kilometers, multiply the value in chains by 0.0201168. To reverse, multiply kilometers by 49.709695379.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in kilometers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Kilometer to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to kilometers
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0201168.
- The product is the equivalent value in kilometers (km).
- To reverse, multiply the kilometer value by 49.709695379.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to km:
1 × 0.0201168 = 0.0201168 km
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to km:
100 × 0.0201168 = 2.01168 km
Chain to Kilometer conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to kilometers:
| Chain [ch] | Kilometer [km] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.000201168 |
| 0.1 | 0.00201168 |
| 1 | 0.0201168 |
| 2 | 0.0402336 |
| 3 | 0.0603504 |
| 4 | 0.0804672 |
| 5 | 0.100584 |
| 10 | 0.201168 |
| 20 | 0.402336 |
| 30 | 0.603504 |
| 40 | 0.804672 |
| 50 | 1.00584 |
| 100 | 2.01168 |
| 500 | 10.0584 |
| 1000 | 20.1168 |
Frequently asked questions
How many kilometers is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to kilometers?
How do I convert kilometers back to chains?
How many kilometers 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 = 0.0201168 km) 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.