Convert Chain to League
Convert chains to leagues instantly. 1 chain = 0.0041666667 league — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the League 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.
League
A league is an Imperial unit of length equal to 3 miles (about 4.83 km). It is one of the oldest distance units in English usage, historically representing the distance a person could walk in one hour.
The English league derives from the ancient Roman leuga via medieval English customary practice. Standardised at 3 statute miles in English law.
Leagues appear in historical English literature ('seven-league boots'), maritime navigation (a nautical league is 3 nautical miles), and traditional distance descriptions. Modern usage is largely literary.
Medieval English customary origin; standardised at 3 miles; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Chain to League conversion formula
The relationship between chains and leagues:
To convert chains to leagues, multiply the value in chains by 0.0041666667. To reverse, multiply leagues by 240.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in leagues updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the League to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to leagues
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0041666667.
- The product is the equivalent value in leagues (lea).
- To reverse, multiply the league value by 240.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to lea:
1 × 0.0041666667 = 0.0041666667 lea
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to lea:
100 × 0.0041666667 = 0.4166666667 lea
Chain to League conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to leagues:
| Chain [ch] | League [lea] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 4.166667e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0004166667 |
| 1 | 0.0041666667 |
| 2 | 0.0083333333 |
| 3 | 0.0125 |
| 4 | 0.0166666667 |
| 5 | 0.0208333333 |
| 10 | 0.0416666667 |
| 20 | 0.0833333333 |
| 30 | 0.125 |
| 40 | 0.1666666667 |
| 50 | 0.2083333333 |
| 100 | 0.4166666667 |
| 500 | 2.0833333333 |
| 1000 | 4.1666666667 |
Frequently asked questions
How many leagues is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to leagues?
How do I convert leagues back to chains?
How many leagues 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 = 0.0041666667 lea) 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.