Convert Chain to Mil
Convert chains to mils instantly. 1 chain = 792000 mil — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Mil 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.
Mil
A mil (also called a thou) is an Imperial unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (1/1000 in = 0.0254 mm = 25.4 μm exactly). It is used in engineering, manufacturing, and materials specifications.
The mil is derived from the Latin mille, "thousand," denoting one-thousandth of an inch. Standardized in industrial use during the 19th-century rise of precision engineering.
Mils are used to specify thicknesses of plastic films, foils, paper, copper traces on printed circuit boards (PCBs), wire insulation, and paint coatings. A standard sheet of paper is about 4 mils thick.
Adopted in 19th-century engineering practice; the value (1/1000 in) became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm via the International Yard and Pound Agreement. The British term is "thou"; American term is "mil".
Chain to Mil conversion formula
The relationship between chains and mils:
To convert chains to mils, multiply the value in chains by 792000. To reverse, multiply mils by 1.262626e-6.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in mils updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Mil to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to mils
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 792000.
- The product is the equivalent value in mils (mil).
- To reverse, multiply the mil value by 1.262626e-6.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to mil:
1 × 792000 = 792000 mil
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to mil:
100 × 792000 = 7.92e+7 mil
Chain to Mil conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to mils:
| Chain [ch] | Mil [mil] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 7920 |
| 0.1 | 79200 |
| 1 | 792000 |
| 2 | 1584000 |
| 3 | 2376000 |
| 4 | 3168000 |
| 5 | 3960000 |
| 10 | 7920000 |
| 20 | 1.584e+7 |
| 30 | 2.376e+7 |
| 40 | 3.168e+7 |
| 50 | 3.96e+7 |
| 100 | 7.92e+7 |
| 500 | 3.96e+8 |
| 1000 | 7.92e+8 |
Frequently asked questions
How many mils is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to mils?
How do I convert mils back to chains?
How many mils 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 = 792000 mil) 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.