Convert Chain to Cable
Convert chains to cables instantly. 1 chain = 0.1086220302 cable — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Cable 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.
Cable
A cable is a nautical unit of length equal to one tenth of a nautical mile (exactly 185.2 m). It is used in maritime navigation for short-distance descriptions.
The cable derives from the historical length of a ship's anchor cable. Standardised at one tenth of an international nautical mile in 1929.
Cables are used in modern maritime navigation when describing short distances between vessels, anchoring depths, and harbor manoeuvres. Common in naval and yachting contexts.
Standardised at 1/10 nautical mile by the International Hydrographic Organization in 1929.
Chain to Cable conversion formula
The relationship between chains and cables:
To convert chains to cables, multiply the value in chains by 0.1086220302. To reverse, multiply cables by 9.2062355842.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in cables updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Cable to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to cables
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.1086220302.
- The product is the equivalent value in cables (cable).
- To reverse, multiply the cable value by 9.2062355842.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to cable:
1 × 0.1086220302 = 0.1086220302 cable
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to cable:
100 × 0.1086220302 = 10.8622030238 cable
Chain to Cable conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to cables:
| Chain [ch] | Cable [cable] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0010862203 |
| 0.1 | 0.010862203 |
| 1 | 0.1086220302 |
| 2 | 0.2172440605 |
| 3 | 0.3258660907 |
| 4 | 0.434488121 |
| 5 | 0.5431101512 |
| 10 | 1.0862203024 |
| 20 | 2.1724406048 |
| 30 | 3.2586609071 |
| 40 | 4.3448812095 |
| 50 | 5.4311015119 |
| 100 | 10.8622030238 |
| 500 | 54.3110151188 |
| 1000 | 108.6220302376 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cables is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to cables?
How do I convert cables back to chains?
How many cables 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 = 0.1086220302 cable) 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.