Convert Chain to Yard
Convert chains to yards instantly. 1 chain = 22 yard — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Yard 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.
Yard
A yard is an Imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 3 feet or exactly 0.9144 meters. It is used for medium distances, particularly in athletics and fabric/textile measurement.
The yard's origin is contested but traditionally attributed to the length from the tip of King Henry I's nose to the end of his outstretched thumb. It was standardized in English law from the medieval period and definitively fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Yards are used in American football (10 yards for a first down), golf course distances, fabric and carpet sales in the US, and short-distance running events. The UK uses yards informally and on road signs for short distances.
Standardized in English law from the Middle Ages; fixed at 0.9144 m exactly by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Chain to Yard conversion formula
The relationship between chains and yards:
To convert chains to yards, multiply the value in chains by 22. To reverse, multiply yards by 0.0454545455.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in yards updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Yard to Chain converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert chains to yards
- Write down the value in chains (ch).
- Multiply that value by the factor 22.
- The product is the equivalent value in yards (yd).
- To reverse, multiply the yard value by 0.0454545455.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ch to yd:
1 × 22 = 22 yd
Example 2 — Convert 100 ch to yd:
100 × 22 = 2200 yd
Chain to Yard conversion table
Standard reference values for converting chains to yards:
| Chain [ch] | Yard [yd] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.22 |
| 0.1 | 2.2 |
| 1 | 22 |
| 2 | 44 |
| 3 | 66 |
| 4 | 88 |
| 5 | 110 |
| 10 | 220 |
| 20 | 440 |
| 30 | 660 |
| 40 | 880 |
| 50 | 1100 |
| 100 | 2200 |
| 500 | 11000 |
| 1000 | 22000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many yards is 1 chain?
How do I convert chains to yards?
How do I convert yards back to chains?
How many yards 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 = 22 yd) 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.